Sapardi Djoko Damono: Echoes of Emotion in Indonesian Verse
Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Sapardi Djoko Damono (20 March 1940 – 19 July 2020) was an Indonesian poet known for lyrical poems, and who was widely regarded as the pioneer of lyrical poetry in Indonesia.
Life and Career
Damono was born on 20 March 1940 in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. and studied at the University of Indonesia where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 1966. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of New York in 1971.
Damono began his career as a poet in the 1960s, and he quickly gained recognition for his work. His poetry often dealt with themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, and it was characterized by its simplicity and emotional depth. Some of his most famous works include Hujan Pagi (“Morning Rain”), Perahu Kertas (“Paper Boat”), and Aku Ingin (“I Want”).
In addition to his career as a poet, Damono was also a literary critic and professor. He taught at the University of Indonesia and was a member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences. He wrote several books on Indonesian literature, including Kritik Sastra dan Budaya (“Literary and Cultural Criticism”) and Antologi Puisi Indonesia Modern (“Anthology of Modern Indonesian Poetry”).
Throughout his career, Damono received many awards and honors for his contributions to Indonesian literature. In 2005, he was awarded the SEA Write Award, which recognizes outstanding literary works in Southeast Asia. Damono passed away on 19 July 2020, at the age of 80. His poetry continues to be celebrated in Indonesia and around the world, and his legacy as one of Indonesia’s greatest poets and literary critics lives on.
Award and Legacy
Sapardi Djoko Damono received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his contributions to Indonesian literature. Some of his notable awards include:
- The Jakarta Arts Council Poetry Award (1975)
- The S.E.A. Write Award (2005)
- The Achmad Bakrie Award for Literature (2010)
- The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture (2015)
In addition to these awards, Damono was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2014, which was a testament to the impact of his work on the world stage.
Damono’s legacy as one of Indonesia’s greatest poets and literary critics is undeniable. His poetry has been translated into several languages and is widely read both in Indonesia and abroad. His writing style, which was characterized by its simplicity, emotional depth, and ability to capture the essence of the human experience, has influenced many other writers in Indonesia and beyond.
Furthermore, Damono’s contributions to Indonesian literature extend beyond his poetry. His critical writings and anthologies have helped to shape the way that Indonesian literature is studied and appreciated, and he played an important role in promoting and preserving the country’s literary heritage.
On 20 March 2023, Google celebrated Sapardi Djoko Damono’s 83rd Birthday with a doodle.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.