Day 17 - A book you’ve read that changed your views on something

Credit: Awin2008

I just finished reading Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer and Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell (ok, you can call me outdated), but a book that changed my view on something is...

Biru Warna

by Tan Sri Prof. Emeritus Dr. Awang Had Salleh.

I've read this book during my matriculation at PJ (2002). The library has a very good collection of novels written by Malay authors, which most of them are Sasterawan Negara. Among the books are Jaringan, Lepaskan Kembali Aku Ke Laut vol 1, vol 2, and vol 3, Menongkah Lumrah, Empangan, Hari-hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman, Salina, Melati Kota Bahru, and many more. Everyday after the class, i rushed went to the library just want to make sure that others did not borrow them. Luckily, IIUM matrics students like John Grisham and Sidney Sheldon more. So, the special edition of hardcover of these Malay novels are only waiting for me..Yeaayy! And, i managed to influenced my other 3 roomates to read them, and we discussed the plots before in the dark when the lights was off, before we were sleep.

One of these novels, the Biru Warna from Awang Had Salleh is the most unforgetable book.

Awang Had Salleh has wrote this beyond expectation and out-of-box.

It's about economy, social position, racial issue, perspective, art, literature, religion, resentment, all on one.

I can't remember the hero's name (let his name..Khairuddin), he have a brother who fall in love with a Chinese girl , and at that time it was considered out-of-normal situation and their father chased him away. Khairuddin has been sent to sekolah pondok and become an imam and amil, gifted with the talent of drawing. The drawing has led him to know one of the Chinese girl (Swee Lan) who appreciated his drawings and art. (I love the part where they considered bamboo as the most beautiful plant in the world, while others thought the bamboo in art is kind of bizarre)

He fall in love with a Malay girl (let her name Salmah), a daughter of pious imam at the village.

What he doesn't knew that Salmah and her family have a typical narrow minded perspective about things around them. One of his friends (Sudin) also fall in love with Salmah but rejected Sudin as she thought Sudin is not handsome (ah,buruk mukanya! kata Salmah)

Khairuddin and Salmah got married, and their difference point of view has wrecked the marriage. Khairuddin became a teacher and continuing his study to earn knowledge, but Salmah cannot understand why she cannot have jeweleries or adornments like other's wives. She even bought it by credit (hutang bayar ansur-ansur) without her husband acknowledgement.Khairuddin on the hand, kept buying books for his studies and Salmah sick of it. She even got mad when Khairuddin bought her a 'mee sup' as a dinner since Salmah considered it as a Chinese food (so Malay cannot consume it).

They divorced after saw Khairuddin dancing at the school for a certain ceremony (i can't remember) and devastated saw her husband drinking ginger drink. She thought that ginger drink is a beer (liquor) and the dancing is forbidden in Islam.

The end of the story is closed by Salmah get married with Sudin and Khairuddin get married to Swee Lan (the arty old flame, if can be considered it is). The astounding fact that Khairudin want to get married with Chinese girl has resulted the death of his father (he can't accept of mix marriage, which is taboo at that time).

I only mentioned 3% of the scenes here, but trust me, the original story is masterpiece. All aspects of life are included in this book. I don't know any words to convince you but it is indeed an eye-opener for me on how to presume, perceive and deal with this life. If our country emphasize on 1 Malaysia mantra, i believe who has read this book will agree with me that this is the perfect book to broaden the horizon. I still have not see any book which resembles this perfect Biru Warna. Probably the authors nowadays afraid to touch of sensitive issues like Awang Had Salleh did.

5 star to Biru Warna.