K S Maniam (1942-)

Editorial


Wicks, Peter. 2007. "K S Maniam (1942-)." The Literary Encyclopedia. 16 Apr.
Article Title

K S Maniam (1942-)

Article CategoryEditorial
Authors
AuthorWicks, Peter
Publication TitleThe Literary Encyclopedia
Journal Citation16 Apr
Number of Pages9
Year2007
Place of PublicationLondon, United Kingdom
Web Address (URL)http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2914
Abstract

K S Maniam is a prolific writer, with three novels, plays, and numerous short stories to his credit. An intense, reserved, yet courteous person, he lives with his wife and children in a modest, two-storeyed house in Subang, one of the dormitory suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It was my privilege to visit him there, and to engage in the discussions on which this profile draws. Despite his critically-acclaimed literary achievements, Maniam is denied official recognition and public acclaim in his country of birth because he chooses to write in English, rather than the national language known as Bahasa Malaysia. Yet there are valid reasons for his choice of literary medium, reasons that are inherent in Malaysia's modern history as former British colony and now independent state to which immigrant communities have made a vital contribution. Nor does his use of English render him less authentic a Malaysian than his literary counterparts in that country. Indeed, his works are imbued with the vibrancy of the Malaysian landscape, both human and physical.

KeywordsManiam, Malaysian literature, Malaysia
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470529. South-East Asian literature (excl. Indonesian)
Public Notes

Deposited with permission of publisher.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Humanities and Communication
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9y232/k-s-maniam-1942

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