Sapardi Djoko Damono

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.

Containing 95 poems, including a selection of his poems from 1964 to 1992, the book has been described as a kind of "greatest hits" of Sapardi.

His first collection of poetry, DukaMu Abadi (Your Eternal Sorrow), was released in 1969.

The focus of DukaMu Abadi is on the pain of the individual who questions existence, and unlike many of his literary peers of this time, Sapardi's poetry focused more on the human condition rather than revolutionary and social ideas.

Some of the poems included were written during a year spent at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu in the early 1970s.

Sapardi has also completed a number of translations of literary works from other countries into Indonesian.

These include the literary works of T.S. Eliot, Khalil Gibran and Jalaludin Rumi; his translation of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is considered among Indonesia's best.

Sapardi's poems have also formed the inspiration behind several musical compositions, most notably by Indonesia's international-acclaimed pianist Ananda Sukarlan.

In 1973, after his return from the US, he became a permanent faculty member in the Literature Department at the University of Indonesia.

In 1974, he published Mata Pisau (Knife) and Akuarium (Aquarium).

These were followed by Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat) and Sihir Hujan (Rain Spell), and in 1986 he received the ASEAN-sponsored SEA-Write Award for poetry.

In 1987, he was one of several prominent Indonesian figures (Goenawan Mohamad, Subagio Sastrowardoyo, Umar Kayam, and John H. McGlynn) involved in the establishment of the Lontar Foundation.

To mark the foundation's inauguration, a collection of Sapardi's poems, entitled "Suddenly the Night" was released.

In 1989 he received his doctorate from the same university, and in 1993 became a full professor.

Several singers have also released albums using his poetry: Hujan Bulan Juni (1990), Hujan Dalam Komposisi (Rain in Composition) (1990) Gadis Kecil (Young Girl) (2006) and Becoming Dew (2007).

The duo AriReda (composed of Reda Gaudiamo and Ari Malibu) also set his compositions to music.

In the realm of film, Aku Ingin (I Want), composed by Ags. Arya Dipayana, has been rearranged into a soundtrack by Bubblegum pop musician Dwiki Dharmawan for Garin Nugroho's 1991 film Cinta dalam Sepotong Roti (Love Is in a Slice of Bread).

He was a professor at the University of Indonesia.

Damono's extensive and intensive involvement in the university has borne him the unofficial title 'Professor of Indonesian Poets'.

He was once elected dean of the faculty.

His poetry continues to enjoy wide popular appeal.

Hujan Bulan Juni, one of his most popular works, was published in 1994.

In 1998/1999, Sapardi wrote about the social turbulence resulting from the fall of the New Order regime.

This resulted in the book Ayat-ayat Api (Verses of Fire), which received some negative criticism, largely due to the angry tone of the work which differed markedly from his normal style.

His best known works include Hujan Bulan Juni (A June Rain) and Berjalan ke Barat di Waktu Pagi Hari (Walking to the West in the Morning).

A poetry recital, arranged to celebrate his 70th birthday in March 2010, was packed out with people of all ages and from all walks of life, queuing to enter the venue.

Sapardi Djoko Damono has received a number of awards in recognition of his work.

Included among these are:

On 20 March 2023, Google celebrated Sapardi Djoko Damono’s 83rd Birthday with a doodle.

He died in South Tangerang, Banten on 19 July 2020 after a long illness.

Sapardi attended grammar school at Sekolah Dasar Kasatriyan in his home town of Surakarta (also known as Solo), and from there he went on to junior high and high school at SMP 2 and SMA 2.

He was an avid reader from an early age, and was a frequent visitor to the local libraries around Solo.

His interests were broad, ranging from the works of Karl May, William Saroyan, and Pramoedya Ananta Toer, to comics by R.A. Kosasih.

Eventually Sapardi, together with one of his younger siblings, began a lending library in their neighbourhood.

Sapardi began writing poetry while still in high school in Surakarta.

After his graduation from high school, Sapardi moved to Yogyakarta to study at the English division of the Literature department at Gajah Mada University, and later completed his graduate studies in Indonesian literature.

During this period he also became involved in radio broadcasting and the theater, as well as writing poetry.

Sapardi's literary career developed alongside his academic career.

After graduating from UGM, Sapardi taught in a number of places, including Madiun, Solo, and Diponegoro University in Semarang, before moving to the United States for a brief period.