Indonesian Prominent Poet Sapardi Djoko Damono Passes Away at 80

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sapardi Djoko Damono, Indonesia's prominent poet and writer, passed away at the age of 80, in  Eka Hospital located in South Tangerang, on Sunday  at 9:17 a.m. local time, after being hospitalized since July 9 .

Sapardi was born in Solo on March 20, 1940. He had produced various literature works since 1950s until the recent time. He had also written poems, essay and short stories.

His well-known and iconic works include "Hujan Bulan Juni" (Rain of June) published in 1994 as well as "Aku Ingin" (I Want) and "Yang Fana Adalah Waktu" (Time is Mortal).

Sapardi was also a professor at the Faculty of Humanities in the University of Indonesia (UI), and had served as the dean during the period of 1995 to 1999.

The spokesperson of the faculty, Chysa, said that Sapardi's remains were laid to rest in his residence in UI lecturers' housing complex, Ciputat, South Tangerang, prior to the burial procession scheduled to be held in the afternoon.

ANTARA