In April of 1963, our new teacher, Tom Meludin Dian, at Saratok’s Nanga Assam Primary School experienced a heartbreaking loss when his infant son, Igat, passed away at just six months old.
This tragedy deeply affected Tom, 27, and his wife, affectionately known as Indai Endun, 22, and their four-year-old daughter, Endun.
Unable to find solace among nearby relatives, they turned to my parents, Apai, in his late 40s, and Indai, in her early 40s, for support.
Living only a 20-minute walk from the Meludins’ school residence, my parents welcomed them into our humble home.
During their three-week stay, a strong bond formed, especially between Tom and my brother Jon, who accompanied him during his mourning.
Originally from Disso village near Saratok town, Tom and Indai had another daughter, Ulat, who was cared for by her grandparents in Disso.
After a profound period of over three months fostering a deep connection, Apai made the heartfelt decision to adopt Meludin as a brother formally.
This significant gesture was met with enthusiastic acceptance by Meludin and his family.
In a symbolic exchange of gifts that followed, Apai presented Meludin with a sword and a gong, which were graciously reciprocated with a jar from the young teacher.
The enduring nature of this bond, as readers will discover later in this text, has evolved into a tangible and enduring connection forged not by blood ties, but by a shared foundation of love, respect, and genuine friendship.
A year later, the Meludin family transitioned to occupy a different teacher’s accommodation within the school premises.
Over time, our familial connection deepened, coinciding with my brother Jon and myself being enrolled in Primary Three.
It was during this period that we received a heartfelt invitation to join them in their new residence.
In support of our extended family, my father regularly contributed provisions such as rice, and occasionally fish and prawns sourced from his nocturnal fishing expeditions.
Jon, sharing a mutual interest with Meludin, frequently accompanied him on these fishing ventures, utilizing nets in the late afternoons and evenings.
I distinctly recall one memorable evening when they returned home laden with sizable fish and king prawns, some of which Indai Endun set aside for our parents who resided further upriver.
In the next three years later while still at Nanga Assam, Indai Endun gave birth to a son Ujang @ Win and a daughter Mary. When Meludin was transferred to head a primary school SRK Malong, near Saratok town, they were indeed a happy family and there they added two more boys Wat and Les.
During the school holidays between 1964 and 1967, my family and I had a cherished tradition of visiting their Disso bungalow.
Surrounded by lush citrus trees, the house seemed to be always enveloped in the vibrant colours of ripe, juicy fruits.
It was a time of joy and adventure, particularly for Jon and me, as we eagerly ascended the sturdy branches to pluck the sun-kissed oranges.
These fruits, bursting with sweetness, were carefully gathered and packed to accompany us back to our homes in Kedap and Bukit Tinggi.
The allure of those orange-laden trees was just one of the many reasons why I eagerly anticipated our visits to the Disso residence.
The memories created during those days of exploration and harvests are still fresh in my mind. However, as time marched on, change arrived.
Around 1970, my family bid farewell to the bungalow and its orchard, transitioning to a new abode alongside the roadside in Saratok town.
Despite the move, the nostalgia of those idyllic days spent among the orange groves continues to hold a special place in my heart.
In 1981, during my tenure as an educator at the Rajang Teachers’ College (RTC, presently known as IPG Rajang) in Bintangor, a trainee named Mary Meludin was among the students. Two years later, she graduated from the program. After many years had passed, I discovered that she had married a former classmate from RTC, Seng Lee. Presently, the couple has a family of at least three children. Interestingly, two of their children have obtained degrees from universities.
On another note, Ujang, a colleague, met his life partner, a Filipino woman, while she was performing in Kuching. They eventually tied the knot, and their son later graduated from Unimas. Notably, the Filipino wife is proficient in speaking the Iban language. It is believed he met Ujang at the Country View Hotel in Kuching, where his father, Meludin, resided while attending a headmaster course. I met Meludin during a course I was instructing in 1987.
Ujang and I embarked on several excursions to various ‘sabung ayam’ (cockfighting) events in Saratok during the late 1990s. One particularly memorable incident occurred on June 1, 1997, near the Saratok Government Secondary School, where I had served as the principal 12 years earlier in 1985. During a police raid at a cockfighting event, I was apprehended, while Ujang narrowly evaded capture by striking one of the officers and fleeing the scene. Despite my involvement, I distinctly recall being the last individual to report to the authorities among the 59 punters assembled. Consequently, I was fined RM140 for my participation in the unlawful activity.
In the meantime, Endun, a woman in her sixties, has chosen not to marry. Ulat, on the other hand, tied the knot with an English engineer named Glen Bashford.
Today, she goes by the name Caroline Bashford and resides in Glasgow, Scotland, alongside her husband.
The couple dotes on their adorable four-year-old granddaughter, Indi, who is the beloved child of their daughter, Catherine Bashford, a skilled medical practitioner.
The Bashfords also have a son, Anthony, who follows in his father’s footsteps as an engineer.
Acquainted with Ulat through Facebook, I fondly recall my last encounter with Catherine and Anthony in Saratok in the early 2000s when they were adolescents.
During that period, they were spending time with their grandmother, Indai Endun, and parents, making precious family memories.
Indai Endun, now in her late 70s, has made a significant change in her habits by ceasing the consumption of betel nut (known as “pinang” in Malay) and sireh. In the past, when she was deeply engrossed in this habit, my father played a crucial role by ensuring she had all the necessary components such as betel nuts, sireh, kapu (sulphur), and other essentials.
Starting from the early 1970s, my father would take the bus from our Kedap longhouse, carrying these items, and make a customary stop at the Meludins’ residence located about three kilometres away from Saratok town. This ritual continued for decades until the passing of Apai in 2002.
Despite the years since Meludin’s demise in the late 1990s, our enduring bond has remained strong and unbroken. Our relationship has transcended mere friendship; we have become akin to blood relatives, constantly showing care and concern for each other.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
