Located in the easternmost region of Indonesia, Papua is also part of the 3T areas. 3T or underdeveloped, remote, and outermost region indicate the low life quality and expectancy in the area. However, West Papua and the papua region do have some outstanding writers and litterateur. One of them is Igir Al-Qatiri, the man who showed his talent for a national and international audience.
Who Is He?
Who is Igir Al-Qatiri? Not many people know, but he is one of the known writers from the Cenderawasih island. The man that was graduated from STM or Highschool of technique in Papua (1993) currently lives as a well-known national litterateur. The man was born in Jayapura on May 27th, 1975, with the full name of Irham Muchsin Al Qatiri.
As a local, he has blood as Papua, Ternate, China, and Arab, which help him understand the varying cultures surrounding him. Igir also grew up and went through his 12 years of study in Jayapura, including in SMK 3 Jayapura Kotaraja. He is one of two siblings in the family, which is born from the Muchsin and Khadijah couple.
His father of him is a person from Ternate, Muchin Mursalin. Unfortunately, Muchsin passed away in 2007 leaving the family only with the mother. The mother is Khadijah Arfan Khari from Sorong, west papua. She is a Muslim with Papuan blood. After his father passed, Igir is the only backbone of the family. Which force him to be an electrician during his high school years.
A Former Electrician To Famous Writer
Starting his career as a technician and electrician, he works in most of the big buildings in Jayapura. He also works for the government and is part of the electricity development and expansion in the region. However, he is also a man with a passion for writing. He starts his writing habit in 2005, which later compile more than 1730 poetries collections.
Most of the poetry is unarchived, which possibly comes in a bigger number in the future. His start as a book writer was in 2011. His first book is Menelusuri Jejak Langkah Sang Legenda Black Brothers. It is a book about a legendary Papuan musician group in 1976. The group is known for its pop and rock music.
Due to his masterpiece book, he also initiated to call the group for a comeback in 2014. His career as a writer is far from the end. In fact, Igir has published 23 books nationally and internationally. His charm and ability have risen the statue of West Papua and papua as a whole. It shows that the locals can also show their talent nationally or internationally.
Masterpieces
While Igir has tons of literature creations, some of his masterpieces are shared in different aspects. He published a novel, novelit, Anthropology poesy, and book. Some of the well-known masterpieces are Cinta Bergerimis Dusta and Lonceng Kematian. The two books are novels with great love and tragic story.
There is also some poetry books, Festival Perasaan and Potret Buram Seniman. Some other works including Retak Retak Cinta, Doktrin Penyejuk Jiwa, Sebait sajak Untuk Saudaraku, and Kias Pada Wujudnya. Surprisingly, his most infamous work is the Menelusuri Jejak Langkah Sang legenda Black Brothers. It is the most controversial work which also highly demanded one.
His Activities
As a writer, Igir is known for his book collections. He also quoted and says that Kahlil Gibran is a figure that inspire him to make more serious writing. As in 2016, Igir establish Komunitas sastra Papua Pilamo Aksara. It is a community for Papua and West Papua writers that makes space for talents to meet up.
He is also very active in joining or contributing to the Papuan writers’ community and conversion. At the same time, they also take part in many activities with their friends and fellow writers. Igir also takes a bigger focus on literature and helps Papua children to love literature and raise the region’s status both nationally and internationally.
Government Effort To Up The Local Writer Count
Igir Al Qatiri is not the only writer from the region. There is also some other litterateur that is looking for a better future. However, the number is significantly lower than in another region. Thus, John Waromi a local writer has been trying to up the local game as a writer. One of the efforts is the Yayasan Lontar and Universitas Cenderawasih, Wikimedia, and PT freeport collaboration.
The collaboration comes in the form of writer training that was held in 2020. The main function is to boost new writers and works from west Papua and papua. It is said that the idea also helps conserve and promote local arts and culture. That is why the idea and activity can also be applicable in many other places and areas in the region.
Igir Al Qatiri is one of the reasons why the public should not see Papua as hopeless. There are many potentials and possibilities locals can make. The rising activities, writers, and works from the locals also show that the region is vastly and fastly developed. It includes education growth and literature, which can boast better life expectancy and quality.
