Pillars of Love

Photographs showing the pillars of the school received from a friend who visited the construction site on 20 Oct 07.

Sukmaisa Concept Powerhouse

All projects as reflected in this blog are managed by SUKMAISA CONCEPT POWERHOUSE.

Please contact us.
Dr. Sukmawati Sirat
Isa Kamari

Address:
37 Lorong M, Telok Kurau
#03-02, Candeville
Singapore 425316
Phone: 65-63465504



Email: sukmaisa@singnet.com.sg
Email: isakamari@singnet.com.sg
Website: http://www.isakamari.com/

Forgotten Tradition & Culture

Please visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4E8xYW3kAc

Linguists have classified Cham as a member of the Malayo-Polynisian family spoken by several ethnic groups lived along the coast of South China sea and the Malay Archipelago. As they come from one linguistic family, the Cham, Malay and Javanese languages share numerous lexical similarities. The written Cham is based on the Sanskrit alphabets. As early as the 3rd century AD, inscription of Sanskrit texts were found on the steles as they were used to record royal chronicle and important historical events. This epigraphic practice ceased in 1471 with the downfall of Champa. About the mid-16th century, a modern form of Cham emerged and gradually replaced the classical (old Cham) language which heavily used Sanskrit and Arabic vocabularies . Modern Cham became more popular in the 17th through the 19th century as a number of manuscripts and texts of history, religion, folklore and legends, poetry and epics were written in the new language.

Champa has a rich and illustrated literary heritage exemplified by numerous works in both oral and written forms. The most well known works of the classical Cham literature are:

Pramdit Pramlak: A popular and well loved folk story of two brothers Pramdit and Pramlak and their long journey to find and save Pram Dit's wife, princess Bia Cata.

Inra Sri Bikan: A folk prose of the Cham hero, prince Sang Jana and his struggle to reconquer his kingdom previously lost to the neighborly king Rayana.

Ariya Um Marup: This popular verse of 248 sentences believed to be composed around the end of 16th century-early 17th century. This epic tells the story of a prince, Um Marup who was converted to Islam by the Prophet who later helped him to destroy the dragon, which had devastated his father's kingdom. But his father, King Harum who did not accept his son's belief, decided to eliminate Um Marup. With help from the Prophet, the prince rendered harmless all weapons aimed at him. Finally, Um Marup waged a war against his father, he was killed in the battle, but the Prophet once again interceded, defeated King Harum, and in turn, converted the King to under the umbrella of Islam.

Akayet Deva Mano: This long verse of 480 sentences is considered the most popular work in the classic Cham literature. Believed to be adapted from a Malaysian story, this epic is well loved by the Cham people for its beautiful poetry as well as its high moral values. The epic tells the story of two princes Deva Mano and Deva Samulaik and their fighting to marry princess Ratna Cahya Sribiyong. Akayet Deva Mano takes a very special place in the heart of the Cham people because it emphasizes the universal values such as goodness over evil, marital faithfulness, friendship loyalty, parental sacrifices framed in a well composed story and melodic verses.

Inra Patra: This long verse of 582 sentences first appeared in the early 17th century. This work is believed to be an adaptation of a Malaysian legend with a strong Islamic intonation.

How It All Began

Potein is the ‘adopted hometown’ of the Mufti of Cambodia. He arrived there in the 70's alone, while fleeing from persecution by the Pol Pot regime. He was taken in by the villagers who restored his health and gave him shelter. To their delightful surprise, they discovered that the young man whom they saved was very well versed in religious knowledge. Quickly the young man became the religious master of the village.

After the downfall of the Pol Pot regime, a mosque and a school of timber were built in Potein. Slowly but surely Potein became famous because of his presence and influence. Villagers all over Cambodia and Vietnam started to send their children for religious education under the guidance of the young religious master. A new mosque of concrete and bricks were built. A hostel for male students was also added. The old timber school remained.

This modest school has since produced scholars and teachers who continue to guide and elevate the status of Islam and the Cham Malays in Cambodia. The young religious master was then invited to Phnom Penh and conferred the status of Mufti by the Administration. Young scholars like ustaz Musa, Abdul Wahid, Yusof and Gozali, who were former students of Potein, are assigned different regions of Cambodia to support the work of the Mufti.

The Mufti said that after his tenure he would return to Potein to continue to build the Cham Malay ummah from there. He said in passing that the old school needed to be rebuilt. I could not agree more after seeing its dilapidated condition. That is how this school project started. Also in the pipeline for Potein is a hostel for female students. Other villages also have similar needs.

Progress of School Construction

Letter received from the Mufti of Cambodia on 19 Ramadhan. Enclosed are photographs taken on 7 Ramadhan showing the construction of foundations for the school building which is located next to the village mosque.

Please contact me at isakamari@singnet.com.sg if you want to help in any way. Thank you.

New Home for Grandmother

The old tattered house above.

This new house was built for a grandmother and her three grandchildren at Potein at a cost of USD 1K.

Summary of Current Projects

1. School in Potein at USD 35K.
2. Modest homes for the poor & destitute at USD 1K each.
3. Wakaf Perigi (Wells) at USD 150/- each.
4. Qurban & Aqiqah (Please refer to Al-Ameen's website)
5. Mosques at USD 45K-50K each.

Please contact me at isakamari@singnet.com if you want to help in any way.