Diasporic literature? New Chinese voices in Indonesia

Ever since the "beginning" ofmodern Indonesian literature in the early twentieth century, Indonesian writers have engaged with the project of creating and defining Indonesian identity, an endeavour that grew out of the nationalist movement and the conditions of late colonialism. Literature has thus come to be understood not merely as a product for consumption and entertainment, but rather as a significant part of the project of nation-building. Most serious writers have engaged both with the mission of creating new literature and with the interrogation and investigation of issues of national identity. It is a trend which continues to inform Indonesian literature in the twenty-first century. The bestknown Indonesian literary works from the late twentieth century-the novels of Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Y: B. Mangunwijaya, the short stories ofSeno Gumira Ajidarma, the poetry ofRendra, Putu Oka Sukanta and 'Wiji Thukul and the plays ofRatna Sarumpaet and Riantiarno-are all the products of socially engaged writers