Bumi Manusia | Bina Tunas Bangsa Library

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Bumi Manusia

Pramoedya Ananta Toer - Personal Name;

The Buru Tetralogy takes place against the backdrop of the early 20th century, exploring the roots of the Indonesian nation. Reading it allows us to immerse ourselves in the era of the burgeoning national movement, intertwined with feelings, inner turmoil, love, and the struggles of anonymous heroines who nurtured the foundations of what would eventually become modern Indonesia.

In the first part, *Bumi Manusia*, we witness a period of sowing and restlessness, with Minke as both the protagonist and creator. As a priyayi, he strives to break free from his Javanese cocoon, seeking to become a liberated individual, while also grappling with the European influences that symbolize the pinnacle of knowledge and civilization.

Pram depicts a poignant scene between Minke and his father: “I raised my hands in respect, just as I had seen courtiers do for my grandparents and my parents during Lebaran. And I did not lower them until the regent was comfortably seated. In that moment, all the knowledge and understanding I had accumulated over the years vanished. The beauty of the world, promised by the progress of science, faded away... This act of reverence to my ancestors and the powerful came at the cost of self-degradation! I would prostrate myself to the ground if I could! Oh, I cannot allow my descendants to endure this humiliation.”