I came across this familiar looking book in the library recently ...
It brought back memories of our history lessons in Form 2 or Form 3. I'm sure most of us went through this book during that time. I recall reading stories of exciting battles and uprisings and rebels and pirates.
Of course at that time, the White Rajahs and the British were portrayed as the good guys, and the baddies were Rentap (the Iban chief of Bukit Sadong fame), Sharif Masahor (the Melanau warrior) , Liu Shan Bang (leader of the 1857 Chinese Uprising) and Rosli Dhobi (who assasinated the second British governor Sir Duncan Stewart in 1949).
Nowadays the history books, written during a more confident Malaysian era, tell a slightly different story. The White Rajahs and British are exposed as imperialist exploiters of our innocent land and people, whilst Rentap, Masahor, Liu and Rosli Dhobi are local heroes, fighting for their people and way of life. I found some interesting website links on Rentap , Sharif Masahor, Liu and Rosli Dhobi that you might want to check out ...
It all goes to support two important lessons that I've heard from different people: "History is written by the eventual victors" and also "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". Both good points to remember to give yourself greater perspective as you read about events of the past, and even as you observe current happenings around the globe.
On Sarawak history, I suppose the truth - if there's any such thing - lies somewhere in between these two extremes. Few people are really 100 percent good just as no one is ever totally evil. It's usually not a case of simply black or white, but many shades in-between.
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ya ya .. i remember this history book. can't remember the teacher though. was it Matthias Lee?
ReplyDeleteWoah! Haven't seen this book for years. I don't think you can find in Sarawak library also! Smeone probably wants to suppress this side of the story.
ReplyDeletethere are now roads and places around Sarawak named after those local heroes.
ReplyDeletei must have mentally blocked out my early secondary education. i can't remembr that book at all.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a temple or shrine in Bau dedicated to Liu Shan Bang.
ReplyDeleteKota Sentosa lorongs are named after Liu Shan Bang.
ReplyDeleteIn case you do not know where Kota Sentosa is, it is the 7th Mile Bazaar.
I suppose there must be a Jalan Rentap in Sarikei or Sibu or somewhere there ...
ReplyDeleteNice pictures WJ. Soon this blog can be a reference for S'wak students taking Sejarah as a subject.
ReplyDeleteWJ, the aspiring historian (Sarawak) in addition to being a web jaga.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs a more relaxed part-time job after retirement ...
ReplyDeleteHey Ngai Hakka. Chi-Kar-Nig. The temple/shrine dedicated to Liu Shan Bang is in Jugan near Siniawan.
ReplyDeleteAlfred Jabu's son name is Gerald Rentap Jabu.
i still think significant credit should still go to the White Rajahs as they brought much development to Sarawak. They weren't perfect but who is?
ReplyDeleteIt's always HIStory .. what about HERstory ????
ReplyDeleteAh, so I was right after all. I remember saying they were heros in my history exam and they failed me. I demand a remark!!!! Always knew I should have got a 1 for my history "O" levels. ROTFLMAO.
ReplyDeleteSorry Genius ... that answer would only have been right after 1979 or 1980 when the new hsitory books started appearing. Hehehehe
ReplyDeleteSo, was there really any gold hidden in Bau or Siniawan by the Japanese during WWII then?
ReplyDeleteRemember, they robbed everybody, gather together every gold they can steal but couldn't bring it back to Japan so the chief stacked it in one of the caves in Bau, hoping that one day he will come back to take the gold back to Japan. Sadly, he died in Japan and did not make the trip back to Kuching.
Someone come across any treasure map? If got, we can organise a group expedition to search for the hidden treasure of gold? Any volunteers, hands up please?
ReplyDeleteLike that, if we make movie on Sarawak, we play hero? who is hero and who is villian ?
ReplyDeleteIs there a Sarawak Historical Society? I'd like to join ... tho' not sure if they'd accept me, as I have some contrarian historical views ;-)
ReplyDeletethere was another book we had as text book in primary school. i recall the cover was yellow and red ... anyone remember?
ReplyDeleteon that same tune,
ReplyDeleteI'm keen to read a book "Sarawak and It's People"
one of the text books in my school year.
Its got yellow cover (I think)...
During my time, it was in 1974 my history book was with the picture of James Brooke on its cover. If I am not mistaken the title was: The coming of James Brooke to Sarawak. Or, James Brooke Of Sarawak. Nowadays, students just study a brief history of Sarawak. Ostensibly, this makes them do not really know the real history of Sarawak. Is this purposely done or to make our younger generation to become history literate of their own state? What say you guy?
ReplyDelete