Not Having Money During Research, Here are the Facts Behind the Novel Gadis Kretek which is Now a Successful Series!

Ratih Kumala started writing Gadis Kretek in 2009. At that time, she didn't know what title it would be given. The title that is now known by the public was obtained before the publishing process.

"I started writing this novel three years before it was published. When I was writing, I didn't have the title yet, so I focused on the content, but I knew what I wanted to write. I thought of several titles but none of them fit. Only when I submitted it to the publisher, the title was given, which is Gadis Kretek," said Ratih when met in Matraman, East Jakarta, on Saturday (11/11/2023).

The process of writing Gadis Kretek began when Ratih Kumala was still working at a company. Due to her unstable financial condition, she conducted research during her annual leave.

"I used to not have money because I was a corporate slave. I knew that research from books was not enough, so I had to go somewhere. The problem was, due to limited time and money, I used up my salary and took leave to go to a place that became my research destination," said Ratih.

In the novel Gadis Kretek, Ratih Kumala uses Kota M as the residence of the character Dasiyah. Kota M actually refers to Muntilan, which is the city where her late grandfather lived.

"Kota M refers to Muntilan, where my late grandfather's house is located. I used to go back there every Eid. Uncle and Aunt used to tell stories about many cigarette rollers coming from the kretek cigarette company. But when I was born, the company had already closed down, so I didn't experience the remnants of its glory," said Ratih.

Ratih Kumala's choice to write Muntilan as City M turns out to have no specific intention other than just having fun. Although in the novel she mentions the city by initials, the details clearly refer to Muntilan.

"Why did I call it City M, for me the reason is silly, like 'Funny riddles' or something. That's why I give visual characteristics of the city, I describe its physical appearance, but not its name," explains Ratih.

Kudus is more known as the City of Kretek compared to Muntilan. So, why did Ratih choose Muntilan as the setting for her novel Gadis Kretek?

"Why Muntilan, because I have a connection with that city. Kudus is indeed one of the main research locations as the City of Kretek, but emotionally I am closer to Muntilan," Ratih concludes.