Chairil Anwar

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Chairil Anwar (July 26, 1922—April 28, 1949) was probably one of the most famous Indonesian poets. Chairil was born in Medan, North Sumatra. He was a Minangkabau descent. He died at the relatively young age of 27 of syphilis.

Notably, one of his most famous poems was "Aku". It is a poem that comes from the wound of having to leave his father who cheated on his mother. But Chairil's expression of personal pain and rebellion was interpreted by many Indonesians as a call to arms. His poem "Aku" is mostly used in rally and protest as a declaration of rebellion.

Chairil was indeed a rebellious person. He lived in the streets of Jakarta and befriended many of the upper class and also many prostitutes. That is how he contracted the syphilis that eventually claimed his life. His uncle was Indonesia's Prime Minister, but he never took advantage of that position. Instead, Chairil stayed in the streets or at the hut his mother built.

Chairil, together with Asrul Sani and Rivai Apin, were the poets behind Generation 45 ("Angkatan '45"). That movement signified a change in Indonesian literature. Smart, short and "unflowerful" words were to be the height of "Angkatan '45". This defied the previous generation of poets such as Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, whose poems still mostly used "traditional" lyrics, rhyme and structured form (derived from the Pantun).

[edit] Bibliography

Deru Campur Debu [Roar Mixed with Dust] (1949)
Kerikil Tajam Yang Terampas dan Yang Putus [Sharp Pebbles The Seized and the Severed] (1949)
At the Mosque (1949)
Tiga Menguak Takdir [Three Tear Open Fate] (1950)

[edit] See Also

List of Minangkabaus

[edit] References

Chairil Anwar: Poet of a Generation by Tinuk Yampolsky

Persondata
NAME	Anwar, Chairil
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Indonesia]]n poet
DATE OF BIRTH	July 22, 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH	Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia
DATE OF DEATH	April 28, 1949
PLACE OF DEATH	Jakarta, Indonesia