Zuber Usman

Zuber Usman (1916–1976) was an Indonesian teacher and writer known for his contributions to literary criticism. Born in Padang, West Sumatra, he attended Islamic schools before becoming a teacher in 1937. During the Japanese occupation and the subsequent revolution, he wrote short stories published in local magazines, later compiled into *Sapanjang Jalan* (1953). He also authored two historical works on Indonesian literature: *Kesusastraan Lama Indonesia* (1954) and *Kesusastraan Baru Indonesia* (1957), as well as a traditional Malay prose piece, *Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain* (1956). Collaborating with HB Jassin, he translated works of Javanese literature. Usman earned a degree in literature in 1961 and continued writing until his death, producing works on fairy tales and the Indonesian language.

Usman defined old Malay literature as pre-dating Abdullah Munsyi, focusing on everyday experiences rather than mythical themes. He noted that Balai Pustaka's language policies were less restrictive than traditional forms but less organic than outside publications. Considered an early pioneer of Indonesian literary criticism, his 1964 speech inspired the establishment of a literature faculty at Andalas University in Padang, aimed at reuniting West Sumatra with Indonesia after its political separation during the revolution.