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SUMMIT CONFERENCE OF lEGENDARY WOMEN
Original title: Persidangan Agung Wanita Klasik
Bv: Nlsab laron
Biodata
NISAH HARONwas born in Seremban , Negeri Sembilan .
She attended Law Matriculation in 1991 . She received
her Bachelors with Honours from Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia , her Syariah Law & Practice Diploma from
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa and her Law Masters
from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She practiced law
before becoming a full-time writer. Nisah has produced numerous literary work as in
short stories , poems , children 's novels and essays. Her work has won her awards
among which are the 1996-1997 Premiere Literary Award (the Persidangan Agung
Wan ita Klasik short story) , the 2004 Negeri Sembilan Junior Writer Award, the 2005
Negeri Sembi Ian Literary Award and the 2007 Literary Award .
HER MIND felt swollen . As if a shell was trying to push out of the roof
of her fontanelle . She let the throbbing change rhythm; from one beat
a second to three times that. It was too oppressing a choice at life's
crossroads , this time. Her woman's gall she was attempting to keep
intact, to keep from being torn seven ways .
"Mashi 'ah ... please help me just this once. I really cannot stand it
any longer."
The plea had so often landed on her ear drums. The first time the
words were uttered, her woman's heart was really touched. But this
time there was vexation that grew in between the sympathy sought.
Nonetheless, Mashi'ah too had the problems of life dumped upon her
whenever she chanced to fly home uninvited. Tears and weeping too
had lost their meaning . This pleading really tried the depth of her lake
of patience which thus far was calm. This pleading was what stirred
the calm thus drawing ripples on her countenance . Yes, it was this
pleading.
*******
"Surely you don't have the heart to let her count the injuries in her
heart?"
Mashi'ah looked up. The face of Princess Lindungan Bulan alias
Princess Zaleha was too calm when she made her speech . Her instinct
was to snort. It was so easy for this young lady of Kedah royal descent
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to make her comment. Whereas it was her, (Mashi'ah's) shoulders,
which would bear the consequences later.
Mashi'ah refused to respond. Let whoever wished to speak pour out
their feelings. So they will find relief. Let Mashi'ah no longer be made
an escape for those attending the Summit Conference of Legendary
Women later.
Raden Galoh, Li Po and Teja, seated themselves side by side. As if
there was unity amongst the Royal wives. Mashi'ah just smiled bitterly.
Surely to be able to place the three close together and the success of
getting their cooperation to sit peacefully thus was no mean feat, which
must have required great determination and persistence. Mashi'ah
thanked her secretary silently.
"Cik Mashi'ah", Tun Kudu began, "We should not let that lady go on
like that. Her voice should not be allowed to go on jarring forever."
Mashi'ah's expression remained unchanged. She showed no
reaction, whether of sympathy or empathy. The duties of a practitioner
of law honed relevant skills. Skills such as how the ears and the mind
needed to be united, without the interference of the voice of the heart and
light blinded sight which would only create confusion. Because hearing
and thinking could give rise to a seventh sense called rationality. Not
everyone could have it; maybe just halfway towards it.
"You are her defense. What do you call it... lawyer? That is what
people of your times say. This is the moment when she needs your
strong loud voice which will split the court space. Speaking with the
voice of justice," Tun Fatimah pointed out accusingly. "Do you want the
history of my family to be repeated in this circle of power?"
"Wan Anum would have died for nothing then. Dang Anum's death
would be pointless. Of what use was the keris stab to my chest if such
an event were allowed to recur." The turbulence flowing in Mahsuri's
voice was fraught with emotion.
Mashi'ah was still waiting. Maybe there would be more outbursts
of emotion to be presented at this conference table. She would like
everyone to be rid of whatever grievance they might have stored in
their heart of hearts. Because nurturing grievances should not be a
characteristic of true womanliness and motherliness which demanded
a degree of openness on this day.
This Summit Conference of Legendary Women had no time limits.
The fingers of moment and the touch of time had no meaning at all
in this region. Thus, everyone had the right to a voice. Unlike in their
respective lands of birth. Although here was not the place for avenging
Tun Fatimah's loss of her husband, brother and beloved brother, this
circle of power could receive all the heart's whiperings which could tear
to pieces thrir spirit to go on fighting for the cause. Even though Wan
Anum could not bring back her husband, Laksamana Bentan, from the
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dead, dying of the curse cast by the Sultan he opposed, but here could
be found the antidote. Let Tun Kudu who it seemed sacrificed for the
sake of Melaka's sovereignty (actually Melaka remained in jeopardy
because of the disunity amongst its leaders), but this was also the region
which would witness the laments of Melaka's Queen who descended
the throne and was given the mere title of Datin. So be it!
Mashi'ah corrected her sitting posture which increasingly deviated
from the original stance. "I only hope for one thing." Each waited for
the string of words from the woman on whose shoulders rested the
whole of universal womanhood. "I do think I have the strength that you
demand. This brainstorming session also possess enough rationality
which had not diminished one bit. There, surely I would not let that
woman continue being in that condition. Kudu, I have no wish to let
senility nestle in this mind yet."
"So what have cooled down your spirit such that it stopped you from
avenging that woman? So far you have been the voice that ensured the
stability of her ensconcement on this respected throne. You too were
the one who revered us. You placed our hearts together alongside the
feelings of awe for the sacrifices and the fighting spirit that we have
chosen as our life's mission. Don't leave us wondering, accumulating
question marks."
"Are you all aware of that woman's problem?" Mashi'ah waited for
the mute answers from the delegation.
Slowly they shook their heads.
"This is not the first time she came on her knees before me. Actually
I am not that pleased to see her in that condition in my office. Truly I
have no wish at all to see her or anybody else lengthening their steps
to come to my law firm. No other reason to bring them here except to
bring sheet upon sheet of problems."
The lady lawyer took in fresh air and then exhaled slowly the breath
that she held for a moment. "Every time she complained to me of how
her fair skin turned patches of blue, green and black here and there, the
storm of my emotions rose in temperature although I never betrayed it
in my words to her. Just as much I felt hatred welling up in my heart for
tha man who once fathered the small children that she carried. How I
could picture all that passing through the lens of my heart."
"So what really is the excuse you have which prevents you from
continuing to carry that woman's fate away from destruction? What
curtain closes your veil from seeing that woman's difficulties who no
longer wishes to add up the injuries in her heart as she watches her
offsprings leaving their childhood. Whilst the children themselves have
not properly matured into adulthood to dish out retribution."
Once again Mashi'ah held back her words for a moment. "Let me
finish telling that woman's tale, Dang Anum. I do understand how your
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death and the death of Panglima Megat was not adequately avenged
even though Singapura was swallowed by Majapahit because your
father opened the fortress gates. Understand that this woman too
almost lost everything. Thus, even life itself could go flying off without
taking with it the body."
"This woman," continued Mashi'ah, "had everything. But there was
something empty in her soul. This emptiness is what needs to be filled
again. There is no one else who can do that except you all."
"Sum up your argument clearly. I doubt if all of us could follow your
meaning," chided Tun Teja, wife of the Melaka raja, who was abducted
by Hang Tuah from Pahang soil.
"It's like this Teja. Before we can succeed in grasping the meaning
that we are seeking here, there must be a fragment of comprehension
of the way of life in my times which is vastly different from the times that
you went through, even though not completely. She cannot be labelled
a srikandi because she failed to borrow a whit of courage from Fatimah.
Neither does she possess the wisdom of Siti Zubaidah because her
journey towards that was prevented. So it is with her movements which
are wrapped in propriety, and her feelings imprisoned by courtesy and
custom."
"Obviously her life choices are not that accurate," chipped in Puteri
Zaleha, who is said to have white blood, in reviewing.
"It's not 'not that accurate', but really grossly inaccurate. Maybe she
might be luckier if she had the magic powers of Puteri Gunung Ledang
who could interpret the Sultan of Melaka's intentions, who was only in
love with lust. All these limitations are what stranded her in this situation.
A situation which actually is normal for the creature called mankind!"
*******
Her office space welcomed Mashi'ah as usual. Seremban town still
was not as busy as it could be. The glance she threw out of her third
floor window showed her that. A sudden feeling of relief sneaked into
her heart. Surely a few hours from now, this situation would pass. The
entrance of a thousand and one type of motor vehicles would clutter
the view and the mind of whoever was caught in the jam.
Exactly what would happen to her table shortly. Although it had
been tidied by her secretary, in a few moments it would be filled up
with all kinds of agenda and files which would swell up on its surface.
Not withstanding her emotions which would be assailed by a multitude
of problems which would be demanding solutions which would not be
simple.
Mashi'ah's expectations were not unrealistic. The endless passing
over of the telephone which connected her secretary's desk to this office
took place as if accompanied by a request with a heavy tone.
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"Yes."
"Puan Attika is waiting."
Mashi'ah released a heavy sigh. If only this problem was posed as
an item in the cepu mas quizz show, she would surely have grabbed the
bonus prize. "Ask her to come in." The woman who was the problem in
this Summit Conference of Legendary Women entered the office space
of another woman who it was hoped could change her luck. Mashi'ah
welcomed her with a smile and a handshake as she would her other
potential clients. She too, it was certain, would walk with her to the main
door of the law firm Mashi'ah & Co. when the meeting was over.
"Let's put it this way, kak," said the lawyer after summing up the
introductory verbal exchange with Puan Attika. "I could agree to bring
your case to the Syariah Court on the charge of failing to provide due
maintenance for his children and also for physically abusing you. I could
also challenge him in a civil court for causing you injuries like this. Only,
I hope you will not repeat what happened the last time you met me."
"I do understand. I felt really stupid that time. I should not have
dropped the charges. At that time, I was of two minds. My in-laws are
really nice. So I didn't have the heart to drag them into the midst of
things. But this time my decision is final. Mashi'ah, please help me this
once. This time I really cannot take it any longer."
At times all this made Mashi'ah felt whipped. Women like this one
were really the ones who should be protected under the shadow of
the Protection of Womwn And Girls Act. But how did this woman get
excluded from the space covered by this canon. The empty chair in front
of her she scrutinised as if Puan Attika was still seated in it, whereas
the woman had gone away with Mashi'ah promise to be her voice in
court later. The young lawyer still wanted to erect rationality in her heart
even if the voice of her emotions and her finer instincts clamoured to
be listened to.
"I will pay any amount, Mashi'ah. Maybe I am not that well-off, but I
will still pay. Even if it is by instalments. You can't do all this without any
remuneration." Puan Attika's voice still had not left her office space.
That too was amongst the issues plaguing her thoughts. No matter
how fierce the desire to fight for the cause of this woman was burning,
she did not deny that what fuelled it were the pieces of paper with
the ringgit sign on them. Without this fuel, the track of her arguments
would not be passed smoothly by the computer of the mind. Too much
paperwork stalled like toll booths along the highway, which demanded
payment for every journey.
Actually, she could as easily have mowed down all the obstacles for
the sake of sending a woman to a destination of due justice. Does not
justice mean to put something in its proper place? And Mashi'ah was
also willing to bear all the consequences such an act would bring later.
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MALAY LITERATURE
But the reality is that lawyers too have to live. The pain and hardship
she struggled through for eight semesters on campus was not little.
And the promise of sweet remuneration voiced by Puan Attika also had
to be distributed amongst the office, the family in a rural area, and the
remainder to support a city lifestyle.
Did it not, when she agreed to add the letters LL.B after her name,
mean that she would not refuse the trust and the responsibility which
came together with it? That much Mashi'ah understood
*******
"So, is my story clear now?"
Everyone seemed to want more time to digest the review of the
case history from the chairperson of the conference.
"Do you still want to relinquish everything on to my shoulders only?
Undoubtedly my shoulders would sag to one side if it is true that all these
are to be implemented. Isn't everything entrusted to us to be shared
among our separate roles? Clear, isn't it? You have a role in history.
Your voice is still listened to and there is still sympathy that follows you
all whatever the area passed."
Mashi'ah allowed them to reflect on this for some time. Let her words
find a proper place in their thought space.
"I will not allow Puan Attika to go on just like that as you have
guessed. I still have space to place women's dignity at a proper level.
But I cannot stand alone. My platform feels too fragile when I see the
buds of ylang-ylang, jasmine, tanjung and magnolia so unlike you all
before. They want to beckon to the post-modern life which promises
a thousand and one illusions. Too many of these buds have lost their
fragrance. Unable to borrow the essence of wisdom from Siti Zubaidah;
or even a cupful of savvy in the proper place, owned by the guardian
of Mount Ledang."
Puteri Zaleha savoured the remnants of her muteness before voicing,
"Clearly during our times there was no voice strident enough to carry
a hope to the summit of justice. The phenomenon has not changed
much even though the emancipation of women has been declared
everywhere."
"Don't misunderstand," retorted Wan Anum, 'The women of Mashi'ah's
era actually are imprisoned by that voice of emancipation itself. They
really believe that it is culture itself that shackles and is the cause. So
they request to get out of the culture paradigm."
"I cannot deny that. The women of my times do want this, only a
few get out with academic weapons and cover the opportunities of
progress to be benefited. Whilst the rest still want to be wasted buds
to be thrown out when their sweetness is gone. Do you know of other
reasons to support this?"
They made no reply.
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"The voice of emancipation does not belong to this area.The voices
came from Germaine Greer, Eleanor Rooservelt, and those who
demanded equal rights with the other party. Whereas for us that right
had been carried together with the huge banners which prevented the
snuffing out of the lives of daughters when buried alive by their own
fathers more than one thousand four hundred years ago. Our due
rights had been recorded because we too have our own strengths.
Because we are different from the other group. Because we too are
special individuals with unique characteristics. Because of that it is not
proper for us to draw unwarranted similarities with the father of Puan
Attika's children."
"So what is our role then, we who can merely attend this Summit
Conference of Legendary Women?" Mahsuri asked.
Mashi'ah smiled.
"Go on being where you feel you ought to be. You have to be the
history that is the defining stone that marks the boundaries for the
twenty-first century generation. Should the women of that generation
really move forward alongside their partners, let them be well prepared
and have comparable specialities. Your history hopefully will not be
repeated. This is because no matter how bitter was the experience,
it would be even more unbearable if it were to be drawn again by our
own hands."
Mashi'ah took a break then continued, "The emptiness in the hearts
of the buds of jasmine, tanjung, ylang-ylang and magnolia is what must
be filled. True you are not able to fill it up completely, but sufficient to
occupy the proper space in their hearts. The rest must come with the
realisation that grows from the inside, not something proffered externally.
That is how it is."
It was as if satisfaction was forming on the faces in front of Mashi'ah
at that moment. Their roles had been properly defined. The young
lawyer also felt the same way.
"If Khadijah was honoured by our Great Prophet, and Fatimah AzZahra was completely loved by Ali for God's sake, then the floral buds of
our time should be decorated with Aisyah's personality because it is only
on that basis can they be placed on the highest throne of honour."
The participants of the Summit Conference of Legendary Women
had never been more in agreement!
(Translated by Hasnah Ibrahim)
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