By D’Drift Team
SIBU, March 22: When we entered Fort Margherita and saw the image of James Brooke that graces the facade of the Brooke Gallery, it was as if our spirits were whisked back in time to the heyday of the Brooke Dynasty.
The story of Sarawak and its White Rajahs, which centres on James Brooke, Sarawak’s first Rajah, is one of the most fascinating in history, and the exhibits at the Brooke Gallery provide an insightful glimpse into this period by displaying a wealth of documents, artworks, and artefacts from the period.
When we were exploring the artefacts on the first floor of Fort Margherita, we came across “Gone Forth Beyond the Sea”, a piece composed in 1872 by Ranee Margaret Brooke that served as the national anthem of the ‘Raj of Sarawak’ (or known as the State of Sarawak) and as the first anthem of Sarawak in general.
Artist behind Sarawak’s first anthem
Margaret Brooke (born Margaret Alice Lili de Windt), also known as Ranee (Queen) of Sarawak, Ranee Margaret, or Ghita to her family, penned the national anthem in honour of her husband and Sarawak’s second Rajah, Charles Brooke.
The anthem remained in use until the Raj was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1946 and became its crown colony.
A brief historical background: in the past, Sarawak had three anthems: “Gone Forth Beyond the Sea” (National), “Fair Land Sarawak” (Colonial and State), and “Sarawak Bahagia” (State). Sarawak’s current state anthem is “Ibu Pertiwiku”.
At the tender age of 19, Margaret was catapulted into a life of excitement after she wed the second Rajah, which she embraced in her new life as queen of the Sarawak kingdom, a role she fulfilled for almost a century (1849-1936).
She was an advocate for universal education, founding the first school for Malay boys in Kuching and assisting in the liberation of Malay women through increased access to literacy.
Her savvy diplomacy in England helped raise Sarawak’s profile internationally and kept the country in the spotlight.
Ranee Margaret learned to read and write Malay and became close friends with the wives and daughters of the Malay chieftains, whose customs she grew accustomed to and whose style of dress she gladly adopted.
During her lifetime, Ranee Margaret became legendary as a woman of strength and intelligence, as well as for her dual status as an English subject and an Asian monarch, which she shared with the other ‘White Rajahs’.
She was the first Ranee of Sarawak. She also had Fort Margherita named after her, which was a gift from her beloved husband Charles.
Fort Margherita then and now
Established in 1879, Fort Margherita has seen four different governments since it was built.
From its flag mast have flown the flag of Brooke, Japan’s Rising Sun during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya in the Second World War, the Union Jack of Britain, the colonial power after the war, and now the Sarawak flag.
Because of the peace in Kuching, the fort has miraculously never fired a shot in anger since 1879. Among its functions back in the day was as a jail, before one was built 1.61 kilometres away.
Today, the fort has been converted into one of the Brooke Museums that welcome local visitors as well as visitors from all around the world, with admission fees ranging from RM5 to RM30.
All three storeys of the fort — the rooftop, jail cells (now converted into a souvenir shop), and the courtyard — are all open to the public.
D’Drift 2023 off to a great start
Earlier today, the D’Drift 2023 team was flagged off by Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at DayakDaily’s office at TT3 Plaza here.
This year, the D’Drift team is on the hunt for 12 historical forts, and our first stop was Fort Margherita.
After Fort Margherita, our next destination is Sibu, which is five-hour drive away. Wish us luck and safe journey! — DayakDaily
