Kedah Tua: The truth behind Bujang Valley's historical roots

History is the study of the past. It analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives of past human incidents, aiming to uncover the truth based on archaeological evidence, primary and secondary records, as well as myths and legends.

Before written records, events were often passed down through oral traditions, such as those of the Malay Tok Selampit and Awang Batil, or the European Meistersingers. These stories were often embellished with dramatic, mystical, and magical elements to enhance the performance.

With the advent of writing, past events – wars, achievements, natural disasters – were recorded by court scribes, priests in monasteries, and in literary works like Homer’s Iliad, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Malay Hikayat, Tales from the Arabian Nights, and Persian Chronicles.

Many of these works were commissioned by rulers and were dramatised to glorify their reigns, which may not always reflect the truth. However, they provide valuable insights into the social, cultural, and political history of the time.

Throughout history, there have been attempts to alter facts to serve political or chauvinistic agendas. For example, during the colonial period, the British promoted the narrative that Captain Francis Light founded Penang Island, ignoring the Malay communities that had been there long before the arrival of the East India Company.

Similarly, the northern states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu, as well as the Kingdom of Patani and Langkasuka, were part of a cohesive Malay World and for a time were under the suzerainty of the Siamese kingdom. This Malay enclave was divided by the 1909 Treaty of Bangkok, which separated Patani and Langkasuka from the rest of the Malay realm.

Singapore promotes the narrative that its history began with Stamford Raffles, neglecting the fact that Singapore (or Temasek) was part of the Johor Sultanate, with Malay communities long before Raffles arrived.

The place names in Singapore, such as Geylang, Pasir Ris, Bras Basah, Tanjung Katong, and Kampung Gelam, are evidence of early Malay settlements in Temasek.

History itself is dynamic and can be rewritten with the discovery of new evidence, especially in archaeology. However, recorded historical narratives – particularly those of wars, occupations, and invasions – may not always reflect the truth, as they are often written by the occupying forces.

For instance, the history of the Palestinian people has been rewritten by Western powers, with narratives that glorify the Jews while downplaying the Palestinian presence. Similarly, European immigrants to North America portrayed indigenous peoples as violent savages while omitting their genocide of American Indians.

Historical records are often challenged to serve sectarian, ethnic, and religious agendas. A recent example of this is the controversy surrounding Kedah Tua/Bujang Valley, a world-renowned archaeological site, which has faced criticism from a Malay NGO – Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islam (Pekida). They dispute the claim that Bujang Valley was a Hindu/Buddhist settlement.

Their objection stems from the upcoming International Conference on Kedah Tua: Bujang Valley in a Regional Context, which will be co-organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, next month. Pekida held a protest outside the Sungai Dua University entrance after Friday prayers on April 11, demanding the conference be cancelled.

Pekida regards the conference as an affront to Islam, arguing that it promotes Bujang Valley as a Hindu/Buddhist site. The group claims that after examining the archaeological relics, they concluded they were not of Hindu/Buddhist origin. They want the university to cancel the event based on their unfounded assertions, as they feel it downplays the Islamic history of Kedah Tua/Bujang Valley.

These claims are misguided, as there is substantial archaeological evidence supporting the existence of Hindu/Buddhist settlements in Kedah Tua. The area was referred to as Kadaram in Tamil records and as Kataha in Sanskrit manuscripts. Most of the 184 archaeological sites in Bujang Valley reflect Hindu/Buddhist influence, as evidenced by sculptures of Hindu gods like Ganesha and Durga, as well as images of Buddha at Bukit Choras.

Additionally, the temples (or candis) in Bujang Valley were built according to the guidelines of the Manasara and Mayamata Silpasastra, with Indian traders contributing to their construction. These solid findings leave no room for doubt about the Hindu/Buddhist presence in Kedah Tua.

The university must not entertain the demands of politically driven, intellectually uninformed groups. It must stand firm and uphold its integrity as an institution dedicated to research, teaching, and the dissemination of knowledge. The institution should not sacrifice its academic freedom to appease groups with no academic standing. Above all, it must respect the research of its expert staff, who have spent years uncovering the historical truth of Kedah Tua/Bujang Valley.

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.