Budi Darma and The Existence of Jungkir Balik Theory in National Symposium

The Faculty of art and language at Unesa is hosting a national symposium on the topic "Dunia Jungkir Balik Budi Darma" on September 14, online through the zoom meeting platform and also from youtube livestream. This event starts at 07.30 in the morning which is divided into four sessions and is narrated by great speakers consisting of writers and relatives of Prof Budi Darma. 

The speakers consisted of Faruk HT, Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Okky Puspa Madasari, Suyatno, Akmal Nasery Basral, M. Shoim Anwar, Triyanto Triwikromo, Tengsoe Tjahjono, Wahyudi Siswanto, Nurinwa Ki S. Hendrowinoto, Eka Budianta, Much Khoiri, Tommy F Awuy , Hafiz Rancajale, I Wayan Kun Adnyana, and Djuli Djatiprambudi.

This symposium was held to commemorate the figure of Professor Budi Darma after his death on August 21, 2021, as well as to commemorate his works which were carried out with various detailed discussions about the uniqueness of the work of Professor Budi Darma, a great Indonesian writer as well as a professor of the Faculty of Language and Arts at Unesa. 

He has written many literary works and essays with his own style and characteristics that make him unique as a writer. some of his famous works such as Orang-Orang Bloomington (1980), Olenka (1983), Rafilus (1988), Kritikus Adinan (2008), and many more. After he passed away, of course, his relatives and some literary fans feel lost and the news from several national media also informed this sad news with deep condolences.

'Jungkir Balik'  is a phrase that is attached to the writing style of Prof. Budi Darma. The phrase itself here means explaining about the creative process and his writing style  in creating characters that flow in the story and characters in an all-open absurd world. As stated by one of the speakers, Shoim Anwar, who said that almost all of Prof. Budi Darma's works raised the theme of existentialism about human life struggling with the world of solitude, loneliness, failure, difficulties in establishing social connection, and returning to solitude phase again. "Yes, indeed human life is absurd, difficult to understand and full of uncertainty," he added.

In this symposium, it also discusses how Prof. Budi Darma's attitude behind the creation of the works that he has created, that in his writing there prove his ability to speak, think, and the reasons which comes from a depth that lies in the brain which is not easily imitated, all at once with the sharpness of his heart as a form of the importance of mental and emotional processes when thinking. 

"He has an attitude in his literary concept, that a real writer never has any preparation. So, every day, his life is for the sake of his writing and he observes humans. He is also a staunch adherent of the human concept so that he can then use it as a theme to make a story. Moreover, he also always squeezes the power of writing when the moment of opportunity comes as fast as lightning."  Said Seno, when explaining the concept of Budi Darma's writing attitude.

Prof. Budi Darma's idea of 'Jungkir Balik' is like overturning the concept of realism with philosophy. Based on his first essay, literature is an open world of possibilities, where a possibility always exists and it is not limited by anything. The literary work that is made must have a certain meaning and there will be many interpretations that are free to be expressed, so this interpretation will exist after a work is released. Because basically the interpretation will continue to exist and cannot be ended by anyone. 

The concept of Jungkir Balik is also shown through how different the figure of Prof. Budi Darma as a writer as well as a teacher. Faruq HT also explained the thoughts and attitudes of Prof. Budi Darma when he wrote his works that seemed bold and genuine.

"According to Budi Darma, life becomes interesting if you convey it for the way it is. What I mean by saying this is a state which is not being pressured and not following the rules. I think when Budi Darma writes essays or literary works, he is really in a free condition . If Budi Darma says something, it is the words that really arise from his heart.  

His writing mostly are romanticism in the sense that the author is free, spontaneous, and the text itself doesn't need to be edited. Is it wrong? It's not wrong, what's important as a writer is to be brave to say what you think." Faruq answered when asked about the figure of Budi Darma in his writing style.

This national symposium attracted a lot of attention and was attended by more than a thousand participants who not only came from various cities but also other countries such as Malaysia. "The most interesting part for me I think is from the explanation of Mrs. Okky Madasari, which is about the causes of bad literary works according to Budi Darma.

The first reason is when the author only depends on his/her talent and the lack of abstraction capabilities. There is a statement from Prof. Budi Darma that I learned from this event is that the work of a writer is not a field of narcissism for yourself. His writing skill comes from his inner talent and his sensitivity. When he got the inspiration, he immediately looked for a typewriter. 

He is a talented writer, because inspiration comes from anywhere, anytime and is not bound by anything. Furthermore, Prof. Budi Darma's statement that amazed me more is when he said, "If you want to be a successful writer, don't write for money," said Nadyatul, who was one of the participants of this symposium when expressing her opinion on this symposium and on the figure of Prof. Budi Darma whom he admires.

She also added how she sees the literary concept of 'jungkir balik' theory that in the world of literature is not essentially in line with reality and it's most likely contrary to the existing reality. "A writer has the freedom to create his own dynamics in his literary work. Prof. Budi Darma is a great writer, he can write freely and wildly from what he sees, thinks, and feels with his sharp ideas." she added.

Through this symposium this provides many new things that inspire to become more creative and productive-minded and seems to teach that in this absurd life there are unique things that can be made into a work, depending on how sensitive we are to seeing the environment around us and how capable we are of observing the life like Prof. Budi Darma did, so that later on we can use it as a theme to make story as said by Seno Gumira Ajidarma when explaining how the authorship strategies have been carried out by Budi Darma so far. Through this symposium, the audience seemed to be introduced to the figure of Budi Darma, how he is in the eyes of his colleagues and fans, and how Prof. Budi Darma's thoughts through his essays and his literary works are timeless.