ninotaziz's Blog, page 15

The Hikayat Book Launch

Welcome to our home
Happy Birthday Abang!

Presenting Hikayat
Gamelan break
Book Signing
With Mum and editor of Hikayat
Puan Kamariah Jaafar
My life and raison d'etre!




AN INVITATION FROM ATMA

Wish me luck!


I have been invited by the National University of Malaysia, UKM, to speak on Hikayat's journey.

I would like to thank Prof Ding Choo Ming of ATMA for his support and encouragement.

Kosmo : On The Cover

Can you see that smile? My only hope is that more people read Hikayat.

HIKAYAT : THE UNOFFICIAL PHOTOS

The morning after, the scent of lilies reminded me that the book launch did happen. It wasn't a dream and the most important people were there either physically or in spirit, with me. My family and friends, and the people who made it all happen - my mother, Pn Kamariah Jaafar who worked on Hikayat as well, Fuzana, my editor  from Utusan and En Malek, to whom the exhibition was dedicated to. Moments like these are best shared with family - hubby Rudy and daughters, Narissia Inas, Nadessia Ilena, Nafertari Ikesha, Naquessia Irani and Natassia Iman.
 Iman, together with Inas and good friend, Alysha were in charge of registration, book sales, press kits. They did a marvelous job. Thank you girls!
Hanif, Iman's classmate during their Form Five days, was the official photographer. We are waiting for his expert shots. That's Goki, on the right, one of my favourites from Iman's former class also. Likewise, I am pretty sure I am his favourite Aunty.
Inas and Alysha with their friends and my extra hands whenever I have small events at home. Hakeem, who is not in this photo, is doing digital illustrations for my future book on Dragons and Serpents (2013). My sister in law, Wan Rosnita arranged the illustrations for the exhibition and she too, did a fine job indeed!
My gamelan performance

 My upcoming bookNAGA - A Legend Of Tasik Chini(August 2012)
Cover illustration  by Narissia InasDesign by my good friend and associate  Apratim Mukhopadhyay of Enter Cerebrum, India
Thank you, everyone!
Next segment : The official blogpost of the Hikayat Book Launch, Exhibition and Gamelan Promise.

ninotaziz on HIKAYAT

My stand on the Malay Hikayat

ARTIST MALEK RAHIM ADDS MAGIC TO HIKAYAT

 En Malek is satisfied with Hikayat and has just finished his illustration for my next project : NAGA
En Malek Rahim's sketches of Malay dancers and Kadazan warriors are regularly featured at the Butterfly Park souvenir shop at the Lake Gardens. After a long happy but weary day with the girls, I found myself staring at these beautiful black and white illustrations and fell in love with the obvious detail, care and love that went into these drawings.
The shop assistants had the artist's phone number but they warned me that En Malek was a bit shy. They gave me his number as I was insistent. That was seven years ago. Since then, En Malek has illustrated four of my books From The Gathering, SRIKANDI, HIKAYAT and NAGA. Each book had a different style but all unmistakable in their homage to our culture.
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM HIKAYAT  Panji Semirang
En Malek started out in design work for the textile industry for 15 years and then left to venture into illustrations that portray Malaysian scenes. He is reticent about his art and yet would be fiercely vocal about my work, encouraging me to ensure it becomes accepted and widely read. Our partnership is strengthened by our mutual  love for the Hikayat and we would both comment on each other's work without reserve until we get the results we are both satisfied with.An avid reader and observer of past designs and artwork, En Malek would bring me books to study especially when he finds collections of his father's own Hikayat books. I am blessed to have En Malek as a partner and I hope the rest of the world would also one day appreciate this quiet unassuming man's artwork for the genius that it is.
Putri Saadung
Thank you En Malek.

Why I wrote Hikayat

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The Malay Hikayats deserve to be on the international stage with other world literature.


Our history spans more than a millennia. And there is certainly a continuum of history that is preserved through the very legends of the land.

We have inherited a legacy of a myriad of legends, as rich and exciting as the Greek mythology or as revered as the Ramayana poems of Valmiki and yet sadly - these classical works are fast disappearing. Many of our Malay Hikayat originated from a Sultan’s wish to record his royal lineage. The Sejarah Melayu, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa and Misa Melayu are examples of this. The origin of Sejarah Melayu or the Sulalat us Sulatin may never be uncovered but throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, versions were zealously updated, it was time consuming work, each volume faithfully copied by hand.

Professor Dr Ding Choo Ming of ATMA, UKM says:
Dua perkara penting telah dinyatakan dalam definisi itu [classical Malay manuscripts]. Pertama, media karya sastera itu ialah manuskrip. Ia lahir di celah-celah tradisi lisan dan percetakan. Kedua, karya itu lahir di istana dan bukan daerah pedalaman dengan sastera lisan berkembang dan diperkembangkan.”

There are also astounding works of literature, which language is beautiful and cosmopolitan in nature. This is because, the Malay cultural revolution and classical literature were shaped throughout a period of changing influences which fused effortlessly in the region. Buddhist tenets during the Srivijaya empire and Hindu teachings during the Majapahit kingdoms pretty much found deep roots in the Nusantara existent until today. Our epic legends are collaborated in other classical text especially in Java, China throughout the 13th to the 17th centuries and more modern writers in the 18th and 19th. When Portuguese traveler Tomes Pires of the 16th century in his Somu Oriental recounted the story of Parameswara from Palembang who commanded his Orang Laut, his version closely corresponded to that of the Malay Annals which alludes that the descendents of Seri Teri Buana of Palembang founded Singapore and Melaka.

Then Islam arrived as part of the Muslim world expansion. In the medieval period of Islam up to the 14th century, the Muslims led the world in their pursuit of knowledge and in science. Muslim scholars were aggressively studying Greek, Persian, Egyptian, Indian, and Chinese documents, amassing huge libraries and making astounding discoveries in astronomy and mathematics. Muslims were also purveyors of stylized art and literature.In this way, the Islamic influence extended to our shores, and, to our literature. This is where the word hikayat originated. Some epics such as Hikayat Hang Tuah actually bear witness to this transition from Hindu influences in the beginning to Islam in the ending.

Historian, Prof Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim elaborates on the term hikayat:
Although the word sejarah has long existed in Malay vocabulary, hikayat was more widely used. Many historical works tended to focus on the genealogies of ruling families-these were called salasilah. When history appeared in verse form, it was also known as syair. The term hikayat indeed tends to imply that, in traditional Malay thinking, history was not punctiliously distinguished from literature.

There is no doubt, the world found the Malay epics fascinating study. Though R.O. Winstedt was critical, he was totally dedicated to the study of the Malay romances and sought to collect many of the surviving books. Amin Skinner, Teeuw and Shellbear poured over the Malay manuscripts, studying its content and influences. Today, 151 libraries and museums in 28 countries hold the bulk of the old manuscripts.

We need to bring forth these epic legends through theatre, story telling and books and other media, especially movies.

Why?

For one, these legends are priceless and part of the world’s intangible heritage, just as monumental as any historical structure such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Java’s Borobodur. In the intricacies of our classical literature, we will rediscover a civilization so cosmopolitan and complex.
It is high time we gave it its due worth and recognition.

My mission is to see that these classics come back to the main stream and flourish.

Available online at http://www.mybooks.com.my

Next segment : Malek Rahim - The artist who brought the Malay World to life

HIKAYAT

Alhamdulillah.

I just came back from Utusan Publishers office. Picked up Hikayat hot off the printing press.

A bit teary and wondrously happy that Hikayat is finally printed and should be in the bookstores at the end of the month or so.

I have so many people to thank. First and foremost my Mum, Puan Kamariah Jaafar who edited and wrote introductions for each story in hikayat. My late grandmother, for telling me the stories all those years until she passed away. The last story we shared over and over again was NAGA Tasik Chini. MrsKhaw Choon Ean is the most loved English teacher by her students at Seri Puteri - I can't thank her enough for encouraging and nurturing my love for poetry. To these three strong women, I owe my chosen life vocation to reviving interest in the Malay Hikayat in this format.

I would like to thank Prof Ding Choo Ming of ATMA, UKM, Prof Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim and Adiguru Pak Nasir for their feedback and guidance while I was writing Hikayat.

This book was truly the result of hardwork by so many people. YM Raja Toh Puan Raja Teh Zaitun Raja Kamarulzaman inspired the title Hikayat, Datin Vasanthi coordinated the lay-out, Evelyn Lam did the design, Ram, Iman and Inas did research and proofreading. The beautiful cover art by Raduan Man and illustrations by Malek Rahim took the book to another level.

Many years ago, Jit Murad said to me, if you want to write a book, make sure it is something important. Make it big! His kind words of encouragement still stay with me until today.

Two people have been there for me when Hikayat was just an idea, waiting to be written. Until today, these two wonderful people God has chosen to include in my life stand by me - my editor, Noor Fuzana Yaakub and my husband, Rudy Daud. Without them, I would not have had the strength to continue this journey of discovery of the Ancient Malay Kingdoms - Hikayat.

I thank God for the blessings I have received.

NAGA

I would like to apologize to all my blogger friends. I have been totally away from the blogosphere for a while. The truth is I am consumed with writing my first ever novel. It is entitled NAGA and is just about finalized. The editing process is about to begin.
I would like to thank a few people who have helped me with this 'project', more like life-long dream. First and foremost, my Mum, Puan Kamariah Jaafar, who is still going through the whole manuscript, editing and adding many layers of detail, crucial to making this the story it is. Our late night discussions back and forth is a test to see whether we have thought through the storyline fully. Next, the 'brutal' Remgold from across the border, Cat-In-Sydney, Ayoh Wang , Pakcik from Al-Manar who will deny he had anything to do with this and Audrey Danasamy all the way in Ho Chi Minh City.
There is still quite a bit to be done. But please bear with me. In the meantime, here are some illustrations for the book, done by my dedicated and genius partner in crime, En Malek. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his belief in my work and for interpreting my stories so marvelously. En Malek Rahim has done the illustrations for four of my books, and he still amazes me.
I know this list will continue to grow in the upcoming months - thank you Prof Ding Choo Ming from ATMA UKM, Mr Lim Beng Teck from Vision-plus, Fuzana from Utusan Publishers and Annie Maynard from XLibris.
Last but not least, thank you Rudy - the love of my life and best friend.
Some characters in NAGA
Her Majesty Po Inu Nagara
Prime Minister Po Gadeng


Copyright 2012 © zalina abdulaziz @ ninotaziz

Terengganu Treasures

The truth is, I found a million treasures in Terengganu. The friendship, the skies, the sea-shells - the sound of waves roaring in the night. I will write about that later for I need more than an hour to relate it all down.
For now, I will share my absolute delight in this single extravagant purchase I made in Pasar Payang, Kuala Terengganu, an authentic brass kuali. I used it for the first time today, and it was an experience that made me tear a little.
When I was a little girl, my grandma cooked our rice in a beautiful brass pot. I took that pot for granted, not realizing it was a heritage of our past. Now I know I will never need a non-stick super frying pan anymore. This brass kuali of mine somehow ensures that the oil is heated up evenly and the splash of the oil hardly rises higher than the pan. It is non-stick and gives me the added pleasure of connecting with my past!
Looking at the golden brass pot, being in the kitchen was pure pleasure (I hated cooking) and a trip down memory-lane.
Sigh...