Armijn Pane
Encyclopedia
Armijn Pane also known as Adinata, A. Soul, Empe, A. Mada, A. Banner, and Kartono, was an Indonesian author.
,, the third of eight children. He attended school at the H.I.S, Padang Sidempuan, and Tanjung Balai and later joined the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Sibolga and Bukit Tinggi. After graduating from ELS, he moved to Java where he began, but didn't finish, medical training at the School tot voor Indische Opleiding Artsen (STOVIA) in Jakarta and at the Nederlandsch Indische Artsen School (NIAS) in Surabaya
. He then transferred his efforts to writing and literature at the Algemeene Middelbare School (AMS) in Surakarta
, before graduating in 1931 with a degree in Western Classical Literature.
While still a student in Solo he was active for a short time in the nationalist youth organisation, Indonesia Muda, but soon left this in favour of writing. Armijn Pane began his working life as a journalist in Jakarta
and Surabaya
, and also taught language and history at the national school in Kediri
and Jakarta.
From 1933–1938, he was the secretary and editor of the magazine New Poet, and in 1936 he joined Balai Pustaka
. In 1937 he and Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana
started the Pujangga Baru magazine. Following Indonesia's independence he became editor of Spectrum, and a few years later, the editor of the Indonesian Cultural Magazine. He was also the editor of the magazine Indonesia from 1948–1955. It was also during this period that he wrote his first works, among them the play Lenggang Kencana (1937); a collection of poems entitled Jiwa Berjiwa (1941); the play Jinak-jinak Merpati (1953); and the collection of short stories Kesah antara Manusia (1953). Other well-known works by Armijn Pane include: Iwa-inclined (1939), a collection of short stories; the novel Belenggu (Shackles) (1940) and Domestic Pigeons (1953).
Pane's novel Belenggu has been called his most important contribution to Indonesian literature. The novel met with mixed reviews after its publication in Pudjangga Baru, and was widely criticised on two grounds: that the storyline was highly improbable since the characters acted differently from normal people; and that the story was immoral. The plot, a love triangle between a doctor, his wife and his mistress, was considered new and very shocking to many Indonesians, particularly so since the novel stops short of assigning blame. But the novel was also considered revolutionary in the way that Pane explored the feelings of his characters. Pane applied the technique of interior monologue and used elliptical dots and dashes following incomplete sentences to indicate the doubts and uncertainties assailing a modern educated Indonesian man. Due to both the style and content the novel is regarded as a milestone in Indonesian literature.
Armijn Pane's early short stories had a similar focus. Barang Tidak Berharga (A Worthless Thing), published in 1935, was similar in subject matter and in tone, while Tudjuan Hidup (Life's Purpose), also written in 1935, is about a young woman's search for the courage to face a lonely future.
His later works, written after 1942, are considered by some to be quite different in character. Teeuw notes that many of the plays written during this period differ from Pane's earlier works in their idealism and the lack of the confusion and inner problems demonstrated by the characters. Armijin Pane also wrote a number of plays, and was one of the main authors who continued to do so during the Japanese occupation
.
Armijn Pane has been credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the so-called Generation of '45, but he was not part of that generation and in the post-revolutionary period made important contributions to Indonesian literature in other ways. During the 1950s he helped establish several cultural institutions and organisations, and also published a history of the Chinese since the nineteenth century, and a book on the development of the Indonesian language.
Armijn Pane was honoured for his work in literature by the Government of Republic of Indonesia in 1969. He died in Jakarta
only a few months later, in February 1970.
Life
Armijn Pane was born in Muara Sipongi, Tapanui, SumatraSumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
,, the third of eight children. He attended school at the H.I.S, Padang Sidempuan, and Tanjung Balai and later joined the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Sibolga and Bukit Tinggi. After graduating from ELS, he moved to Java where he began, but didn't finish, medical training at the School tot voor Indische Opleiding Artsen (STOVIA) in Jakarta and at the Nederlandsch Indische Artsen School (NIAS) in Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
. He then transferred his efforts to writing and literature at the Algemeene Middelbare School (AMS) in Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
, before graduating in 1931 with a degree in Western Classical Literature.
While still a student in Solo he was active for a short time in the nationalist youth organisation, Indonesia Muda, but soon left this in favour of writing. Armijn Pane began his working life as a journalist in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, and also taught language and history at the national school in Kediri
Kediri, East Java
Kediri is an Indonesian city, located near the Brantas River in the province of East Java on the island of Java.Archaeological artefacts discovered in 2007 appeared to indicate that the region around Kediri may have been the location of the Kediri kingdom, a Hindu kingdom in the 11th century.The...
and Jakarta.
From 1933–1938, he was the secretary and editor of the magazine New Poet, and in 1936 he joined Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka is the state-owned publisher of Indonesia and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature such as Salah Asuhan, Sitti Nurbaya and Layar Terkembang. Its head office is in Jakarta....
. In 1937 he and Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana
Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana
Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana , was born in Natal, North Sumatra. His family came from Minangkabau who migration in 19th century. He was a founder and editor of Pujangga Baru. He became one of Indonesian literature's guiding lights in its formative years, particularly in the time around independence...
started the Pujangga Baru magazine. Following Indonesia's independence he became editor of Spectrum, and a few years later, the editor of the Indonesian Cultural Magazine. He was also the editor of the magazine Indonesia from 1948–1955. It was also during this period that he wrote his first works, among them the play Lenggang Kencana (1937); a collection of poems entitled Jiwa Berjiwa (1941); the play Jinak-jinak Merpati (1953); and the collection of short stories Kesah antara Manusia (1953). Other well-known works by Armijn Pane include: Iwa-inclined (1939), a collection of short stories; the novel Belenggu (Shackles) (1940) and Domestic Pigeons (1953).
Pane's novel Belenggu has been called his most important contribution to Indonesian literature. The novel met with mixed reviews after its publication in Pudjangga Baru, and was widely criticised on two grounds: that the storyline was highly improbable since the characters acted differently from normal people; and that the story was immoral. The plot, a love triangle between a doctor, his wife and his mistress, was considered new and very shocking to many Indonesians, particularly so since the novel stops short of assigning blame. But the novel was also considered revolutionary in the way that Pane explored the feelings of his characters. Pane applied the technique of interior monologue and used elliptical dots and dashes following incomplete sentences to indicate the doubts and uncertainties assailing a modern educated Indonesian man. Due to both the style and content the novel is regarded as a milestone in Indonesian literature.
Armijn Pane's early short stories had a similar focus. Barang Tidak Berharga (A Worthless Thing), published in 1935, was similar in subject matter and in tone, while Tudjuan Hidup (Life's Purpose), also written in 1935, is about a young woman's search for the courage to face a lonely future.
His later works, written after 1942, are considered by some to be quite different in character. Teeuw notes that many of the plays written during this period differ from Pane's earlier works in their idealism and the lack of the confusion and inner problems demonstrated by the characters. Armijin Pane also wrote a number of plays, and was one of the main authors who continued to do so during the Japanese occupation
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
.
Armijn Pane has been credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the so-called Generation of '45, but he was not part of that generation and in the post-revolutionary period made important contributions to Indonesian literature in other ways. During the 1950s he helped establish several cultural institutions and organisations, and also published a history of the Chinese since the nineteenth century, and a book on the development of the Indonesian language.
Armijn Pane was honoured for his work in literature by the Government of Republic of Indonesia in 1969. He died in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
only a few months later, in February 1970.
Plays
- Lukisan Masa, Jakarta: Pujangga Baru, 1937
- Setahun di Bedahulu, Jakarta, 1938
- Nyai Lenggang Kencana, Jakarta: Pujangga Baru, 1939
- Kami Perempuan, Jakarta, 1943
- Antara Bumi dan Langit, Jakarta, 1944
- Di Tepi Pancuran, Jakarta 1944
- Melihat Bapak Mataku Buta, Jajarta 1944
- Jembatan Garuda, Jakarta 1944
- Kisah Antara Manusia, Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1953
- Jinak-Jinak Merpati, Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1953
Poetry
- Jiwa Berjiwa, Jakarta: Pujangga Baru, 1939
- Gamelan Jiwa, Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1960
Anthologies
- Kort overzich van de moderne Indonesische Literatuur, Balai Pustaka, 1949
- Sanjak Muda Mr Muhammad Yamin, Jakarta: Firma Rada, 1953