Takdir Alisjahbana, Sutan (1908-1994), an Indonesian writer and philosopher, became known for his pioneering studies of the Indonesian language and its literature. He became rektor (president) of the Indonesian National University in Jakarta in 1968.
Takdir Alisjahbana was born on Feb. 11, 1908, in Sumatra. He had his first novel published in 1929. He became a schoolteacher, but only for a year. In 1930, he moved to Jakarta and found employment with the Balai Pustaka, the government literary institute. In 1933, he became one of the founding editors of Pudjangga Baru, an influential literary magazine in Indonesia. It contained poems and essays by authors written in Malay, now called Indonesian.
In 1937, Takdir Alisjahbana began his studies at the School of Law in Jakarta. He took his law degree in 1942. After the Japanese occupied Indonesia in 1942 during World War II, Takdir became head of the language office and worked on the development of the Indonesian language. This development was necessary because the Japanese forbade the use of Dutch, and at first few Indonesians knew Japanese. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, Takdir became involved in the Indonesian Socialist Party. From 1945 to 1960, he was a member of various legislative councils and committees. From 1958, he traveled and extended his education in Europe, particularly in Germany. From 1959 until 1962, he lived in the United States.
Takdir was unwilling to return to Indonesia under President Sukarno. Sukarno, the leader of Indonesia’s independence struggle and the country’s first president, ruled with nearly dictatorial powers and took the title president for life. In 1963, Takdir became professor in the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. At that time, during the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Indonesian government branded him a traitor. They seized his property in Indonesia. In 1968, after the fall of President Sukarno, he returned to Indonesia to live.
Takdir Alisjahbana wrote many books and articles, including works on philosophy, culture, language, literature, and history. He also wrote several popular novels that included social criticism, which influenced later Indonesian authors. He was appointed to posts in many Indonesian and international organizations. He died on July 17, 1994.
