Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir , also known as Munshi Abdullah , (* 1795 in Malacca in what is now Malaysia , † 1852 in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia ) was a Malaysian scholar.
He is of Arab and Indian descent and called himself a Malay . Abdullah was a scholar who studied Arabic, Tamil, Hindustani, English, and Malay.
His first job was together with his father, with whom he copied documents and drafted petitions . He later taught Indian soldiers and Western missionaries.
Abdullah was also a translator and scribe for Sir Stamford Raffles . His knowledge of languages and his reputation as a teacher earned him the nickname Munshi (teacher).
Abdullah's autobiography Hikayat Abdullah , History of Abdullah, made him famous. He wrote it between 1840 and 1843 and it was published in 1849. The book is an important source of the early history of Singapore shortly after it was founded by Raffles.
Abdullah was the first Malay writer to write in a straightforward, realistic, and lively style, rather than the traditionally formal style of writing. His writings are still an inspiration to Malay writers today.
Abdulla died in Jedda in 1852 during a pilgrimage to Mecca.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Munshi Abdullah |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | malaysian scholar |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1795 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Malacca in what is now Malaysia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1852 |
| Place of death | Jeddah , Saudi Arabia |