INDRAGIRI HULU - The research team of the Language Development Agency of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) arrived in Indragiri Hulu (Inhu) Regency, Riau, to conduct a study on the Talang Mamak minority ethnic group for cultural development and protection of language and literature.

The team consists of 4 people, namely Dr Maman S Mahayana from the University of Indonesia (UI), Drs Puji Santosa MHum, from the language agency, Drs Suyono– all with an intermediate researcher license and Rohim SAg MHum licensed as a young researcher.

In the group, there was also H. Dheni Kurnia, journalist and poet from Riau who wrote the book "Mantra Puisi Talang Mamak."

Maman Mahayana told reporters on Wednesday (3/2/2021) that the study on the Talang Mamak tribe was sourced from several books, including Mantra Puisi Talang Mamak written by Dheni Kurnia.

"This research aims to explore the complexity of the non-fulfilment of community rights related to issues of regional inequality, race, gender, religion and politics, as reflected in literary works and how they affect the development of Indonesian literature," said Maman.

He added that several literary works in various genres were created by the chaotic situation of democracy, especially the issue of non-fulfilment of citizens' rights in the realm of economic welfare, education, protection from violence, cultural expressions and beliefs, legal protection, political equality, and expressing opinions.

"It is literary works that can provide a detailed description of the problem. For example, inequality is prose and poetry which is seen as a mirror or portrait of society, mimetic, and the result of his work is pragmatic," explained Maman.

Meanwhile, according to Rohim, based on the information collected, in Inhu there are several ethnic minorities, including the Talang Mamak Tribe. And they come directly to the field for the research.

"We came to Rakit Kulim to get direct information, not from a second party," he said.

This field data collection, he continued, was a study of citizenship rights and democratic culture of minority communities in literary works.

Maman stated that initially, they knew about the Talang Mamak tribe in Inhu from some references and the Dheni Kurnia's Mantra Puisi book, which was selected as the Best HPI (Indonesian Poetry Day) Book in 2018.

"From here there is a desire to explore what the true life of Talang Mamak is in Inhu," said Maman.

So far, Maman explained, they had researched the Samin minority in Bojonegoro, whose way of life and culture had been recognized. Even in 2019, the Samin tribe was recognized by UNESCO for its customs and culture. As well the Bedouins in Serang.

"Their culture and lands are recognized by the government. Meanwhile, the Naga people, who call themselves descendants of Prabu Siliwangi, have designated their territory as cultural heritage," said Maman.

Both Maman and Rohim explained that the research referred to by the Ministry of Education and Culture's team of Language Agency is expected to produce maps and concepts of citizenship rights and a culture of democracy in the Talang Mamak minority community. ***/yeye