Rano Lauds Vital Role of Children’s Book Writers
Reported by Budhi Firmansyah Surapati | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno commemorated the 130th birth anniversary of Aman Datuk Madjoindo at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) complex in Central Jakarta.
I’ve read practically all of his books
Speaking at the event, Rano stressed the crucial responsibility children's authors bear in shaping ethical and cultural foundations.
“I never met him myself, but I’ve read practically all of his books. We are facing a real void of children's authors today, at a time when modern influences can be very harmful to our children,” he expressed, Thursday (11/5).
Rano Karno, Tomohide Sato Discuss Strengthening Jakarta–Tokyo CooperationBecause of this legacy, Rano said the city government will present Si Doel Musikal in January 2027 as a musical tribute to Aman Datuk Madjoindo. The show is slated to be part of the festivities leading up to Jakarta’s quincentenary celebrations that year.
As a boy, he was already immersed in timeless literary masterpieces such as Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wijck and Siti Nurbaya, as well as Madjoindo’s Si Doel. The journey of the titular character deeply inspired him and guided his personal growth over the decades.
His first brush with Si Doel came when he was about eight years old, he added, recalling how he stumbled upon the book hidden underneath a pile of publications at Balai Pustaka.
Since reading the book, Rano felt an instant connection to Si Doel, leading him to readily accept the child starring role in Sjuman Djaya’s film adaptation, Si Doel Anak Betawi, around 1972.
He explained that the 1970s saw the revival of Indonesia’s film industry after production stalled in the mid-1960s, emphasizing that this turnaround began with children’s movies.
Submitting his high regard for children's authors—a craft he lamented is fading—he called for more writers to step forward and enrich the nation's culture and character.
“One of the reasons I made it to become Deputy Governor of Jakarta is because of Si Doel,” he stated.
