Kwee Tek Hoay

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Kwee Tek Hoay
Born31 July 1886
Bogor, West Java
Died4 July 1951(1951-07-04) (aged 64)
Cicurug, Sukabumi, West Java
OccupationWriter
LanguageIndonesian
GenreNovels, Drama
SubjectLiterature
Notable worksDrama of Krakatoa, Dramatist Digoel
SpouseOeij Hiang Nio
Children3
In this Chinese name, the family name is Kwee.

Kwee Tek Hoay (

Malay-language
writer of novels and drama, and a journalist.

Biography

Kwee Tek Hoay, the youngest son of Tjiam Kwee Hong and Tan Ay Nio, often played truant during his early school years because he could not understand the language of instruction,

Batavia, Jakarta). He tutored his eldest daughter Njonja Tjoa Hin Hoei (born Kwee Yat Nio) into a career in journalism as well. In 1926, Kwee ventured into publishing his own magazine, called Panorama, a progressive and modern Indonesian language publication which gave space for new ideas and young women writers such as Siem Piet Nio. However, Kwee had a hard time sustaining the magazine financially and in 1931 he sold it to the jurist, politician and newspaper proprietor Phoa Liong Gie.[1] His most famous paper on the history and background of the founding association Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan, "The Origins of the Modern Chinese Movement in Indonesia", came out in series from August 1936 to January 1939.[2]

As a journalist Kwee attained much success, but he achieved yet another mark as a

1931 and 1975. A recent staging of the play drew many people to see it for the sake of nostalgia.[3]

His drama The Victim Yi Yong Toan was staged in 1928. It was a criticism of the removal of young men to China to fight the Japanese army. Most of his works were inspired by real-life incidents and political issues. The drama Digoel was based on the life of a

Communist Party leader and his daughter. Another of his works, titled Drama in Boven Digul, was based on the events of the PKI rebellion against the Dutch government and the exile of communists to the Boven-Digoel concentration camp
.

During the 1920s, Kwee became actively engaged in the Tri Dharma. He ensured that the Buddhist temple in Jakarta also served as an institution for lessons on Buddhism. He is credited with the publication of the first Indonesian-language magazine on the teachings of Buddhism, Dharma Moestika (1932–1934).[4]

Legacy

In 2011, his work Drama in Boven Digul was selected as Kwee's magnum opus by the Gerakan Indonesia Membaca Sastra (GIMS) or the Indonesia Reads Literature Movement as their first work of Indonesian literature to be read.[5]

Another of Kwee's works, Nonton Cap Go Meh, was honoured by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in November 2011, along with eight others with the Bintang Budaya Parama Dharma award for contributing to the cultural heritage of the country. Set in the 1930s, the drama is a reflection of Kwee's progressive philosophy. It revolves around the life of a married couple, Thomas and Lies, who wanted to watch 'Cap Go Meh', a celebration of the 15th day after the New Year. However, they were not allowed to go out together, because of the restrictive old-school social rule that allowed them only the company of the members of the same gender. The couple not only expressed their dislike for such restrictive thinking, but also set an example for the youth to adopt more modern thinking.[6]

Recognizing the contributions of Kwee and other major writers to Indonesian literature, Gramedia released a series of ten volumes, titled "Kesastraan Melayu Tionghoa dan Kebangsaan Indonesia", (Chinese-Malay Literature and Indonesian Nationhood). Many of Kwee's writings that document the life and culture of the 19th and 20th century Indonesia are included in the publication. Kwee's works have been performed by many theatres, such as Theatre Bejana that started with Bunga Roos dari Cikembang in February 2004, an adaptation of Kwee's Pencuri (The Thief) in 2010, Zonder Lentera (Without Light) in 2011 and Nonton Cap Go Meh in 2012.[3]

Selected publications

Main article: List of works by Kwee Tek Hoay

References

  1. doi:10.3406/arch.1995.3035
    . Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Figure Tridharma Poets". tokohindonesia. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Remembering an overlooked auteur". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  4. ^ "History of Buddhism in Indonesia". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Chinese-Indonesian writers told tales of life around them". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  6. ^ "When the young bend 'Cap Go Meh' ritual". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
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