Buku Gratis dan Roman Pujangga Lama

Kemarin, Rabu (30/5), Fisher Library -perpustakaan di kampusku- bagi-bagi buku gratis. Sebagian besar koleksi-koleksi yang berlabel "undergraduate" dibagikan secara percuma. Label "undergraduate" itu bukan berarti buku-buku tersebut hanya untuk mahasiswa yang sedang menempuh pendidikan di tingkat bachelor. Yang saya tahu pasti, label itu menunjukkan bahwa buku-buku tersebut hanya boleh dipinjam dalam jangka
waktu satu minggu saja. Berbeda dengan buku-buku berlabel "research" yang boleh dipinjam dalam kurun waktu yang lebih panjang, satu bulan. Ada banyak lagi label buku di Fisher Library ini, tergantung peruntukkan koleksinya.

Nah, buku-buku tersebut kemarin dibagikan secara percuma. Dan tentu saja, kesempatan emas dan langka ini dimanfaatkan oleh kebanyakan mahasiswa, dan tidak sedikit dari kalangan non-mahasiswa (lho kok ada dikotomi begini?). Tapi, terlepas dari itu cukup banyak koleksi yang dibagikan, ribuan jumlahnya. Dan buku-buku yang dibagikan bukan cuma koleksi lama, tapi beberapa juga baru (ya, paling tidak hingga 1998). Hanya saja, jenis koleksi meliputi bidang studi ekonomi, hukum, ilmu-ilmu social, politik, literatur/sastra, sosiologi, musik dan sejarah serta beberapa koleksi tentang komputer dan teknologi. Untuk bidang studi yang lain, mungkin akan ada kegiatan yang sama di masa yang akan datang.

Saya baru tahu ada bagi-bagi buku gratis ini setelah diberitahu oleh seorang teman. Siang jam 1.30pm.
Dia telpon, katanya, "Bos, ada bagi-bagi buku gratis di Fisher. Elu di mana?"
Jawab saya, "Di rumah. Serius luh? Sampe jam berapa?"
"Sampe Fisher tutup kayaknya" tukasnya.
Sambung saya, "Ok deh. Segera meluncur".
Dan saya pun bergegas bersalin pakaian (hehehe... belum mandi pagi) dan pun bergerak menuju kampus, yang kurang lebih 30 menit perjalanan bus 426 (Dulwich Hill-City).

Sampai Fisher sekitar jam 2-an dan langsung naik ke Lantai 9. Lirak-lirik koleksi buku yang dibagiin yang tersusun dalam rak-rak yang sudah diberikan label masing-masing jenis bidang studi. Beberapa koleksi buku yang menarik perhatian saya, langsung saya "amankan" dalam tas yang memang sudah disiapkan untuk menampung buku-buku tersebut. Di antara deretan buku-buku literatur dan karya sastra, mata saya menangkap sebuah buku kecil. Tidak ada judul di covernya yang berwarna coklat seperti warna kardus. Dijilid merah. Tidak tebal. Pada halaman depan, tertera judul

"ORANG - ORANG SIAL"
oleh
UTUY T. SONTANI
Sekumpulan tjerita tahun 1948 - 1950
Diterbitkan oleh Balai Pustaka - 1951 - Djakarta

Kemudian, masih dalam barisan yang sama, ada satu buku kecil lagi yang saya temukan. "Orang Buangan" sebuah karya sastra Harijadi S. Hartowardojo. Diterbitkan oleh Pustaka Jaya pada tahun 1971. Harijadi adalah seorang wartawan pada beberapa media yang terbit pada awal-awal kemerdekaan seperti Pudjangga Baru, madjalah Siasat dan Harian Kami. "Orang Buangan" adalah romannja yang pertama, begitu tulis biografi singkatnya pada sampul belakang buku itu. Dan sejurus kemudian, dua buah buku tersebut pun berpindah tempat ke dalam tas saya, bersama buku-buku lainnya.

Novel karya Utuy ini (bagi yang belum tahu siapa Utuy Sontani, dia adalah pengarang cerita si Kabayan) memang menarik perhatian saya sejak awal. Tak sabar rasanya untuk membaca gerangan 12 cerita pendek dalam novel tersebut.

Secara garis besar, roman karya Utuy Sontani ini memang bercerita seputar orang-orang yang mengalami nasib sial dalam melakoni kehidupan. Sial dalam arti bener-bener sial alias apes, merugi, gak sesuai harapan atau kecewa dengan keadaan yang dihadapi dan sial dalam arti ketika hendak berbuat atau melakukan sesuatu yang baik, namun tidak kesampaian. Contoh dari sial yang terakhir ini ada pada cerita terakhir "Usaha Samad". Samad, pemuda dari kampung yang datang ke Djakarta dengan maksud berdagang buku agama, akhirnya terpaksa berjualan gambar perempuan telanjang. Alasannya, "jang laku menurut keinginan zaman".

Sementara cerita pertama, "Paku dan Palu" cerita tentang kesialan Atma, seorang sol sepatu yang buta huruf harus mengungsi bersama istri dan anaknya ke pegunungan akibat aksi polisi yang dilancarkan oleh pasukan Belanda pada tahun 1947. Atma mengalami berbagai kesialan mulai dari kelaparan akibat tidak adanya orang yang memperbaiki sepatu kepadanya, anaknya jatuh sakit dan kemudian meninggal lantaran kurang vitamin dan kurang makan. Dan puncak kesialannya adalah ketika ia ditembak mati oleh patroli polisi lantaran dianggap gila.

Adapula cerita orang sial lainnya dalam "Djagamalam", "Keluarga Wangsa", "Badut". Kesialan tokoh-tokoh dalam cerita ini sangat beragam. Dan yang menarik, Utuy mampu membuat cerita sederhana ini menjadi lebih hidup lantaran sebagai pembaca, secara pribadi, saya mampu merasakan kegetiran dan kesialan para tokoh dalam berbagai cerita tersebut. Bertutur Utuy dengan bahasa lugas, terang dan alur cerita yang lekat dengan kenyataan sehari-hari.

Dalam cerita "Badut" misalnya. Bagaimana kegetiran seorang klerk yang berharap promosi ke kedudukan yang lebih tinggi, harus menelan kegetiran karena dipindahtugaskan lantaran kepribadiannya yang melihat orang-orang sekitarnya dengan penuh rasa humor. Trengginas. Padahal, tokoh aku dalam cerita ini merupakan sosok pekerja yang ideal sebagai seorang klerk (PNS) yang cergas, tangkas, tanggung jawab dan berpikir positif terhadap pekerjaan dan tanggung jawabnya.

Entahlah, tapi yang aku tangkap dari cerita itu, jangan pernah berharap lebih tinggi kalau cuma mengandalkan kemampuan sendiri. Koneksi itu perlu. Bahkan penting dan menjadi hal utama! Tapi, mungkinkah hal itu masih jadi berlaku saat jaman nan modern ini?

Ah, mudah-mudahan itu hanya roman Utuy saja.

Wassalam.

Is this an Indonesian Soldier (or maybe bureaucrat) mentality?

I found this picture from here. It's made me wonder, how is this could happened? A Chief in Command of Indonesia Army Special Unit lower his body, showed his 'inappropriate' respect to a former convicted criminal, Tommy Soeharto? What in the hell...

It so frustrating! I was so speechless for many seconds when seeing this. Well, suddenly I was realise that maybe because I live in Eastern culture that we need to keep up our cultural values, showed respect to elders and the respect-worth ones. And sometimes, we just did it, not even think about how we suppose to do that? Of course we do need to show our respect to elders and or anyone, not only on cultural based judgement, but more likely based on the assumption that they deserved it! They deserved to be respected because what they did has give something for others. I am not talking about casual form of our relationships with parents or elders, but on formal relations with colleagues, friends, your bosses in social or formal institutions (or I could say, in bureaucracy).

Do we need to show some of this attitude when meet our boss or supervisor? Do we really have to lower our head (hey, it's kind bit different with Japanese, right?) infront of them? Why we should? Or worse in this case, a Chief of Special Unit in Indonesia Army show his respect to someone like Tommy Soeharto? Well, I know that our bureacracy cultural values still prioritise such symbolic attitude for particular reasons. I don't blame them, nor judged them as ass kisser(?). Maybe they just did it because they are truely Indonesians, highly respect their common values and cultural heritages.

Well.. I don't know, really... I can't tell no more.
I am so speechless.

A Letter from Muhammad Yunus

Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a 2006 Nobel Peace Price Winner and become the first Nobel Laureate who came from Bangladesh. His microcredit program has been acknowledged by the world to contribute a significant effort in poverty allevation campaign in developing countries. Through Grameen Bank, the bank owned by Muhammad Yunus, unlike other conventional banks, he removed the need for collateral and introduced a mutual trust, accountable and promote creativity as the essential elements in delivering the microcredit program.

As his remarkable achievement in economic and prosperity become so popular, he now intended to enter political arena to spring up his concepts and goals in the high politics level in Bangladesh. His personal letter described why he wants to do so.
More about Dr. Muhammad Yunus, please click here

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My personal letter to you

Dear citizen,
Please take my Salam. I am writing this letter to you with the hope of receiving a personal reply from you. You might have noticed in what situation many people requested me to join politics and why I had to consider it with utmost importance. I, like you, witnessed where our political culture has brought the country and how it attempted to destroy the country's future possibilities. The way the present caretaker government is trying to create an acceptable atmosphere by carrying out necessary reforms has made me optimistic along with all citizens of the country.

In this situation, I feel it with my heart that I should, showing due respect to the people's expectation of me, participate in the mission of taking the nation to the height it deserves.

It is now clear to all that it is not possible to reach the goal maintaining the existing political culture; it is only possible by bringing a comprehensive change to the culture. Through my work and experience, I feel with all my heart that the people with their innate sense of endeavour and creativity can achieve the impossible if political goodwill, competent leadership and good governance can be established. If I have to form a political party in response to the people's desire, it will be dedicated to this very objective. I have received pure love and respect from people of all ages ranging from the poorest to the most powerful, I do not know when again a Bangladeshi individual will have this good fortune. By the grace of Allah, I am a very fortunate man. There is nothing left for me to desire. I know that joining politics is to become controversial. I am ready to take the risk if you think me joining politics will help in ushering of a new political climate.

It is high time to form the proper political structure conducive to the huge task of building a Bangladesh we all dream of, by freeing ourselves from all past frustrations. I need the active participation and assistance of you and all others like you if I have to go forward with this mission. I need your advice on how I should go forward. I also want to know how you want to participate and assist in this task. The efforts of you and me to realise everybody's desire for a new politics in order to build a new Bangladesh will get strength if these can be learnt from you in the form of a letter.

You can give your advice in your own style on any topic regarding the formation of a new political party. I can point out some topics as examples: a) how the party can stay involved with the people of all villages and neighbourhoods and work to realise their expectations; b) how the party can be helpful to the common people in their daily struggle and in solving their problems; c) how the organisations of the party can be built on the basis of spontaneous devotion of men and women of all ages and professions; d) what can be done to encourage the eager, enthusiastic, honest and competent people of all levels to align with the party and to become active in it; e) how the honest and competent among them, having public support, can be nominated for different local and national elections; f) how can we ensure transparency and honesty of all the people involved with the party, and of the party itself; g) how democracy can be established within the party; h) how can the flow of opinions directly from the grassroots level be ensured; and i) how the officials and employees serving in state institutions can be prevented from turning into activists of political parties -- your thoughts and advice on many such questions are vital.

At the same time, it is important to know what role you (and your friends) can play in the party, how you can actively contribute or support, is also very important to know. For example, you can play the role: a) of a member of a village or neighbourhood-level organisation; b) of a pioneer of the party's welfare initiatives; c) of a local organiser; d) of an organiser of a community organisation; e) of an activist taking party calls widely among the people; f) of an adviserresearchertheoretician for the party; g) you can contribute to the party by using your special skills or expert knowledge in its service; h) by taking a leadership role in popularising the party as an enthusiastic supporter; i) by demonstrating your organising power; and so on.

I want to know your opinion and get your advice whether you are a political leader, activist, leader or worker of an association or organisation, industrialist, businessman, professor, teacher, shopkeeper, farmer, labourer, artist-writer-thinker, professional, journalist, service holder, housewife, teenager, youth or an expatriate Bangladeshi.

Please write a short or detail personal reply to my letter. Your friends, all members of your family, neighbours, classmates and colleagues can also put in their thoughts in the same letter. You can reply through email and distribute copies of it among all your acquaintances. You can also send a short reply through SMS and encourage all your acquaintances to do the same. You can send copies of my letter to your relatives and friends abroad and encourage them to reply. It will not be possible to come out clean from old politics if a strong momentum for a new politics is not created. We will not be able to reach our goal with feeble support.

I hope my letter and your reply to it will only be the beginning of our sincere communication. The communication established will be able to go forward actively towards a common goal from now on.

Dr Muhammad Yunus