Halimah Munawir: Indonesian Literature Continues to Thrive Under Any Conditions
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – Indonesian literature has its own world and is timeless. It continues to thrive under any conditions, across the archipelago.
This was the written answer given in a special interview with Halimah Munawir, Indonesian Poet, Novelist, and Female Writer, in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/10/2025).
According to her, literature is not dead, as can be seen in several regions where many international literary figures are “protesting.”
“I think poetry is still of interest to government officials and the Gen Z generation. Just look at the TikTok account of poet Rini Intama; she also has many interactive Gen Z followers,” she explained.
As for officials—do they still have time to read poetry? Indeed, we poets and literary activists must continue to fight and lobby them to read poetry.
“Because only a small percentage of them are willing to read. You can count them on one hand,” she interjected.
Answering the question of whether poetry written by poets can still be critical of the various political, economic, and social issues currently occurring in the country,
Halimah stated that it is precisely through poetry that social criticism can be used for change.
“This is a special ‘homework’ for poets to continue voicing social criticism through poetry,” she emphasized.
She further stated that, to be honest, poetry can be heard by the public. It’s better if poetry readings aren’t confined to closed spaces, where they are usually only attended by poets.
“It’s a case of two things, ha ha ha… I personally prefer poetry readings in open public spaces because they can be heard and enjoyed directly by the wider community, especially those who don’t work in the literary world. This also promotes the popularization of literary works.
If necessary, literary works can even be introduced to cafes and schools, which will foster regeneration, as Obor Sastra has done,” she argued.
Regarding the continuation of literary generations after the 1970s, Octavianus Masheka, Chairman of the Indonesian Literary Inspiration Park (TISI), addressed poet Pulo Lasman Simanjuntak after the launch and literary discussion of a poetry anthology jointly organized by Republik Puitik and Manifesto Jabodetabek, themed “Poets Read 80 Years of Indonesian Independence,” held at the PDS.HB.Jassin Hall, TIM Jakarta, last Sunday (September 28, 2025).
“That’s very necessary. We poets are also actors in history. I strongly agree that the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) should once again map literary generations. Come on, friends of DKJ, let’s get excited about mapping generations,” he urged.
Then, regarding the creative process of a poet, he said that a work without a creative process is like vegetables without salt.
“When we read our own poetry, we become more immersed in it. So, I think the creative process of writing is necessary to develop our imagination. At the very least, participating in poetry collections with other poets, and joining a literary community, is even better,” he concluded.
Halimah Munawir began writing in 1988, entitled “Sukasi Story Nilasari.”
Then, in 2011, she published the novel “The Sinden” (published by Gramedia). Her subsequent novels, Kidung Volendam (The Purity of Love in the Gangga River), Sucinya Cinta Sungai Gangga (The Holy Love in the Gangga River), and Sahabat Langit (The Friend of the Sky), also appeared with Gramedia.
In 2023, Halimah Munawir released another novel, PADMI (The Sacred Love in the Gangga River), published by Balai Pustaka. In 2024, she also published Kalingga, Pada Pada Padang Lavender (The Lavender Field).
She has also written in several poetry anthologies with poets throughout Indonesia.
This woman, born in Cirebon on January 18, 1964, published her poetry in the single poetry anthology AKAR, containing 56 selected poems (Y.Aksi, 2020), and the bilingual poetry anthology BAYANG FIRDAUS (Diomedia, 2021), Titik Nadir (TARESIA, 2025), which focuses on religious poetry.
Her poetry and short stories have also been published on the websites cakradunia.co and sastra Semesta.
This friendly and outgoing woman is the owner and founder of “Rumah Budaya HMA,” Chairperson of the Indonesian Children’s Creativity and Arts Foundation, the Al-Hidayah Pondok Melati Foundation, and Chairperson of the Obor Sastra Community.
She is also a businesswoman, serving as Commissioner of PT. Dian Rimalma Pratama and President Director of PT. Akasia Wanaja Mulya.
Halimah is also a member of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the second deputy chairperson of the Indonesian Women’s Association (IWAPI). (***)
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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