For many people, history is often a boring flurry of dates treaties and pompous princes. For Malaysians, history books are made even less digestible by the dominance of authors who write from the British colonialist point of view.
Where Monsoons Meets attempts to lead a new path away from the beaten tracks. This history book of Malaya is refreshing in its highly readable and entertaining cartoon presentation. Contentwise, it breaks new grounds by recounting Malayan history from the people's point of view.
The period covered stretches from the days of the Malacca Sultanate to the granting of Merdeka to the Federation of Malaya on 1957. Some notable highlights colourfully described include the squabble of colonial powers over Malacca, the revolts againts the establishment of British rule, the gallant resistance againts Jaoanese occupation, British measures to suppress the anticolonial struggle during the 'Emergency', and the formations of the various political parties and patriotic forces of the period before 'Independence'.
To those of us wonder about the background to present day political developments in Malaysia, and especially those born after the Second World War, this is an invaluable, edifying uncovery of a people's struggle againt colonailism.
