While launching the festival, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said he agreed with Pramoedya's view that "no matter how intelligent a person is, as long as they do not write, they will disappear from history."
"It teaches us all, primarily the younger generation, that writing is working for our own 'immortality,' and those who do not do so will vanish from civilization," Zon noted in his written remarks on Sunday.
Activities organized to commemorate the centenary, which began on February 6, included cultural dialogues, a screening of the film adaptation Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), and art performances at the Blora District Head’s official residence pavilion.
During his visit to Blora, Zon also inaugurated a statue and a sketch exhibition featuring Pramoedya's life journey at the Blora Art Space.
He commended Pramoedya for his contributions to the development of literature in Indonesia and, as he put it, even the world.
Zon expressed hope that the late novelist's legacy would continue to inspire people and contribute to national progress and humanity.
He stated that Pramoedya had awakened the people's collective awareness through his deep and meaningful stories about struggle, humanity, and national identity in his literary works.
"The works of Pram are not merely books; they are a reflection of the twists and turns of the Indonesian nation's journey, which I believe will inspire us all," he said, referring to Pramoedya by his popular nickname.
Pramoedya Ananta Toer was born in Blora, Central Java, on February 6, 1925. His works, infused with national history, span the pre-independence to the post-New Order era. He passed away in Jakarta on April 30, 2006, at the age of 81.
He produced outstanding works that enriched Indonesian literature, such as Bumi Manusia, Anak Semua Bangsa (Child of All Nations), Jejak Langkah (Footsteps), and Rumah Kaca (House of Glass), which form the famous Tetralogi Buru (Buru Quartet), written while he was imprisoned on Buru Island from 1965 to 1976 by the New Order regime.
Pramoedya received various accolades during his lifetime, including the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, and was frequently regarded as Indonesia's best candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Related news: Cap Go Meh festival: A cultural and economic boon for Pontianak
Related news: Ministry opens research on music festival multiplier effect
Translator: Farhan Arda N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
