Poets Celebrate 80 Years of Indonesian Independence, Moctavianus Masheka: Much ‘Homework’ Still Required Towards a Golden Indonesia
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS COM – Poets have celebrated 80 years of Indonesian independence, revealing that there is still much ‘homework’ to be done towards a Golden Indonesia in 2045.
This was stated by Moctavianus Masheka, Chair of the Indonesian Literary Inspiration Park (TISI) in Jakarta on Wednesday evening (September 17, 2025), in connection with the launch and discussion of the poetry book Manifesto Jabodetabek and Republik Puitik (Poets Read 80 Years of Indonesian Independence), which will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, starting at 1:30 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time) at the HB. Jassin Literary Document Center (PDS) Hall, 4th Floor, Panjang Ali Sadikin Building, Jakarta Arts Center (PKJ), at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Central Jakarta.
“Indonesian poets will try to analyze the various problems that exist in Indonesia today and write about them in the form of poetry. We only have 20 years left to improve towards a Golden Indonesia in 2025,” he said.
According to Bung Octa—his nickname—as a poet, he still questions Indonesia’s 80th anniversary of independence.
“Is Indonesia truly independent? Because the reality is that even today, building houses of worship such as mosques, churches, monasteries, and other places of worship still faces obstacles. In some areas, we cannot even adhere to the first principle of Pancasila, namely Belief in the One Almighty God,” he said.
Not to mention the problem of job creation, which continues to result in mass layoffs, followed by problems in education, and the issue of public health and nutrition, especially for children.
“Furthermore, in the environmental sector, deforestation has caused flash floods. Even in the economic sector, with social inequality still present in Indonesia, let’s not even talk about justice,” he stressed.
The literary event, which includes the launch and discussion of the poetry book “The Greater Jakarta Manifesto and the Republic of Poetry,” “Poets Read 80 Years of Indonesian Independence,” will feature Sutardji Calzoum Bachri (Witness to Literary Events), Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda (Consulting Officer for the Greater Jakarta Manifesto), Sofyan RH. Said (Consulting Officer for the Republic of Poetry), and Isbedy Stiawan ZS (Consulting Officer for the Republic of Poetry). The event will be preceded by remarks by Nasruddin Djoko Sarjono (Head of the Jakarta Library and Archives Office) and Moctavianus Masheka, Chair of the Indonesian Literary Inspiration Park (TISI), as the organizer.
The poetry readers were Jose Rizal Manua, Yahya Andi Saputra, Sihar Ramses Simatupang, R. Mulia Nasution, Rissa Churria, Nurhayati, Halimah Munawir Anwar, Emi Suy, Putri Miranda, Wijatmoko Bintoro Sambodo, Guntoro Sulung, Neneng Hendriyani, Nunung Noor El Niel, H. Shobir Purwanto, Giyanto Subagio, Gilang Teguh Pambudi, Beni Satria, and Ewith Bahar, moderated by Nanang Ribut Supriyatin and MC Swary Utami Dewi. (***)
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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