Goenawan Mohamad
Goenawan Mohamad (born 29 July 1941) is an Indonesian poet, essayist, playwright and editor. He is the founder and editor of the Indonesian magazine Tempo. Mohamad is a vocal critic of the Indonesian government, and his magazine was periodically shut down due to its criticisms.
Goenawan Mohamad

Tinuk Yampolski · Personal collection · Public domain
- Born
- 1941 · Batang.
- Nationality
- Indonesia
- Occupation
- journalist · literary critic · painter · essayist · poet
- Education
- University of Indonesia · College of Europe
- Honours
- CPJ International Press Freedom Awards · International Editor of the Year Award · Dan David Prize
- Languages
- Indonesian
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Documentary summary
Goenawan Mohamad (born 29 July 1941) is an Indonesian poet, essayist, playwright and editor. He is the founder and editor of the Indonesian magazine Tempo. Mohamad is a vocal critic of the Indonesian government, and his magazine was periodically shut down due to its criticisms.
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Note VALÉORINE
Goenawan Mohamad (born 1941) is an Indonesian essayist, journalist and literary critic, among other activities. The essayist was born in Batang.
Goenawan Mohamad studied at College of Europe and University of Indonesia. The essayist is a member of International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
Languages used include Indonesian. Goenawan Mohamad received CPJ International Press Freedom Awards, Dan David Prize and International Editor of the Year Award.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7585525 · wikipedia · Goenawan Mohamad
In this article
Early life
Early life
Mohamad has won awards for his journalistic work, including the CPJ International Press Freedom Awards (1998), the International Editor of the Year Award (1999), and the Dan David Prize (2006).
He was born in Batang, Central Java.
Journalism
Journalism
He is Co-founder and editor of Tempo ("Time") magazine, which was forcibly closed twice by President Suharto's New Order administration because of its vocal criticism of the authoritarian regime. As a writer, Goenawan Mohamad was known for his weekly column in Tempo, "Catatan Pinggir" (Sidelines). The column mainly featured commentary and critique on current affairs and media 'headlines'. His columns were compiled into six books. In Sidelines, Mohamad never ends articles with a definite conclusion, instead ending with either questions or open-ended comments intended to encourage readers to continue thinking. Mohamad was one of the founders of the Lontar Foundation and is on the advisory boards of the human rights group ARTICLE 19 and the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. He is an alumnus of the College of Europe 1966-1967 promotion.
Recognition
Recognition
In 1998, Mohamad was one of four winners of the CPJ International Press Freedom Awards, and in 1999 the World Press Review awarded him its International Editor of the Year Award. He received the Dan David Prize in 2006.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1941
Goenawan Mohamad born at Batang.
Literature
Mohamad's early writings include Potret Seorang Penyair Muda Sebagai Si Malin Kundang (The Portrait of A Young Poet as Malin Kundang) (1972) and Seks, Sastra, Kita (Sex, Literature, Us) (1980),'"Kesusastraan dan Kekuasaan' (Literature and Power) (1993), Setelah Revolusi Tak Ada Lagi (Once the Revolution No Longer Exists) (2001), Kata, Waktu (Word, Time) (2001), 'Eksotopi' (Exotopia) (2003), 'Tuhan dan Hal-hal Yang Tak Selesai' (God and other Unfinished Things) (2007). For his 70th birthday several of his works were republished: 'Marxisme, Seni, dan Pembebasan' (Marxism, the Arts, Emancipation) (2011), 'Indonesia/Proses' (Indonesia/Process) (2011), "Puisi dan Antipuisi' (Poetry and Antipoetry) (2011), 'Di Sekitar Sajak' (On Poems) (2011), 'Tokoh + Pokok' (Persons + Issues) (2011), 'Teks dan Iman' (Texts and Faith)(2011), 'Debu, Duka, Dst: Sebuah Pertimbangan anti-theodise' (Ash, Grief, Etc.: A consideration against theodice)' (2011), 'Ruang dan Kekuasaan' (On Space and Power)', (2011), 'Rupa' (Images), (2011). 'Pagi dan Hal-hal Yang Dipungut Kembali' (Morning and Things Retrieved) (2011). His latest books of poetry are Don Quixote (2011) and 70 Puisi (70 Poems). His plays are published in Tan Malaka dan Tiga Lakon lain.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.culturebase.net article on Goenawan Mohamad
- 2.Biography of Mohamad, Gunawan, 1941- Southeast Asia Digital Library. sea.lib.niu.edu.
- 3.SIAPA KAMI? - IPAC. www.understandingconflict.org.
- 4.Dieter Mahncke, Léonce Bekemans, Robert Picht, The College of Europe. Fifty years of service to Europe, College of Europe, Bruges, 1999.
- 5.Archived copy.
- 6.Pustaka Jaya. Potret seorang penjair muda sebagai si Malin Kundang : kumpulan esai. 1972.
- 7.Sinar Harapan. Seks, sastra, kita. 1980.
- 8.PT Pustaka Firdaus. Kesusastraan dan kekuasaan. 1993. 978-979-541-046-1.
- 9.AlvaBet. Setelah revolusi tak ada lagi. 2001. 978-979-95020-1-8.
- 10.Pusat Data dan Analisa, Tempo. Kata, waktu : esai-esai Goenawan Mohamad, 1960-2001. 2001. 978-979-9065-05-6.
- 11.Grafiti. Eksotopi : tentang kekuasaan, tubuh, dan identitas. 2002. 978-979-444-425-2.
- 12.Katakita. Tuhan dan hal-hal yang tak selesai. 2007. 978-979-3778-48-8.
- 13.Katakita. On God and other unfinished things. 2007. 978-979-3778-46-4.
- 14.The Committee to Protect Journalists. 1998 Press Freedom Awards - Announcement. 1999.
- 15.International Freedom of Expression Exchange. World Press Review Gives Goenawan Mohamad International Award. 30 March 1999.
- 16.The Dan David Prize. Laureates 2006. 2006.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Grafiti Pers. Catatan pinggir. 1982. 978-979-9065-43-8.
- South Melbourne, Vic Hyland House in association with Monash Asian Institute, Monash University. Sidelines writings from Tempo. 1994. 978-1-875657-41-4.
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