Essays

Hearing about my mother's experiences in May 1998 became a pivotal moment that has shaped my life. 

Ghosts and spirits often come up in conversation but attitudes are changing

Bandung School of Peace is leading the fight against intolerance in West Java

Professor Suryani and her team are making a difference

A lifelong activist and retired midwife is teaching her peers to stay engaged… and not burden their children

On a recent study trip, journalism student Lisa Favazzo met two people giving back to their communities in extraordinary ways

Masykuri Bakri doesn’t fit the stereotype for a moderate Muslim leader

A Hazara fleeing persecution has dedicated her life in Indonesia to helping her fellow refugees in Bogor

Pare’s English language school grew out of a tutoring job and is now attracting thousands

Almost twenty years after reformasi, journalist and novelist Leila S. Chudori ponders on the successes and failures of this historic period for Indonesia

Pat Walsh's book of short stories and poems takes us through a year of intimate encounters with Jakarta

Mobile libraries and writers clubs reveal a rich reading and writing culture among Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong

A writer pays homage to the women writers and intellectuals who paved the way for others

Introduction to Man Tiger: A Novel by Eka Kurniawan

A brief conversation between strangers provokes thoughts on Australia–Indonesia relations Essays and Fiction is a new series of writing in Inside Indonesia that aims to give voice to more personal stories about Indonesia. We welcome submissions in the form of reflective pieces, fiction, artwork, or essays about travel and fieldwork experiences.

Essays and Fiction is a new series of writing in Inside Indonesia that aims to give voice to more personal stories about Indonesia. We welcome submissions in the form of reflective pieces, fiction, artwork, or essays about travel and fieldwork experiences.