It was one of the highlights of my week, back when I was in school: Adibah Amin's column As I Was Passing, in the News Straits Times. And so, it was a big thrill when I got the chance to interview her about her first English novel ....
Star Mag, 22nd October 2006
Reach for the rainbow
IT’S been a long time coming, but Adibah Amin’s first novel in English will be in bookstores in about two weeks. Called This End of the Rainbow, it is about “a group of young people at the University of Malaya in the 1950s” – early 1953-54 to be exact, that being Adibah’s first year in college.
“No, it’s not really autobiographical,” says one of the most famous and well-loved names in Malaysian journalism. “I took bits here and there, from friends and from my own experiences. Mostly you will find hybrid characters.”
The book focuses on college life, with some flashbacks on the childhood of t he characters. The lighthearted aspects are shown – “ragging, clowning about, making friends” – but Adibah also delves into the youths’ deeper concerns.
“They are just awakening to the struggle for independence, especially in Malaya, and are asking questions about their rights, social justice, racial prejudice and colonialism. They are simply young and trying to figure out the meaning of life.”
Adibah admits that she may be making a comment about the current state of increasing racial polarisation in Malaysian society. “Yes, sometimes writing about the past means commenting about the present.
“Actually people say that there was no division then, but it is not true. Racial harmony was a concern even in the early days. People may have been closer but it was more in pockets of society, for example in the schools and colleges, or the workplace. But in general, Malaysians were still worried and wary. They still recalled the trouble between the Malays and Chinese in 1945, in Batu Pahat and Seri Petani.”
Adibah feels that truly good relations between the different races in Malaysia can come about only if there is open and honest discussion.
“It’s not enough to just celebrate the festivals together. For so long we have been avoiding sensitive issues because of the 1969 riots, but that is not the answer. We can’t overcome anything if there is no discussion. Problems have to be thrashed out over concerns. We have to sit down and discuss honestly what can be done. What we musn’t do is gloss over the relationship. It is about more than just meeting to eat together during Raya.”
In the preface to her novel, Adibah writes: “I pray that all of us in our own ways will work towards the ‘pot of gold’ on the other side of the rainbow: our shared dream of lasting harmony.”
She chose to write about this particular period in time because “the events and people have been in my mind for so many years now and finally I am brave enough to allow them to see the light of day.”
In fact, she started writing this book when she was 16 and developed it over several decades. “I have been keeping bits and pieces in a large box all these years.”
She finally completed the final draft of This End of the Rainbow last year, after more than 50 years of working on it in fits and starts. Will it be the first of many novels in English?
“That depends on a lot of things,” laughs Adibah, who adds that the first one is always the hardest to get out!
“I remember the first time I wrote my column (As I was Passing) ... I took so long that my editors were wringing their hands, and asking me if I was writing for posterity.”
Adibah has written three novels in Bahasa Malaysia. In addition, she has published radio plays, two collections of articles, children’s short stories and a compilation of articles on Bahasa Malaysia, in English.
Although an experienced, admired and iconic wordsmith, she has not considered sending her work to international publishers. “I hardly had the courage to send it to a local publisher!”
However, she believes that Malaysia does produce world-class literature.
“We are not recognised in that field because not many are writing in English. Also our authors are not promoted enough.”
Adibah agrees that one way to do this is to have good English translations of Malay novels as well as active promotion of the books.
“I translated Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan by Ahmad Shahnon and it was on the Top 10 list in Australia, but nothing further happened after that.
“I wish more people would write. I think there are those who have talent but just don’t know it and don’t develop it.”
Her advice for young writers is to “live a lot, read a lot but don’t be influenced by others’ styles, mix with lots of people, observe all the time. And don’t tear up your efforts.”
She also stresses the importance of developing a “thick hide” as being discouraged by criticism is a huge stumbling block in this line.
“I do feel though that, ultimately, it’s not up to you to say if you have talent. It’s up to the public.”
a'kum. bleh bagi e-mail adibah amin x?
Posted by: Azmi | Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 11:49