Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta Literature Foundation (Yasayo) for the second time will confer literary prizes to four writers and literary researchers in Yogyakarta, who are considered successful to encourage and enhance people's appreciation of Indonesian and Javanese literature. The four writers are Sugihastuti Marwan (Indonesian literature researcher), Dhanu Priyo Prabowo (Javanese literature researcher), Indra Tranggono (author of Indonesian literature), and Suci Hadi Suwito (author of Javanese literature). According to the plan, the event will be carried out at Balai Bahasa of Yogyakarta on Saturday (19/11).
Foundation chairman, Prof. Dr. Rachmat Djoko Pradopo, said that the event is regularly held twice a year. The lecturer of Indonesian Literature Department of UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences added that the objective of this literary prize is to encourage and enhance the appreciation of Indonesian and Javanese literature. "We know that the higher people's appreciation of literature and arts, the higher the civilization of that community will be," he said. Rachmat hoped that in the future this award would be made a cultural agenda in Yogyakarta and Yasayo would give awards for more specific genres, e.g. for poets, short story writers and playwrights.
The committee chairman, Dr. Aprinus Salam, said that the nominees are those who live in Yogyakarta and have Yogyakarta’s ID card, having published at least 3 books in the past ten years. "The works were selected based on certain criteria," he said. Aprinus added that each winner will receive an award plaque and a cash prize of 3 million rupiah.