HB Jassin's Sastra Documentation Center Inaugurated By Ali Sadikin In History Today, May 30, 1977

The HB Jassin Literature Documentation Center located at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Central Jakarta. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA History today, 46 years ago, May 30, 1977, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin inaugurated the HB Jassin Sastra Documentation Center. The inauguration was carried out by Bang Ali as a form of appreciation for Jassin's efforts to collect literary works.

Previously, Jakarta under the leadership of a man who is familiarly called Bang Ali developed rapidly. All kinds of cultural agendas are encouraged. Especially with a narrative of educating the nation's children. Ali did not hesitate to spend large funds to provide support.

The development of Jakarta is far from special in the early phase of Indonesia's independence. In fact, it tends to be modest. All of this is evidenced by the large number of slum areas in Jakarta. Many of them are in poor condition in public facilities.

However, this condition did not last long. Everything changed when Soekarno appointed Ali Sadikin as Governor of DKI Jakarta in 1966. Ali Sadikin also realized that the funds to build Jakarta were a little if you don't want to be said to be lacking.

Bang Ali tried to make a breakthrough. He began to think about steps so that Jakarta had a lot of funds to build. A series of steps were perpetuated. Controversial steps, especially. He thought that Jakarta could reimplement gambling and prostitution taxes.

This means that the DKI Jakarta government is preparing to legalize prostitution and gambling. The results are brilliant. Jakarta can build a lot from that income. Regional cash is maintained. He also began to take into account Jakarta's income to perpetuate the development and development of Jakarta. Everything is for the lives of many people.

There is no fund to finance development, no problem. He did not hesitate to allow ethnic Chinese to play gambling openly, and from lottery and siah-hwee took funds to finance the construction of elementary schools, health centers, etc. In the early days of his tenure, Bang Ali reminded mayors in America during the era of President Franklin Roosevelt, such as Fiorello H. La Guardia, Mayor of New York, 1934-1945, who was nicknamed People's Mayor or People's Mayor.

Like that character, Bang Ali manages Jakarta successfully. Because he is a good listener, listen carefully to what people say. He implements management by teamwork. You have to work together by not forgetting who is the commander. In the end, the person responsible is Bang Ali," said Rosihan Anwar in the book 'Petite Histoire' Indonesia Volume 3 (2008).

Ali Sadikin's ability to see problems cannot be doubted. He was able to absorb all kinds of criticism and input from the public. Mainly from cultural circles. Many asked Ali Sadikin to help writers, HB Jassin, who was gossiping about gathering literary works.

The DKI Jakarta government immediately extended assistance. He is determined to make Jakarta a city of culture. All kinds of work by HB Jassin in collecting various literary works are fully supported by the government.

Both, HB Jassin and Ali agreed to build the HB Jassin Sastra Documentation Center at Taman Ismail Marzuki. The HB Jassin Literature Documentation Center was inaugurated by Ali Sadikin on May 30, 1977.

Bang Ali revealed that he did not really like literature. However, he considers that efforts to save literary works by HB Jassin should be appreciated for the sake of a mission to educate the nation's children. As a result, future generations will not lack knowledge related to the development of Indonesian literature from time to time.

"But I understand that writers must be given freedom. That's what they think is good. Never mind I consider it important too. Indeed, in this world there are many kinds. God has indeed created various kinds of people.

"But for sure, I really believe that what Mr. Jassin is doing is important. He is so diligent. I witnessed the results of his work. Rapi he collected the papers, documents. I consider the work of Mr. Jassin to be a matter of saving our treasury," explained Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).