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Munshi
Abdullah Abdul Kadir
(17961854)
Hikayat Abdullah 1849
Courtesy of the National Library Board of
Singapore
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Hikayat
Abdullah
1849
This
autobiography of Munshi Abdullah Abdul Kadir was
written in the Jawi language between 1840 and
1843, and published in 1849. The author was the
interpreter and scribe to Singapore's founder,
Sir Stamford Raffles. Therefore this text serves
as an important record of Singapore's early history
and the most accurate account of Raffles' arrival.
Abdullah
was also the first Malay writer to depart from
traditional Malay literary style, by writing in
colloquial language. Unlike courtly writing, his
style was realistic and lively, incorporating
many Malay idioms and proverbs. His knowledge
of languages and reputation as a teacher earned
him the nickname 'Munshi', meaning 'tutor'.
Abdullah
wrote about the events of his life as they related
to the activities in Singapore, which was slowly
changing under British rule from a sleepy fishing
village into a major centre of world trade. He
describes this transformation and the prominent
British personalities of the time, offering observations
on political and cultural events. Abdullah remarks
on Raffles' study of the history, customs and
language of the people he came into contact with,
and his efforts to treat all those he met with
due respect and proper courtesies. He also described
Raffles' arrangements for collecting, preserving
and recording books and natural history specimens.
From
both the literary and historical perspectives,
the Hikayat Abdullah is a milestone in
modern Malay literature. This is a first edition,
and is very rare. It was produced by the printing
technique of lithography, which was widely used
by artists in the nineteenth century and is still
in use today.
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