11 Facts About Zuber Usman

Zuber Usman was an Indonesian teacher and writer, known as an early pioneer of Indonesian literary criticism.

Dabbling in writing short stories during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies and the ensuing revolution, for the rest of his life Usman focused on teaching and writing about literature.

Zuber Usman was born in Padang, West Sumatra, on 12 December 1916.

Zuber Usman received his childhood education at a series of Islamic-oriented schools, beginning with a Thawalib School in Padang Panjang.

Between his two histories Zuber Usman published a hikayat, or traditional Malay prose, entitled Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain.

Zuber Usman graduated from the University of Indonesia in 1961 with a degree in literature before formally earning his teacher's diploma the following year.

Zuber Usman defined old Malay literature as those written before Abdullah bin Abdulkadir Munsyi came to prominence.

Zuber Usman cited the latter author's focus on the everyday experiences of the average person, a divergence from the traditional stories of "gods, giants, or fabulous fairy tales with beautiful princesses and magnificent castles".

Zuber Usman has been cited by Australian professor of Indonesian literature Keith Foulcher as an early pioneer of Indonesian literary criticism.

The inspiration for the faculty of literature at Andalas University in Padang is credited to a speech, entitled "Pembangunan Daerah Sumatera Barat", which Zuber Usman delivered at a seminar in 1964.

However, Zuber Usman was not involved in the administrative efforts behind the faculty's establishment, which took until 1982.