SUNGAI CHOH (32) : Once Upon A Time | Social Change

Social Change 

(The Practice Of Bengkulu Traditions Had Become The Norm)

Provide Comfort

Social Changes

Way Of Life

"Old is Gold"

Bengkulu's Honour

Those were the days, when Kampung Sungai Choh had gone through changes, but a bit slow in the progress. However, there were not many facilities that could provide comfort to the villagers. There were also no social changes that could bring great events. Anyhow, we still adhered to the old way of life. Nevertheless, the practice of Bengkulu tradition has become the norm and the value of life during the "puntung berasap" era. So it should be maintained and sustained. As the elders said, "old is gold". So no matter whatever the change was, they had to ensure that it did not affect  the village's stability and Bengkulu's honour. So the old people were the source of the village's wisdom that brought harmony and serenity.

Priority Needs

Basic Necessities

Political Protest

"Ayo Dalam Besi"

Take Its Course

Then as a boy, I just went through my life as usual and went on as before. I  did not even know what were the priority needs in life. In modern times, of course electricity and water are the basic necessities of life. By then it is not only an issue but a big problem if electricity is cut off or there is no water from the pipe. It's however hard to predict what will happen then. Perhaps it will provoke a political protest or it will be street demonstrations by the opposition. Yet in those days, even no "ayo dalam besi" and no "api dalam kace", our life went on as usual. There was nothing to protest and nothing to demonstrate. We do not insist on appealing for convenience. We only smiled as the life went on. We didnot even regret what  happened. Sometimes challenges and hardships were what the life was actually. So might as well we just let life take its course.

Part Of The Life

For Daily Living

Not Polluted

Symbol Of Village

Dignity Of The Village

However in those days, most of the  villagers got  water from the well, not only for drinking but for washing and bathing as well. I still remembered when bathing at the well. I just leaned on my elder brother's back. So I shared the shower with my brother. The well was thus a part of the life of the villagers. Equally important was the river that provided water for daily living. We were not really  fussy, as long as the water was available for our need. Moreover the river was not polluted and not cloudy, but crystal clear. So for us the river was a symbol of village life, from which the village got its name "Kampung Sungai Choh". It was also the lifeblood of the villagers. That’s why the river represented the dignity of the village.