Akhudiat

Akhudiat, born on May 5, 1946, is a poet, playwright, and humanist of Indonesian origin.
Biography.
Akhudiat was born in Rogojampi, Banyuwangi, East Java, in a farmer's family in the village of Karanganyar, District Rogojampi, Banyuwangi. He married Mulyani on November 4, 1974, and has three children, namely: Ayesha (born in 1975), Andre Muhammad (born in 1976), and Yasmin Fitrida (born in 1978).
During the early years of his education, Akhudiat attended the School of the People ("Sekolah Rakyat") in Rogojampi, Banyuwangi, and graduated in 1958. He continued school at the First Religious Affairs of Teacher Education (PGAPN) IV Jember, from where he graduated in 1962. Then, he went to school in Malang, while teaching at several junior/high schools, and madarassas. Akhudiat gained a diploma in 1965 from the State Islamic Education (Phin) III Yogyakarta. In 1965, he also joined Acting Course Theater Muslim in Yogyakarta. During the years 1972-1973, he joined the Academy of Journalists Surabaya (AWS), but did not complete his course. Akhudiat also took courses in English at the Indonesian Institute of America (LIA), Soetomo Surabaya, up to advanced level. In 1992, he earned his bachelor's degree from the Open University (UT), Faculty of Social Sciences (FISIPOL). As a poet, Akhudiat, also went to pursue the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, U.S. for six months, where he studied language and theater.
In 1970, after the completion of formal higher education, Akhudiat was appointed as a civil servant in the Central Office of the State Islamic Institute (IAIN), Sunan Ampel Surabaya. The last position that Akhudiat led was the Head of Student Affairs, Central Office IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, from which he retired in 2002. From his retirement year until present, he has served as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Extraordinary Adab IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. He has also served on the Committee on Literature and the Arts Council Theatre in Surabaya during the years 1972-1982, owing to his distinct activism in the arts and culture, especially literature and theater. He has remained a member of the plenary on the Arts Council of East Java (DKJT), from 1999; served on the steering committee of the Surabaya Art Festival (FSS) from 2000 to the present. In 2002, from October 10–22, Akhudiat attended an international program wherein he "Visits Artists" - Cultural East Java to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, for cultural performances and seminar programs.
Until recently, Akhudiat served as an Outstanding Lecturer for introducing Research, Culture and History of Islamic Art at the Faculty Adab, IAIN Sunan Ampel, Surabaya. He has also been an active member of various professional organizations, such as the Jakarta Art Council from 1972–1982, Script writer and director of the Youth Theater workshop in 1972, and the Arts Council of East Java from 1998-2003.
He has received many honors and commendations for his services:
Governor of East Java Province, an award for performing artists (2001);
Mayor activists of modern theater (1989);
RE, won the prize in writing contest drama, Jakarta Arts Council (1977);
Bui, won the prize in writing contest drama, Jakarta Arts Council (1975);
Honorary Fellow in the International Writing Program, University of Iowa, USA (1975);
Jaka Tarub, roofless house, won the Writing contest prizes in drama, the Board Jakarta Art (1974);
Graffito (text of the play), won the prize in Writing contest drama, Arts Council Jakarta, Surabaya (1972).
Akhudiat has to his credit a long list of translated works, such as:
"Malapetaka" (2002) from "Catastrophe", by Samuel Beckett;
"Fred" (2001) from "Fred" by Sherwood Anderson;
"Kursi – kursi" (1999) from "The Chairs" by Eugene Lonesco;
"Jalan Tembakau" (1992) from "Tobacco Road" by Erskine Caldwell;
"Laboratorium Gila" (1991) from "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest" by Dale Wasserman’ Ken Kessey;
"Anak yang Dikubur" (1990) from "The Buried Child" by Sam Shepard;
"Raja Ubu" (1976) from "Ubu Roi" by Alfred Jarry;
"Bak Pasir" (1976) from "The Sandbox" by Edward Albee.
In early 2011, Akhdiat, the script writer and theater director completed a manuscript called "Ludrukan"; "Skolah scandal", and handed it to the Studio Merah Putih for the Surabaya Art Festival 2011.