Daripada ‘Maya’ kepada ‘Nyata’: Kajian Identiti Nasional Sasterawan Mahua Lu Po-Yeh

Abstract

The Chinese who migrated overseas initially brought with them their original culture and identity. Later generations of these early settlers, even though inheriting the original ‘Chinese’ culture and identity, have such an identity, which is in fact an ‘imagined’ (virtual) identity. It was because they had settled there for a long time and had never experienced life in Mainland China. Political turmoil and the international situation then stimulated virtual identities to transform into identities of the place they were born and live, which is more realistic. Lu Po-yeh (1923–1961), a Chinese writer who was born and raised in British Malaya, once considered his identity to be ‘Chinese’ but changed to a local Chinese identity by claiming himself to be a citizen of the Federation of Malaya. This article examines Lu Po-yeh’s shift in national identity, which began with his doubts about his own identity after facing a process of integration, adaptation, and change during his search for self-discovery. Lu Po-yeh had experienced many changes in his life and lived through several important eras, including the era of British colonialism, the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, and the era of Malaya’s struggle for independence. Such life experiences eventually enabled Lu Po-yeh to come to the realisation that his identity was as a Malayan Chinese. Thus, the writings and activities carried out by Lu Po-yeh were closely related to the atmosphere of development at that time. Through Lu Po-yeh’s literary writings and cultural activities, a change in the stance of national identity by his peers was clearly displayed. Lu Po-yeh’s life experiences through the different eras of Malayan history made an impact on the realisation of his true identity – from a vague and virtual ‘China’ identity to a clearer and more realistic ‘Malayan’ identity. Lu Po-yeh’s process of exploring national identity also illustrates the process of the changing stance of Chinese identity in Malaya in the 1950s, where the Chinese wanted to work together to develop a multi-ethnic society in a new and united nation.

Orang Cina yang berhijrah ke seberang laut pada mulanya membawa bersama budaya dan identiti asal mereka. Setelah mereka menetap lama di luar kawasan Tanah Besar China, generasi selepas mereka yang tidak pernah menjalani kehidupan di China sungguhpun mewarisi budaya dan identiti ‘China’ asal tetapi identiti sedemikian pada hakikatnya sekadar ‘identiti bayangan’ (maya) sahaja. Pergolakan politik dan situasi antarabangsa kemudian merangsang identiti maya berubah kepada identiti tempat kelahiran dan kehidupan mereka yang lebih realiti dan nyata. Lu Po-yeh (1923–1961), seorang sasterawan Cina yang dilahirkan dan dibesarkan di Tanah Melayu pernah menganggap identiti beliau sebagai ‘China’ tetapi berubah kepada identiti Cina tempatan dengan mendakwa dirinya sebagai rakyat Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Artikel ini mengkaji perubahan identiti nasional Lu Po-yeh yang bermula dengan keraguannya dengan identiti sendiri setelah menghadapi proses kesepaduan, penyesuaian dan perubahan dalam perjalanan mencari identiti diri. Lu Po-yeh pernah mengalami banyak perubahan dalam kehidupannya dan melalui beberapa era yang penting iaitu zaman penjajahan British, pendudukan Jepun dan era perjuangan kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu sepanjang hayatnya. Pengalaman kehidupan sedemikian akhirnya membolehkan Lu Po-yeh mengenal pasti pendirian identitinya. Oleh yang demikian, penulisan dan kegiatan yang dijalankan oleh Lu Po-yeh berkait rapat dengan suasana perkembangan semasa pada zaman itu. Melalui penulisan sastera dan kegiatan budaya Lu Po-yeh, suatu perubahan pendirian identiti nasional oleh generasi sebayanya telah dipaparkan dengan jelas. Perkembangan sejarah dan pengalaman kehidupan Lu Po-yeh mengubah identiti nasional peringkat awalnya yang ‘kabur’ iaitu identiti ‘China’ (maya) kepada identiti yang ‘jelas’ iaitu identiti ‘Tanah Melayu’ (nyata). Proses penerokaan identiti nasional Lu Po-yeh turut menggambarkan proses perubahan pendirian identiti orang Cina di Tanah Melayu pada zaman 1950-an yang ingin berganding bahu demi membangunkan sebuah negara yang baharu dan bersatu padu dalam masyarakat yang pelbagai etnik.