Sastra

Sastra is the term used in Indonesian and Malay to refer to literature, the body of written and oral works regarded as artistic and cultural expression. The word derives from Sanskrit shastra, meaning a treatise or doctrine, and in contemporary usage it encompasses literary works as well as the study of literature in Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Malay-speaking communities.

Historically, sastra in the region developed under a range of influences, including Hindu-Buddhist traditions and later Islam. Classical Malay and Javanese literature produced works such as hikayat narratives, pantun and syair poems, and the adaptation of Sanskrit and Arabic themes in local forms. Old Malay, Javanese, and Balinese manuscripts, as well as later printed editions, helped preserve and transmit cultural memory. In the 19th and 20th centuries, colonial publishing, translation, and nationalist movements contributed to the emergence of modern sastra, leading to distinct Indonesian and Malaysian literary canons.

In modern usage, sastra covers poetry, prose, drama, and essays. Traditional forms such as pantun and syair continue to be practiced, alongside novels, short stories, biographies, and critical writings. Central themes include identity, social change, religion, politics, and daily life. The field is studied in universities as Sastra Indonesia or Sastra Melayu, among other designations, and it hosts journals, anthologies, and curricula that examine literary history, theory, and criticism.