Putu Suasta

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Putu Suasta

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Putu

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Biography

In English

Putu Suasta was born in Denpasar, 1960. He completed his elementary to high school education in his hometown. Then he continued his studies at Gajah Mada University (UGM), majoring in International Relations (HI), graduating in 1985. He then attended post-graduate studies at Cornell University. He also taught at Asian Studies/Dept. Modern Language and Linguistics, Cornell University, 1988.

In Bali, Putu is known as a critical activist. He formed a number of discussion forums such as the “Red-White” forum and Non-Governmental Organizations as a means to build people's critical awareness of their rights as citizens. Through these civil institutions, he organized masses to criticize the government for not taking sides with the people and not being transparent in running the government. Through his writings, he is diligent in conveying various ideas and constructive criticism for the government and society.

Putu Suasta's long struggle in the civil movement eventually led to the realization that the most effective way to promote change was politics. He increasingly reminded the relationship between government and politics. So to be able to convey and fight for the aspirations of the community, it must be more effective, political channels are entered. He later joined the Democratic Party.

Putu Suasta's works have been published in a number of books, both on political, socio-cultural, and artistic themes. These books include: “Idiology, Development and Democracy” (1986), “Made Wianta: His Art and Balinese Culture” (1990), “Bali Living in Two Wold” (Schweben Basel, 2001), “Kembara Budaya ” (Bali Mangsi Foundation, 2001), “Enforcing Democracy, Escorting Change” (Lestari Kiranatama, 2013), “Gung Rai, Sang Mumpuni” (2017), “Sanur: Caring for Traditions in the Midst of Modernization” (2018).

In Balinese

In Indonesian

Putu Suasta lahir di Denpasar, 1960. Dia menyelesaikan pendidikan SD hingga SMA di kota kelahirannya. Kemudian dia melanjutkan studi di Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM), jurusan Hubungan Internasional (HI), tamat tahun 1985. Dia kemudian mengikuti kuliah pasca-sarjana di Cornell University. Dia juga sempat mengajar di Asian Studies/Dept. Modern Language and Linguistics, Cornell University, tahun 1988.

Di Bali, Putu dikenal sebagai aktivis yang kritis. Dia membentuk sejumlah forum diskusi seperti forum “Merah-Putih” dan Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat sebagai sarana untuk membangun kesadaran kritis masyarakat akan hak-hak mereka sebagai warga negara. Melalui lembaga-lembaga sipil tersebut, dia mengorganisir massa untuk mengkritik pemerintah yang tidak berpihak pada rakyat dan tidak transparan dalam menjalankan roda pemerintahan. Melalui tulisan-tulisannya, dia rajin menyampaikan berbagai ide serta kritik konstruktif bagi pemerintah dan juga masyarakat.

Perjuangan panjang Putu Suasta dalam pergerakan sipil, akhirnya bermuara pada kesadaran bahwa jalan paling efektif untuk mendorong perubahan adalah politik. Dia semakin menyadari keterkaitan erat antara pemerintahan dengan politik. Maka untuk bisa menyampaikan dan memperjuangkan aspirasi masyarakat secara lebih efektif, jalur politik harus dimasuki. Dia kemudian bergabung dengan Partai Demokrat.

Karya-karya Putu Suasta telah diterbitkan dalam sejumlah buku, baik yang bertema politik, sosial-budaya, maupun kesenian. Buku-buku tersebut, antara lain: “Idiologi, Pembangunan dan Demokrasi” (1986), “Made Wianta: His Art and Balinese Culture“(1990), “Bali Living in Two Wold” (Schweben Basel, 2001), “Kembara Budaya” (Bali Mangsi Foundation, 2001), “Menegakkan Demokrasi, Mengawal Perubahan” (Lestari Kiranatama, 2013), “Gung Rai, Sang Mumpuni” (2017), “Sanur: Merawat Tradisi di Tengah Modernisasi” (2018).

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putu_Suasta