Such was the love of this grandson for his grandmother that two years after the death of his mother, when she herself fell gravely ill, he vowed to her that someday he would try to tell the world her life story. 'But why?' she asked humbly. 'I'm no one, just a girl from the coast' 'But you are everyone, Grandma,' the young Pramoedya told her. 'You are all the people who have ever had to fight to make this life their own.

Even though no one admits it, writers are leaders in their communities.

Life can give everything to whoever tries to understand and is willing to receive new knowledge.

A mother knows what her child's gone through, even if she didn't see it herself.

Let us see whether it is the New Order or me who will be the loser before Indonesian history. I have won. The New Order has fallen and my writings have been translated into 40 languages.

Every award for me is important because it means a slap against militarism and fascism in Indonesia.

I'll do as I please. My mind is not to be imprisoned.