Yes I do miss him

Last night I went to the performance of Indonesia membaca Rendra (Indonesia read Rendra). I was stunned, thrilled and touched not by the good looking supporting artists but more by Rendra poems.

He was a great man. His poems were powerful. I just imagined when he wrote all his poems during the era of Suharto, the era which men said had the symptoms of dictator era.
Even up to a few years before he passed away, through his poems, Rendra tirelessly voiced his stance on crucial issues such as democracy, justice, combating poverty, aiding the poor and the oppressed.

The great Rendra came into my life in 1998, the chaos period of Indonesia. I was still student at the Universitas Indonesia at that time. In that year, I can say there was instability in Jakarta. There were many intelligent agents in our campus. Students were the hot target of the national army. Our activities were very limited. One day we heard a rumor that Iwan Fals, famous Indonesian singer that often criticized the government with his songs and Rendra, the peacock, will be performed in our campus.

The students were of course very excited to hear that but we were also worried if it could be realized since the new order regime will not be happy with that. Both artists were too critical to the government. But then luckily both of them could perform and inspire the students though witnessed by many intelligent agents. It was a great a performance. Rendra charmed the young crowd with his charisma. That was the first time I was introduced of Rendra the great artist.

(After a big chaos in 1998, Indonesian college students demonstrated and marched to the parliamentary people building to for a change in the government which resulted the former president Soeharto handed over his 30 years presidency to his vice president BJ Habibie.)

The next impression was when I got a chance to visit his home in Depok. The house is so warm with very big garden. I was able to see his work area, met his friendly wife, met his talented people of his bengkel teater.

Back to the performance, I could see that night what a talented and brave man Rendra was. Even Mr. Sudomo, an important and high rank officer at that time who arrested Rendra in the 70’s because of his poems, gave a testimony of how big the influence of Rendra at that time to the students.

I cried when his best friend described what kind of man he was and cried again for the closing song, Kesaksian. Testimony.

Yes I miss Rendra the rebellious peacock. His name will live forever in the heart and mind of many Indonesian people especially the young generation.

I remember his important quote:
“Struggle is the implementation of words”.

Sajak Pertemuan Mahasiswa – W.S Rendra

Matahari terbit pagi ini
mencium bau kencing orok di kaki langit
melihat kali coklat menjalar ke lautan
dan mendengar dengung di dalam hutan

lalu kini ia dua penggalah tingginya
dan ia menjadi saksi kita berkumpul disini
memeriksa keadaan

kita bertanya :
kenapa maksud baik tidak selalu berguna
kenapa maksud baik dan maksud baik bisa berlaga
orang berkata : “kami ada maksud baik”
dan kita bertanya : “maksud baik untuk siapa ?”

ya !
ada yang jaya, ada yang terhina
ada yang bersenjata, ada yang terluka
ada yang duduk, ada yang diduduki
ada yang berlimpah, ada yang terkuras
dan kita disini bertanya :
“maksud baik saudara untuk siapa ?
saudara berdiri di pihak yang mana ?”

kenapa maksud baik dilakukan
tetapi makin banyak petani kehilangan tanahnya
tanah – tanah di gunung telah dimiliki orang – orang kota
perkebunan yang luas
hanya menguntungkan segolongan kecil saja
alat – alat kemajuan yang diimpor
tidak cocok untuk petani yang sempit tanahnya

tentu, kita bertanya :
“lantas maksud baik saudara untuk siapa ?”
sekarang matahari semakin tinggi
lalu akan bertahta juga di atas puncak kepala
dan di dalam udara yang panas kita juga bertanya :
kita ini dididik untuk memihak yang mana ?
ilmu – ilmu diajarkan disini
akan menjadi alat pembebasan
ataukah alat penindasan ?

sebentar lagi matahari akan tenggelam
malam akan tiba
cicak – cicak berbunyi di tembok
dan rembulan berlayar
tetapi pertanyaan kita tidak akan mereda
akan hidup di dalam mimpi
akan tumbuh di kebon belakang

dan esok hari
matahari akan terbit kembali
sementara hari baru menjelma
pertanyaan – pertanyaan kita menjadi hutan
atau masuk ke sungai
menjadi ombak di samodra

di bawah matahari ini kita bertanya :
ada yang menangis, ada yang mendera
ada yang habis, ada yang mengikis
dan maksud baik kita
berdiri di pihak yang mana !

RENDRA
( jakarta, 1 desember 1977 )
* ) Sajak ini dipersembahkan kepada para mahasiswa universitas indonesia di jakarta dan dibacakan di dalam salah satu adegan film “yang muda yang bercinta” yang disutradarai oleh Sumandjaya