We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.
— Jesse Owens, American athlete
Dreams, dreams, dreams … no, I am not talking about the popular number by Everly Brothers but it’s about dreams by elders in the past that have certainly come true.
In an earlier column article entitled ‘Dragon by day, Keling by night’ I shared with readers about my late father who was the only person to have seen a flash of the dragon over Letung Naga (Dragon Lake) in Saratok’s hinterland circa early 1920s while tapping rubber in the morning.
Later in his sleep he dreamt of meeting a well-built man who said he was Panggau Libau (Raised World) warrior cum leader and Iban folklore hero Keling Gerasi Nading Bujang Berani Kempang (Keling the giant of a man, bravest of all).
In his dream, dad was told by Keling that during the day he was doing an inspection to ensure the serenity and peace of the area (seen in the form of a dragon by dad, then a teenager). Upon knowing he was talking to the Panggau Libau legend and demigod, dad requested that he be bestowed with bravery and wealth but Keling told him he was given a priceless item — longevity.
Before he could prolong the conversation with Keling, dad was awakened by his meowing cat.
Keling’s grant of longevity was truly a special gift as dad died aged 92 in 2002.
His long life enabled him to enjoy wealth of happiness, fruitful experience, good health but no material wealth per se as he had requested from Keling in his dream.
He must be happy in his eternal rest now to note that many of his grandkids and great-grandkids who have become teachers, engineers, accountants, technicians among other professions. These are Panggau Libau’s ways of granting wealth I guess.
In another case, six generations ago, my ancestor and Kedap basin pioneer Anya who was nicknamed ‘Lebur Menua’ (Lands’ Conqueror) also met Keling in his dream. This happened on the third day of his sharpening stone in his hill paddy farming lot being used by someone without permission (he did wait to see who was/were the culprits but only heard voices).
It was during the felling season when blades and such tools were very vital. In his dream, Keling apologised for using his stone to sharpen their various blades.
Keling said: “Anya, all your male children, grandchildren and their future male descendants will become leaders of men, of society, namely they will play active leadership role whereas your female descendants will get married to leaders and are able to be leaders themselves as well. This is my gift to you and as a way of making up for our use of your sharpening stone without prior permission.”
Before Anya could ask for more, Keling and his two friends disappeared, thus ending their rendezvous. His dream ended there but as of now, the dream’s gift continues as in Sarawak, Malaya, Sabah, Indonesia and elsewhere in the world (including Canada, UK, Australia, India and USA) one may likely come across Anya’s descendants — both males and females who hold positions of importance in society.
At the moment, here in our beloved Land of Hornbills, Betong Resident Richard Abunawas is my cousin and also Anya’s descendant via our great-great grandfather Penghulu Bungin, who was Anya’s eldest son. And so is his maternal first cousin the current head of Management of Sarawak Police Contingent SAC Gilbert Philip Layang who is also my cousin via his father Layang, a Kedap native and Bungin’s descendant.
Our uncle Datuk Musa Giri is the grandson of Subung Jatan and therefore a great-grandson of Anya as Jatan was his second son after Bungin. Now a fulltime businessman, Musa is a former chairman of Housing Development and Corporation (HDC), former District Officer as well as SAO.
My own late sister Dinggu Salok (1936-1982) was married to Kandau Sagoh (1933-1987) who was among Saratok’s first man to be elected Penghulu in 1966.
I have two aunties named Gulang. The older one Gulang Julung (now deceased) was married to a longhouse chief whereas the younger Gulang Empeni (still around) married a high-ranking Indian national BK Nair (now deceased) from Benares who spoke Iban fluently.
Their male offspring Adam Prakash now heads the Sarawak Teachers Union (STU). Gulang Empeni’s first cousin, the late Dunstan Meling Undau, was Chief Scout Commissioner of Sarawak till his death in 2012.
Our Kedap longhouse, now headed by a great-grandson of Jatan Anya, has produced scores of graduates in various fields and there are also those who have retired as school headmasters/principals, senior education and police officers.
Keling’s promises in those dreams have truly been fulfilled.
