Who Was Pawang Ana in Perak History?

Like other Malay states in Malaysia, Perak is also rich in various folklore and history that must be passed down to the new generation to be remembered and used as an example.

The individual known as Pawang Ana in Perak's history was quite famous at one time during the late 19th century, associated with the tradition of Malay oral storytelling (penglipur lara). Essentially, it was customary for these storytellers not to reveal their real names and identities when performing. Thus, the true identity of Pawang Ana remains untraceable to this day. This is why a name that was quite famous at the end of the 19th century is increasingly forgotten now that they are gone. What is known is that Pawang Ana was of Rawa descent from Sumatra. He is said to have settled in Kampung Pulai in Gopeng, Perak. It certainly raises the question: was he a shaman or a traditional healer because of the title 'Pawang' (shaman), or was it just a pen name?

Sketch of Pawang Ana in Malayan Memories, 1916

Some also claim that Pawang Ana was skilled in medicine, shamanism, and traditional healing. It is possible that the treatments provided by Pawang Ana used traditional Islamic medicine. One of the stories describing Pawang Ana is found in the records of R.O. Winstedt, which states that Pawang Ana used his expertise to locate the body of J.W.W. Birch, which had been washed away by the river after 3 days and 3 nights.

As a storyteller, Pawang Ana memorized many folk tales inherited from previous generations. His career as a storyteller was not merely that of an ordinary street performer; he was invited to palaces and villages to entertain the people during celebrations. Appreciating a folk tale from a storyteller actually has a positive impact on society. This is because the content of folk tales in the Malay world provides many positive lessons that should be learned and adopted. From the various folk tales once recited by Pawang Ana, it is found that the content he tried to convey was actually quite meaningful and profound. It can be expected that Pawang Ana was a very patriotic person. With his wealth of knowledge about the history of his people, he often told stories about the struggles of the Malay people. The following are stories from Pawang Ana.

• Hikayat Awang Sulong Merah Muda, edited by A.J. Sturrock, published in Singapore (1908). Another version in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JSBRAS), 1909, pp. 31-95.
• Hikayat Malim Deman, edited by A.J. Sturrock, published in Singapore (1908). Second edition in 1954 and third in 1960.
• Hikayat Anggun Che Tunggal, published in Singapore (1914) and second edition in 1960.
• Hikayat Raja Muda, published in Singapore (1914) and second edition in 1960.
• Hikayat Malim Dewa published in Singapore, 1908.

What is known is that Pawang Ana had a son-in-law named Mir Hassan from Kampar, Perak. He shared the same interest and skills as Pawang Ana as a storyteller. After the golden age of Pawang Ana ended, Mir Hassan replaced his father-in-law as a famous and respected storyteller in the state of Perak. References:

• Malayan Memories, 1916 R.O. Winstedt