A survey of events surrounding “Manikebu”. The struggle for cultural and intellectual freedom in Indonesian literature

Abstract

The revolutionary spirit in art and literature which appeared to characterise Chairil Anwar and his generation was in no way a unified rejection of the old and a common belief for the future. Indeed, when Chairil died in 1949, and the dynamic influence of his personality was removed from literary circles, the cohesion of the so-called Angkatan 45 fell apart. Writing as an expression of life and individuality, which Chairil had been able to inspire through his own example, gave way to the need to devise theories of art and creativity. An attempt was made by those who had followed Chairil, known collectively as the Gelenggcmg artists,1 to formulate his ideals into a declaration of belief, the Surat Kepertjajaan Gelenggcmg, which was issued on 18th February, 1950. It was a proclamation of Chainl's concept of man as. the only universal reality (though not incorporating his belief in the vitality of the life force). Its formulators declared themselves the rightful heirs to world culture, and open to its influences in all national forms. As