Senyum Karyamin / Karyamin's Smile

 

To those who are keen of Indonesian literature must know well the writer's name of this compilation of short stories, yes that is Ahmad Tohari. This was my first one reading his work and I'm blissful.

There are 13 short stories compiled in Senyum Karyamin book. Senyum Karyamin is one of the title of the short story. To give you a glimpse of Ahmad Tohari's writing, I would talk about it. It is about a man named Karyamin who worked tirelessly collecting and hitting the stones to be sold. He was starving but he got to work. One attempt to bring his full carrying pole up, he got slipped and everything became more tiring for his almost no energy left body. He decided to go home, to be with his wife when suddenly remembered there was nothing to eat either though he'd be with his wife. He stopped by at Saidah's stall and she offered him a portion to eat. Tempted but he kindly refused it as he was already in debt with her and he didn't want to trouble her with more debts. Then, he continued his walking toward home...

Author's writing is well known to be in well-related with rural life, flora and fauna. Despite that, all the thirteen short stories contain a huge amount of value regarding social stratification, reality and poverty. In a city, one hardly realize this reality that was told in his story. But for those who live in a village and poverty might easily relate it. It is an eye opening of the conditions in certain layer of social community that was hardly be noticed to those who well-off. Satire, criticism, and dark comedy, it is truly a masterpiece.