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Awi Chin's debut a presents overdue Chinese-Indonesian representation
With his debut novel Yang Tak Kunjung Usai, Awi Chin gives Chinese-Indonesians some overdue representation in literature.
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Different view: Awi Chin has been an avid reader since his teenage years, when he realized how many local novels were set in Java. (Courtesy of Awi Chin) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Awi Chin)
W
ith his debut novel Yang Tak Kunjung Usai (Never Ending), Awi Chin proves that an Indonesian coming-of-age story does not require foreign or dystopian settings to be good.
As a matter of fact, the novel brings up historical events related to an issue rarely discussed: the lack of Chinese-Indonesian representation in literature.
Fifty-four years ago, on Nov. 14, 1967, Indonesia marked one of its bloodiest moments when Dayak groups attacked Chinese-Indonesian minorities living in the rural area of West Kalimantan. Around 3,000 people are reported to have died during the attack.
The incident is known as the Peristiwa Mangkok Merah (Red Bowl Tragedy).
Representation
Yang Tak Kunjung Usai, the debut novel of 30-year-old writer Awi Chin, born Agung Wijayanto, features Chinese-Indonesian character Saul, who returns home to the fictional village of Senjau located in the heart of West Kalimantan.
Published by Comma Books – an imprint of Penerbit KPG – in 2020, the book begins with Saul setting foot in the fictional village following the death of his father in Jakarta. In the novel, Saul finds himself living in a new home with his grandmother, who mainly speaks the Chinese dialect of Hakka.
