Interlok. Many has commented the novel and the derogatory terms used in it before even getting hold of the book. That just shows how fast people can jump into conclusion or follow the pack.
If anyone had read the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,one of Mark Twain's classic novel published in 1884, the word 'nigger' was used throughout the book. It took around 129 years, before someone found the word was derogatory to the Black American community.
If you realised the same goes to the book Interlok, written by Abdullah Hussain published in 1971, it took 39 years for some to realise derogatory terms used to demean Indians.
The novel actually has four segments with first three written on Malays,Chinese and Indians and the final chapter is how the fates of Seman,Ching Huat and Maniam are intertwined with the nation's, hence Interlok.
If the novel was never introduced as a component for SPM Malay literature, I would dare say another 100 years would have gone by before someone actually realised the derogatory terms used. Now its in the mainstream, every Tom and Dick in the country is choosing sides to either defend the book or criticize it. (also the book burning fiasco which for me is quite barbaric. As educated individuals there are many ways of channeling your dissatisfaction or turning the attention to your plight but by not burning books that symbolizes 'Saraswathy, the goddess of education' to Hindus).
We have seen controversial debates by all corners;The writers,the Ngos, the government,the oppositions and the opportunists. I would say it was more like playing the game of chicken to see who will flinch first. Threats and ultimatums only met by further threats and ultimatums which till now led to no where.
One could be wondering what are the gains and lost from the book being kept on or pulled out as a literary component. All I can see is that the book was politicized to a level where the reaction to and by Indian community is not addressed even minuscule.
Was it even about the word 'pariah' used twice in the book? Along the mountains of debates, the root of the problem was left unanswered.
I will not be taking sides because for me the whole 'drama' is filled with hypocrisies. Interlok arguments for me are selective arguments.
For instance,the freedom of speech argument,certain word should not be censored and removed simply because it will offend others feelings. Would the same be said about the ruling coalition tendency to ban books that they deem challenging authority? I guess the answer will be NO.
We only use the freedom of speech when it suits us but turn a blind eye when it favours the sensibilities and sensitivity of one group over another regardless of the race.
The argument regarding the age old statement, Chinese and Indians are immigrants to this land. Yes, our ancestors migrated to Tanah Melayu for a better future. British brought us here. But that was my great grandfather who sailed from India. How can such statement be used on me or my generation? I'm a Malaysian by birth. This is my motherland. One can argue that Interlok is emphasizing Indian and Chinese are immigrants and this is not our country. Interlok was written with the background of pre-independence where the Chinese and Indians were immigrants. I hope people do not use such statement out of context for they own benefit.
As I said, I'm not picking sides here. Maybe we are not matures enough as a society to debate a sensitive issue on a neutral ground. Interlok should be removed from the syllabus if it's going to be more than a literary component to many. But, it will not end here, because we are not gullible to believe that Interlok is the real problem instead of we as a society is.
(Please read the Malayan Trilogy by Anthony Burgess because it makes mickey out of all three races if you can get hold of the book in Malaysia bookstores =P...guess they will make it as a English literature component??)
