TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Award-winning West Sumatran writer Darman Moenir dies at 67
A family member said that Darman had been battling several illnesses, including stage IV lung cancer.
Change Size
Darman Moenir died on July 30, 2019 at the age of 67 and was buried the same day at Andalas University Cemetery in Padang, West Sumatra. (gong-online.com via Tribun Padang/-)
A
ward-winning writer Darman Moenir died at the age of 67 on Tuesday at 2:40 p.m. local time at the Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital in Padang, West Sumatra. He is survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren.
Son-in-law Arzil said that Darman had started feeling unwell early this year, and was admitted to the hospital on July 8.
“He was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, osteoporosis, and kidney failure,” Arzil said on Tuesday, and that his father-in-law had been buried at Andalas University Cemetery in Bandar Buat, Padang.
Darman was born on July 27, 1952 in in Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra. He rose to prominence when his novel, Bako, won first place for romance fiction in the 1980 Jakarta Art Council (DKJ) writing competition.
He is also known for five other notable novels: Gumam (Murmurings, 1976), Denda (The fine, 1988), Aku, Keluargaku, dan Tetanggaku (Me, my family and my neighbors, 1993), Krit & Sena (2010), and Andika Cahaya (Andika's light, 2012).
He also published a collection of short stories titled Jelaga Pusaka Tinggi (The soot of high culture, 1997) and was known as a regular contributor to Kompas' short story column.
Darman also wrote children's poems and stories. Among his published works in the genre are the poetry collection, Kenapa Hari Panas Sekali (Why the day is so hot,1975), and Tanpa Makna (No meaning, 1977).
His poetry has also been published in Tonggak 4: Antologi Puisi Indonesia Modern 4 (Milestones: Anthology of modern Indonesian poetry, Vol. 4, 1987).
Poet and writer Esha Tegar Putra said that the country had lost a renowned writer who was appreciative of young writers from West Sumatra. “Especially of those whose works were published in the mass media or newly released publications,” Esha told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
“He usually told us what he'd read from the latest Indonesian writers. That might be how he became close to the younger generation of writers,” Esha said.
