Tari Lang says 1965 coup shaped her resilience and career

Tari Lang was 14 years old when political turmoil in Indonesia shattered her family, leading her to reflect on those years in a memoir titled My Neighbour, The Dictator: Coming of Age in the Shadow of Indonesia’s 1965 Military Coup. Ahead of her appearance at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Lang discussed how her Indonesian father and British mother were arrested without charge or trial, forcing her to grow up quickly to care for her younger brother.

Arrest of Parents and Teenage Survival in 1965

The seismic events of Sept. 30, 1965, turned Lang’s world upside down, according to her interview with journalist and novelist Eric Buvelot. With both parents imprisoned, Lang and her nine-year-old brother faced immediate family separation while friends were arrested or disappeared. Lang balanced her ongoing schoolwork with taking responsibility for her relatives and supporting the underground political movement. She learned resilience and negotiation skills during this period, which she describes as her early introduction to entrepreneurship. The events of Sept. 30 caused immense damage to her family and their lives, as they did to millions of Indonesians.

Transition to International Business in the United Kingdom

After years of political uncertainty and activism in Indonesia, Lang moved to the United Kingdom at age 18. In the UK, she built a professional career focused on international business and reputation management. Her upcoming presentation at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival marks a return to discuss the personal impacts of the 1965 events with younger generations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tari Lang and the 1965 Coup

What is the focus of Tari Lang’s memoir?

Her book combines personal memoir with the history of Indonesia’s 1965 military coup, detailing the arrest of her parents and her subsequent journey to the United Kingdom.

Where is Tari Lang presenting her book?

She is presenting her work at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in a conversation with journalist Eric Buvelot. Because the festival has an excellent international reputation, she considers it an honor to present her book there, noting that the work invites conversations and the sharing of memories and stories.