Agus Noor, Yanusa Nugroho win ‘Kompas’ Best Short Story award

Dynamic Duo: Writers Yanusa Nugroho (left) and Agus Noor pose with their respective Kompas Best Short Story awards at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta cultural venue in Central Jakarta on Thursday evening. It was the first time in the competition's 20-year history that the judges picked two winners for the award. (JP/Amahl S. Azwar)

A historical event occurred at this year’s Kompas daily Best Short Story award ceremony, when the judges decided to pick two champions out of 22 nominees.

In the ceremony, held on Thursday evening at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta in Central Jakarta in conjunction with Kompas' 37th anniversary, the judges chose writer Agus Noor’s Kunang-Kunang di Langit Jakarta (Fireflies in Jakarta’s Sky) and Yanusa Nugroho’s Salawat Dedaunan (Chanting from the Leaves) to be the evening’s winning pair.

It was the first time that judges had decided to select two winners since the event began 20 years ago.

Agus, who is known for books, such as Bapak Presiden yang Terhormat (Dear Mr. President) and Selingkuh Itu Indah (Promiscuity is Beautiful), said he was surprised that the judges had decided to pick two winners for Best Short Story.

“But I think this is very positive because it shows that the standard among short stories nowadays is even greater,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, Surabaya-born Yanusa told the Post after receiving his award that he was rooting for his fellow writer, Triyanto Triwikromo from Central Java, who wrote Burung Api Siti [Siti’s Firebirds], to win the award.

“His story is really, really good … but I acknowledge many people have sent me text messages applauding my short story. Maybe the judges agreed with them,” he said.

A total of 22 short stories from 21 writers were selected from 51 published short stories in 2011 as nominees in the competition. The other stories nominated included Dewi Ria Utari’s Ibu Pulang (Mother is Coming Home) and Gus tf Sakai’s two short stories, Kak Ros (Sister Ros) and Pakiah dari Priangan (Pakiah from Priangan).

Kompas’s editor for short story, Fajar Arcana, told the Post that he was hoping the event, along with a workshop for 26 upcoming writers on Wednesday, could trigger more people to appreciate Indonesia’s literature in the future. (asa)