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ALUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIES
AA Issue no. 3 | 2022
The Sarawakian Anthropology

Graduate and her Life of Service

undergraduate years. But after graduating, I was motivated
to learn more. In 2015, I decided to return to UM, not only
due to its great reputation, but because UM had taught me
so much about life and living it.

While pursuing my first degree, I was introduced to living
communally with people from different cultures, some of
which I had never even heard of. Coming from the district
of Song, I spoke Iban and knew a way of life that was 100
percent Iban centric.

But once in UM, I learned about different languages,
traditions and food and began to appreciate this diversity.
The experience humbled and matured me and it left a
lasting impact. This flamed my desire to learn about
communities and their cultures, and this is how I ended up
enrolling into the Masters Programme at the Anthropology
and Sociology Department at FASS.

The Master's programme in the department helped me
By Mula anak Kelabu explore this in depth and freely. My supervisors - Dr Juli
Department of Anthropology and Sociology Edo and Dr Kamal Solhaimi - are renowned
2015 - 2018 anthropologists. My thesis "The Impact of Development
and Aspiration among the Iban Communities in the Interior
My name is Mula anak Kelabu and this is my FASS story. As of Sarawak: A Case Study in Nanga Engkuah, Song,
a proud Sarawakian of Iban descent. I spent my childhood Sarawak", explored the developmental aspiration of Iban
living in a traditional longhouse, located at Tekalit, in the society and the importance of development according to
Song District of the Kapit Division, Sarawak. Till today, as I that society itself.
live and work in Kuala Lumpur, I find myself missing the
home that I left behind when given the opportunity to
study in the big city. In 2011, I was accepted into the
Academy Of Malay Studies for my first degree, majoring in
Malay Social-Cultural Studies.

The move to Kuala Lumpur was frightening for me, as UM
seemed daunting and I did not believe I would actually get
in. I remember crying on registration day, telling myself I
would never be able to last at UM, and while it was a
difficult journey for an unexposed "kampung" (village)
person like myself, with time, UM forced me to learn a
different way of life, and slowly I adapted. Throughout my
undergraduate degree, I never envisioned moving on to a Mula and fellow university mate at the Pongal Festival, hosted by the
higher degree; it was tough enough to navigate the 4th residential college (2014)

PULSE invites alumni members of FASS to share with us their share of history and the amazing things they have
done since graduating. Please send your articles directly to vilasomiah@um.edu.my (Dr. Vilashini Somiah, Co-
Editor- in- Chief), vandana@um.edu.my (Dr. Vandana Saxena, Co-Editor-in-Chief) or nadhwah@um.edu.my (Ms.
Nadhwah Tul Iman Mizam, Asst. Ed-in-Chief).
We are also open to receiving donations and any feedback, suggestions and questions as well.

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