MEDAN — Commemorating the centenary of the birth of Asrul Sani, a prominent Indonesian literary figure of the Generation of ’45, the Indonesian Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), held a book discussion entitled “A Century and a Year of Asrul Sani: Tracing His Ideas and Intellectual Legacy” on Monday (August 10, 2026).

Held online via Zoom Meeting, the event was organized in collaboration between the Indonesian Literature Study Program at FIB USU and the North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Association of Literature Scholars (HISKI). The discussion was attended by approximately 150 participants, including academics, students, and Indonesian literature enthusiasts.

Head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program at FIB USU, Emma Marsella, S.S., M.Si., said that the event served as a platform to reintroduce Asrul Sani’s ideas to the younger generation while examining their relevance to the development of Indonesian literature and culture.

“Through today’s book discussion, we are invited to retrace Asrul Sani’s intellectual legacy, understand the context of his time, and reflect on how his ideas can continue to inspire contemporary generations of writers and academics, particularly students of the Indonesian Literature Study Program,” Emma said.

Dean of FIB USU, Pujiono, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for the event, which brought together different institutions and academic perspectives.

“This event provides an important academic space for critically revisiting Asrul Sani’s thoughts and works. The collaboration between the Indonesian Literature Study Program at FIB USU and the North Sumatra Chapter of HISKI demonstrates that the advancement of knowledge and culture requires synergy across institutions,” Pujiono said.

The discussion featured Prof. Drs. Syaifuddin, M.A., Ph.D., Dr. Heru Marwata, M.Hum., and Bambang Riyanto, S.S., M.Si., with Rachmad Fadillah Maha, S.S., M.Si., serving as moderator.

Dr. Heru Marwata highlighted Asrul Sani as a figure known not only as a poet of the Generation of ’45, but also as an intellectual, filmmaker, and cultural figure. Meanwhile, Prof. Syaifuddin discussed the realities of Malay and Batak ethnic acculturation reflected in the script and screenplay of the film Nagabonar.

Bambang Riyanto emphasized the importance of examining Asrul Sani’s work critically. He also encouraged further studies on the intellectual dialectic between Asrul Sani and Pramoedya Ananta Toer, as well as efforts to establish Asrul Sani’s works within the literary canon.

The event also contributed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education by expanding access to literacy and literary learning, as well as SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between the Indonesian Literature Study Program at FIB USU and the North Sumatra Chapter of HISKI.

Through this initiative, the organizers hope that younger generations will become more familiar with, critically examine, and continue the intellectual legacy of Indonesia’s cultural figures.