Exploring Indonesia’s manuscript treasures, literacy challenges, and modern efforts to revive reading culture
Indonesia’s rich literary heritage, embodied in ancient manuscripts and vibrant storytelling traditions, stands in stark contrast to the country’s ongoing literacy challenges. While physical books and libraries face pressure in today’s digital age, they remain vital as sources of knowledge, inspiration, and cultural identity. This article explores Indonesia’s manuscript treasures, the hurdles in fostering a reading culture, and the innovative efforts—both locally and globally—to preserve and revive the love of reading for future generations.
Libraries are increasingly overshadowed by digital media, yet physical books and manuscripts remain deeply valuable.
Indonesia ranks low in global literacy, mainly due to poor access to books rather than disinterest in reading.
Despite this, Indonesia has a rich heritage of manuscripts, many recognized by UNESCO, such as Babad Diponegoro, La Galigo, and Panji tales.
Important manuscript preservation efforts exist in institutions like Gedong Kirtya in Bali, the British Library in the UK, and Yale University in the US.
Modern libraries must evolve to become more engaging and accessible to attract younger generations. Indonesia’s National Library in Jakarta, the tallest library in the world, stands as a striking example of this vision—blending architectural innovation with a promising model for the future of knowledge sharing.
In the fast-paced digital era, where information is readily available at the click of a button, the role of traditional libraries and physical books has diminished significantly. Yet, illuminated and content-rich manuscripts hold an irreplaceable charm and value. They are not only treasures of knowledge but also serve as sources of inspiration and deeper reflection. Unlike fleeting digital information, these works offer a lasting encounter with human creativity and history.
Indonesia, a nation rich in culture, faces a serious literacy challenge—not due to disinterest, but due to lack of access. A 2016 global survey ranked Indonesia 60th out of 61 countries in literacy. The root problem is scarcity: with only one book for every three people, opportunities to read are limited. In comparison, the U.S. publishes around 400,000 new titles annually, China nearly 600,000, Japan 150,000—while Indonesia manages just 20,000 per year, despite having over 60 million students.
Yet the hunger to read is there. Take the story of Air Haryono, a child once more interested in Lego and sports than books. Everything changed when he discovered Harry Potter. The fantasy world sparked his imagination, leading him to explore biographies and cultural nonfiction. Reading built his confidence and even helped him win a school competition. His story proves that when given the chance, reading can transform young lives.
While Indonesia struggles with literacy, it stands tall in the realm of manuscript heritage. The country is estimated to have over 150,000 ancient manuscripts. Several have gained international recognition through UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MOW) program.
Among the most celebrated is Babad Diponegoro, the 960-page autobiography written by Prince Diponegoro during his exile in Manado. It was listed in 2013. Another is I La Galigo, a monumental Bugis manuscript from the 1700s–1800s comprising 6,000 pages, which UNESCO recognized in 2011 for its ecological wisdom and epic narrative. The Panji tales, based on pre-Majapahit folklore about romantic adventures, represent another jewel of Indonesia’s literary past.
Politically significant archives like those from the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference—led by newly independent Indonesia—are also being proposed for UNESCO recognition. These documents reflect a young nation’s bold leadership in global decolonization.
Across Indonesia, ancient manuscripts are not just relics—they’re living sources of wisdom, creativity, and cultural pride. The Asthabrata, a Javanese leadership treatise preserved by the Pakualaman royal family, offers timeless guidance through the virtues of eight gods. Under Paku Alam X, its teachings have been revived through printed editions in multiple languages and transformed into expressive batik patterns and dance performances. The Suryamulyarja batik series, for instance, visually reinterprets these values for today’s leaders, proving that ancient philosophy can still guide modern action.
In Bali, the Gedong Kirtya library protects over 2,000 lontar manuscripts—palm-leaf texts inscribed since colonial times. Founded in 1928 with royal backing, the institution is a vital center for preserving Balinese language, ritual, and knowledge systems. The art of maintaining lontar is delicate: texts are carved with a kerupak knife and restored with citronella oil and soot from burnt candlenut. Covering subjects from medicine to cosmology, these manuscripts are stored in special kropak boxes, continuing a centuries-old tradition of mindful care.
Around the world, institutions like the British Library and Yale University are safeguarding Indonesia’s rich manuscript traditions. The British Library holds over 600 Indonesian manuscripts, with the largest collection in Javanese. Thanks to a collaboration with Indonesian institutions and support from philanthropist S.P. Lohia, many have been digitized and made freely accessible online—an initiative endorsed by Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and launched in 2017. One standout treasure is the Menak Amir Hamza, a Javanese pegon-script manuscript chronicling the heroic exploits of Prophet Muhammad’s uncle. At over 3,000 pages, it is the largest single-volume Indonesian manuscript in the British Library. A ceremonial handover of digital copies took place at the Yogyakarta Kraton in 2019.
Meanwhile, Yale University’s Sterling Memorial and Beinecke Libraries preserve a striking collection of rare Indonesian works. Beinecke, renowned for its unique marble-lit design, holds items such as Het Srimpi (1925), a Dutch-language guide to royal Javanese dance; Teater Bali, illustrated in Batuan style; Pustaha manuscripts from the Batak people, rich in indigenous medicinal and magical knowledge; and early 20th-century sketches of Balinese life by American artist Morris Stern. These collections not only preserve Indonesia’s literary legacy but also open doors for global audiences to explore its cultural depth.
Indonesia’s National Library, inaugurated in 2017 on Jalan Merdeka Selatan in Jakarta, stands as the tallest library building in the world—27 stories high with three underground levels. Spanning over 50,000 square meters, it houses 2.6 million books, including nearly 11,000 manuscripts, and welcomes an average of 2,000 to 3,000 visitors daily.
While these numbers are promising, they remain modest compared to Indonesia’s vast student population. Yet the library offers a hopeful model for the future. With its air-conditioned comfort, cozy reading areas, and interactive exhibitions, it proves that libraries can still captivate today’s youth—if reimagined with creativity and care.
The challenge going forward is not merely to preserve books but to transform libraries into dynamic, inclusive spaces for learning, imagination, and community connection—places as inviting as cinemas, but far richer in possibility.
