 According to Teeuw , after the publication of Atheis Mihardja immediately became famous . Maier notes that the fame and warm reception to which Atheis was released was influenced not only by the novel 's strengths , but also by Mihardja 's personality and stature . These qualities were in @-@ line with the nascent government 's need to use literature , as the most developed of the new national culture , for nation @-@ building ; in 1969 , Atheis received a literary award from the government of Indonesia . 
