RE: pol. of classification
Francoise Herrmann (fherrmann who-is-at igc.apc.org)
Fri, 31 Oct 1997 16:06:33 -0800 (PST)
Hi Jay, Yes, that is exactly what is fictionalized in the Buru
quartet. Out of the divisions imposed by colonialism and the old
caste systems, the birth of a nationalism in a strong marxist
tradition. The Buru Quartet novels are set at the turn of the 20th
century and I do not know the hsitory of Indonesia to say how that
picture of the past feeds into modern and present day Indonesia.
(Gamelan music, batik cloth and puppet theatre are about as much
of Indonesia that I am familiar with) but this serie of novels
offer a fabulous window into the role of schooling in
emancipation, the workings of colonialism, the politics of
language use (natives are not even alowed to speak dutch) and so
much that vividly depicts myriads of human relationships. I have
learned a lot from reading these books. The author spoke the books
while emprisoned in the Buru concentration camp. The publishers of
the books in Indonesia are still in jail where these books are
forbidden literature.
Francoise Francoise Herrmann fherrmann who-is-at igc.apc.org
http://www.wenet.net/~herrmann