TISI Declares Indonesian Poet Maestro Taufiq Ismail a Candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature
JAKARTA,INDONESIA-JAYANEWS.COM– Taman Inspirasi Sastra Indonesia (TISI) has declared Indonesian poet maestro Taufiq Ismail a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The declaration was read aloud by Octavianus Masheka, Chairman of TISI, alongside participants and guests attending the literary event marking the launch of the poetry anthology *Merdeka Katamu* (“You Call It Freedom”), featuring 81 poets speaking about Indonesia.
The event took place at the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Center (PDS) Hall—located on the 4th floor of the Ali Sadikin “Gedung Panjang” (Long Building) within the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Jakarta Arts Center—on Sunday, September 6, 2026, running from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM WIB, with Swary Utami Dewi serving as the MC.
Also in attendance—and participating in poetry readings—were the President of Indonesian Poets Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Jose Rizal Manua, and many others.
The literary event—held as part of the celebrations for the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence and organized by TISI—also featured a literary discussion with speakers Octavianus Masheka, Esha Tegar Putra, and Helvy Tiana Rosa, moderated by Ewith Bahar.
The proceedings opened with welcoming remarks from Nasruddin Djoko Surjono, Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Library and Archives Agency (Dispusip).
“This national-scale literary event also serves to announce that we, as artists and cultural figures, support Taufiq Ismail as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature from Indonesia. Let us all stand together to read this declaration,” urged “Bung Octa”—as he is affectionately known—who is himself a renowned poet and man of letters. “We, from the literary community Taman Inspirasi Sastra Indonesia (TISI)—as active participants in the Indonesian literary scene—fully support Mr. Taufiq Ismail’s candidacy for the Nobel Prize in Literature. May God grant this wish; amen. Let us take our seats again,” said Bung Octa enthusiastically, addressing an audience of poets, writers, cultural figures, artists, lecturers, and Indonesian literature students from UNJ (formerly IKIP-Jakarta).
He further noted that, according to TISI’s observations, Taufiq Ismail’s poetry has consistently addressed issues facing Indonesia from 1966 to the present day.
“Therefore, TISI believes that this Indonesian poetic maestro, Mr. Taufiq Ismail, can realistically achieve the Nobel Prize in Literature,” he stated.
The poetry reading parade also featured performances by Nissa Renganis, Helvy Tiana Rosa, Fatin Hamama, Boyke Sulaiman, Imam Ma’arif, Nana, Rissa Churia, and many others. (***)
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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