Wacana Budaya India dan Melayu dalam Naratif Novel Sangeetha: Satu Pendekatan Silang Budaya

Cultural Discourses of Indian and Malay Communities in the Narrative of the Novel Sangeetha: A Cross-Cultural Approach

Abstract

Malaysia dikenali sebagai sebuah negara berbilang kaum, yang mana semangat saling menghormati dalam kalangan masyarakat pelbagai etnik menjadi asas kepada keharmonian negara. Kepelbagaian budaya ini bukan sahaja terserlah dalam interaksi harian, malah turut diungkap secara signifikan melalui karya sastera. Salah satu contoh yang menonjol ialah Sangeetha, sebuah novel karya penulis tersohor negara, Azizi Haji Abdullah. Menerusi karya ini, Azizi meneroka dinamika pemahaman antara budaya, khususnya antara komuniti Melayu dan India. Sehubungan itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti representasi budaya tersurat dan budaya tersirat dalam novel Sangeetha, serta menganalisis bagaimana elemen-elemen tersebut berfungsi sebagai medium komunikasi antara budaya dalam memupuk perpaduan sosial. Kajian ini menggunakan Teori Bongkah Ais sebagai kerangka analisis bagi meneliti dimensi budaya yang dapat dilihat iaitu budaya tersurat dan dimensi budaya yang tersirat seperti pemikiran serta nilai masyarakat. Kaedah analisis kandungan digunakan untuk memperoleh data, manakala analisis tematik diaplikasikan bagi mengenal pasti tema-tema utama dalam teks. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa budaya tersurat yang dominan dalam novel ini merangkumi aspek pekerjaan dan aktiviti ekonomi, pakaian tradisi dan seni muzik. Sementara itu, budaya tersirat yang dikenal pasti melibatkan peranan wanita, pegangan agama dan kepercayaan serta bahasa. Analisis juga mendapati bahawa interaksi antara watak daripada latar budaya berbeza digambarkan melalui proses penyesuaian budaya, perkongsian simbol budaya, dan rundingan identiti yang menyumbang kepada pembentukan persefahaman bersama. Penemuan ini membuktikan bahawa Sangeetha bukan sekadar karya kreatif, tetapi turut berperanan sebagai dokumen budaya yang merakam dan memelihara nilai bersama, falsafah hidup, adat resam, dan ekspresi seni masyarakat majmuk. Kajian ini memberikan pandangan kritikal tentang peranan sastera sebagai medium komunikasi antara budaya dalam memupuk perpaduan sosial dan keharmonian, sekali gus menegaskan kekayaan budaya Malaysia serta keupayaan sastera dalam merapatkan jurang budaya.

Malaysia is recognized as a multicultural nation in which the spirit of mutual respect among diverse ethnic communities forms the foundation of national harmony. This cultural diversity is not only evident in everyday interactions but is also significantly expressed through literary works. One prominent example is Sangeetha, a novel by the renowned Malaysian writer Azizi Haji Abdullah. Through this work, Azizi explores the dynamics of intercultural understanding, particularly between the Malay and Indian communities. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the representations of surface culture and deep culture in Sangeetha, as well as to analyze how these elements function as a medium of intercultural communication in fostering social cohesion. This study employs the Iceberg Theory as an analytical framework to examine both surface cultural dimensions and deep culture (the underlying) cultural aspects embedded in societal values and thought. Content analysis is used to obtain data, while thematic analysis is applied to identify the main themes within the text. The findings indicate that the dominant surface cultural elements in the novel include occupations and economic activities, traditional attire, and musical arts. Meanwhile, the deep cultural elements identified involve the roles of women, religious beliefs and practices, and language. The analysis also reveals that interactions between characters from different cultural backgrounds are portrayed through processes of cultural adaptation, the sharing of cultural symbols, and identity negotiation, all of which contribute to the development of mutual understanding. These findings demonstrate that Sangeetha is not merely a creative work but also functions as a cultural document that records and preserves shared values, philosophies of life, customs, and artistic expressions of a plural society. This study offers critical insights into the role of literature as a medium of intercultural communication in fostering social cohesion and harmony, while underscoring the richness of Malaysian culture and the capacity of literature to bridge cultural divides.