Shaping Women’s Roles through Literature: Helvy Tiana Rosa
Poised amongst the top ten female writers in Indonesia, Helvy Tiana Rosa has produced 50 written works including short stories, plays as well as also poetry, in addition to her role as past Editor in Chief at Annida. She has been a generating force for women as well as also active in many literary groups. She also founded a forum to establish writers worldwide as well as also has received a strident list of writing as well as also empowerment awards for her efforts. Currently, Rosa is usually a lecturer as well as also theatrical coach while finishing her PhD in literature at the University of Indonesia.
You are a prolific as well as also beloved writer coming from Indonesia. Importantly, you are female as well as also Muslim. How does This specific influence both your subject matter as well as also professional outreach?
Some researchers, both in Indonesia as well as also abroad, regard me as ‘Muslim-Feminist’, although I don’t think the item is usually properly put. I indeed use female characters with strong personalities in my works. Of course they can’t solve all of their problems, however at least they can show Muslim women active within the real world. Many readers say my stories enlighten them to do more for their family as well as also society, as women as well as also as Muslims.
As an author, you have an earnest heart as well as also desire for your audience. What short list of your books do you see as your legacy as well as also why?
Of the books I have written, three heavily influenced my career. First is usually Ketika Mas Gagah Pergi (When Brother Gagah is usually Gone), a collection of short stories, published in 1997. Literary researchers like Professor Monika Arnez (Germany) have labelled This specific book as the pioneer for the Islamic literary movement in Indonesia.
The second book is usually Bukavu (2008), another collection of short stories, focusing on the aesthetical element of the Islamic literary genre. This specific won the Khatulistiwa Literary Award in which year.
The third one is usually Tanah Perempuan (Land of the Women) (2005,) my first drama script to be published as a book. Inspired by the tsunami tragedy in 2005, I dug deeply into the history of Aceh’s heroines coming from 17th, 18th, 19th as well as also 20th centuries to tell their inspiring stories as well as also lift their spirits, especially the women, who suffered most coming from the disaster. The script was selected among the three best scripts during a workshop held by Jakarta Arts Council (2005).
In 1997, you established Forum Lingkar Pena (FLP). What led to the founding of This specific successful network?
My sister, Asma Nadia as well as also I established FLP in 1997. Since then, people coming from all ranks of life have joined our ‘Indonesia Reads & Writes’ movement. Today, there are about 10,000 volunteers in 150 cities worldwide, encouraging as well as also helping each different to write as well as also publish their thoughts. Millions of Indonesians, most of them young people, have participated in various FLP workshops. Thousands of titles have been published as books, as well as stories in newspapers as well as also magazines. Some have made their way to television as well as also cinema including Ketika Cinta Bertasbih, viewed by almost 500,000 people, one of the highest in Indonesian history. With corporate help, FLP establishes Rumah Baca & Hasilkan Karya (House of the Light) in almost every city where there is usually a representative office. In 2008, FLP won the Danamon award as a “Hero of the Society”as a non-profit. The success of FLP reflects the continuing passion as well as also hard work of its volunteers; I only put forward the first step.
For a decade, you worked as Managing Editor, as well as also then Editor in Chief at Annida, a famous Indonesian Islamic teen magazine. What fresh opportunities did This specific unique format present?
I worked at Annida coming from 1991 to 2001, building up my writing career. The format effectively penetrated young target segments, as none with Islamic content existedthen, different than story-magazines that has a non-Islamic focus. Annida gained popularity in Islamic boarding schools throughout Indonesia. Parents also welcomed the Islamic content provided to children as well as also teens in a subtle, entertaining way. Annida published 100,000 copies per month at in which time, that has a little return rate. the item was an impressive number, even compared with general teen magazines.
With the founding of Bening Theatrical Company, you wrote as well as also directed plays with female companies. Why did you make the leap to the stage as well as also what are the rewards of This specific medium?
Drama play is usually not fresh for me. I have been participating since elementary school. A dozen scripts in which I wrote have been performed as well. I established Bening in 1990 as an alternative to university-based theatrical companies to focus on women’s issues with an Islamic viewpoint. Due to my long involvement, I was invited to teach drama at the University of Jakarta in 2004. currently, I am an active lecturer as well as also theatrical coach there, while pursuing my PhD.
With your involvement in Jakarta Arts Council, South East Asian Literary Council as well as also the Indonesian chapter of the Muslim World Writers Association, how have you brought women’s changing cultural roles to the forefront?
I believe in which women play a crucial role in society, including cultural adjustments. There is usually a phrase I like: “Woman is usually the pole of the nation as well as also every mother is usually the school for her children.” With each organization as well as also event, I translate This specific belief by encouraging women as well as also children to read as well as also write for their betterment with various campaigns, trainings as well as also publications.
In news stories around the entire world, you have been hailed for your focus on human rights abuses against women in conflict zones as well as also called a “pioneer” as well as also “the locomotive of young Indonesian writers. ” What is usually on the horizon for you currently?
I have had some of my works translated into English as well as also different languages. I would certainly love to see more of them translated for a wider audience. I am keen to write more, to share as well as also spread the messages of God’s love to human beings as taught in my religion. For me, writing is usually loving, writing is usually fighting; hence there will be no end to the item. I pray in which God gives me the strength to keep writing until my last breath.
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Shaping Women’s Roles through Literature: Helvy Tiana Rosa
Shaping Women’s Roles through Literature: Helvy Tiana Rosa