Perpusnas Promotes Classic Works Adaptation at Asrul Sani 101st Anniversary

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - To keep Indonesia’s literary heritage alive for younger readers, the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) is pushing for contemporary adaptations and format diversification of classic works. This initiative was highlighted during the opening of the Jejak Langkah Kreatif Asrul Sani (The Creative Footsteps of Asrul Sani) exhibition, which marked the 101st anniversary of Asrul Sani on Tuesday, 10 June 2026.

Head of the National Library, E. Aminudin Aziz, said Perpusnas has a responsibility to broaden reading options and disseminate literary works that match current reader interests to strengthen overall literacy.

“One of the steps taken is to encourage rewriting and adaptation of classical literary works so they are closer to the current generation. In addition, several works are also converted into various formats, such as comics and digital stories,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Perpusnas records at least 80 items in the Asrul Sani collection. Aminudin described the centenary commemoration as a shared duty to reintroduce the writer’s intellectual legacy and literary output to the public.

"The National Library has Asrul Sani's works. In my records, what we can find so far are 80 titles, consisting of 31 monographs, 16 magazines, three newspaper collections, three photo collections, and 27 audio collections," he said.

Aminudin added that marking Asrul Sani’s 101st year is not merely participation in an event but part of Perpusnas’s mandate to develop public literacy.

"Perpusnas carries a mission to work together with ministries/agencies and the public to address issues related to literacy. When we talk about literacy, this is about developing critical thinking skills," he said.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture, Bambang Wibawarta, praised Asrul Sani as a maestro whose contributions shaped Indonesian literature, film, and cultural thought.

"Asrul Sani was a figure who not only produced works but also shaped the direction of national cultural development. In film, his works became milestones in national cinema," said Bambang.

Bambang highlighted how Asrul Sani’s screenplays turned film into a space for moral and social reflection. He cited Naga Bonar as a work that successfully presented the nation's struggle through a humanist, humorous, and accessible lens.

"Through his works, he showed that Indonesian film can be deeply rooted in national identity while also achieving very high artistic quality," said Bambang.

He added that Asrul Sani’s intellectual spirit and convictions demonstrate that culture forms the foundation of a nation’s civilization and remains an important inspiration for youth.

Asrul Sani’s wife, Mutiara Sani Sarumpaet, emphasized that he was not only a writer, cultural figure, filmmaker, and thinker but also a husband, friend, and life teacher.

"This one-hundred-and-one-year anniversary is not merely a numerical commemoration. Instead, it is an invitation to read, understand, and revive the spirit he left behind, namely the spirit of critical thinking, the courage to create, and a commitment to humanity and nationhood," she said.

The Jejak Langkah Kreatif Asrul Sani exhibition runs until 17 June 2026 in the exhibition hall on the 4th floor of the Library Service Facilities Building at Perpusnas. The show displays archives, documentation, works, ideas, and the life journey of Asrul Sani as a writer, cultural figure, filmmaker, politician, and educator. ***