Aliyya's : Andrea Hirata's Biography

Have you ever watched or read "Laskar Pelangi" (International title: The Rainbow Troops)? If it yes, then I'm sure you've heard about him. Yes...he's the man behind the story, Ikal, whom I really adore.

And if you haven't read it, then YOU SHOULD.
“A book that not only warms the heart and lifts the spirit, but excites the mind as well. Truly, a page turner like no other. Once you start reading about these terrific kids, the ‘rainbow troops’, and their extraordinary young teacher, you just won’t be able to stop.” – Kate Veitch, the Author of “Listen” and “Trust”

ANDREA HIRATA

Andrea Hirata is one of my favorite author. He’s known as best-seller novelist by his “Laskar Pelangi” tetralogy and later “Padang Bulan” dwilogy. His first novel, Laskar Pelangi, has been released into film internationally titled “The Rainbow Troops” in 2008, both of them has scored remarkable records in Indonesia’s book and movie industry as a biggest hit of all time.

Andrea Hirata Seman Said Harun was born in Gantung, Belitong on October 24th of 1982. He's the fourth child of his family. While he was young, his parents changed his name seven times. They eventually settled on the name Andrea, while Hirata itself was given by his mother. It's taken from the name of the village.

"Andrea is taken from the name of a woman who's determined to kill himself if his favorite singer, Elvis Presley does not reply to the letter," said Andrea.

Andrea wrote ‘Laskar Pelangi’ as a his childhood memoir. Born and raised in Belitong, an island with a long history of tin-mining, Andrea portrayed his childhood story as a story of a marginalized people. Indeed, Belitong is a portrait of a beautiful island which later got impoverished by destructive effects of mining. “Laskar Pelangi” is a story of little Andrea with his childhood friends and teacher struggling for education and better life among the marginalized island and society.

His bittersweet struggling for education has actually made remarkable results. He got Bachelor degree in Economic from Universitas Indonesia, then continued and got his double Mater degree in Economic Telecommunication from Sorbonne University and Sheffeld Halam University, UK.

“Laskar Pelangi” tetralogy is actually the memoir of his life. If Andrea revealed his childhood in “Laskar Pelangi,” his adolescence memoir told in the 2nd book titled “Sang Pemimpi (The Dreamer).” Later, he told us about his college life and his backpacking adventures in his 3rd book “Edensor,” and finalized the story in the 4th book titled “Maryamah Karpov – Mimpi-mimpi Lintang.”

Claimed himself as a science-freak, Andrea is now undoubtedly one of the shooting stars in Indonesian literature. Before his books published and the book-based films were launched, there were no record that a literature book can reach million sales in Indonesia and a national film can withdraw million viewers. By these achievement, Andrea Hirata has made significant contributions to the development of Indonesian literature.

Andrea now lives in his hometown village, Linggang, Belitong and is pioneering to develop one of his dreams – making Belitong as a literature village and promoting tourism by arranging Laskar Pelangi Festival coming up on November 1st – 30th, 2010.

The "Laskar Pelangi" novel is also being published in another countries like Brazil, Japan, America, etc.