Anwar Urges Shift From Colonial Lens On Asian History

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cutting a ribbon to open the More Than A Day As A Tiger exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALIKUALA LUMPUR: Asian history should be viewed beyond colonial narratives, as it is important to understand history from the perspective of local leaders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is as the contributions of the likes of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and his father, Haider Ali, as defenders against British colonial expansion, exemplified courage, knowledge and tolerance.
"History is not necessarily very kind. One of our scholars, Syed Hussein Alatas, emphasised the need to reconstruct history because it cannot be written only by the winners or from the perspective of the colonial rulers.
"Malaysian history, as is other histories, is always written from the perspective of the British, essentially Western colonial rule.
"Of course, there have been lots of academic accounts, including by Edward Said on Orientalism, but the manner, the whole discipline of history and culture and society is being dictated by certain Western viewpoints," he said.
Anwar was speaking at the launch of the "More Than A Day As A Tiger" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
He said Tipu Sultan was a strong leader, a fighter for freedom, a scholar, and one of the few who understood the need to master technology in order to fight colonial powers.
"That is why you see his cannons and guns (are) remarkable for the time, used to challenge the colonial rulers," he said.
Anwar recounted visiting Mysore, where he was struck by the modest size of Tipu Sultan's palace and the extent of his personal library.
He also noted that Tipu Sultan was also a skilled diplomat who united Muslims and Hindus in India and persuaded French forces to support his struggle against the British.
He said the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's latest exhibition was the most comprehensive ever mounted on Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali, anywhere in the world.
Anwar added that many artefacts once thought lost were now on display in Malaysia.
The exhibition will be held from Aug 6 till Jan 11, next year.
It highlights the legacy of the two men, who were rulers of Mysore in southern India.
The exhibition showcases their heritage, struggles and impact, featuring artefacts, manuscripts, weaponry, textiles and artworks, while exploring the symbolism, ideology and historical legacy that made Tipu Sultan an enduring icon of anti-colonial resistance. - NST

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