8th SEPTEMBER 2002 ~ We only learned about Charles Brookes, the Rajah of Sarawak when we were in school. The wife, Margaret, was never put in the spotlight so it was interesting to know that there was a museum that solely focused on this person.
Ranee, should be the short form of Maharani, the wife of the Maharajah.
When she was the wife of the ruler of Sarawak, she tried to fit into the society by learning and culture and lifestyle of the people. Other than that, she also had a deep interest in art and language, and had published two memoirs of her experience living as the Maharani. One of her friends surprisingly was Oscar Wilde. I will have to find her books now to know more what life was like in that era.
She must be a significant figure as the iconic Fort Margharita was named after her and the Astana was built for her too.
One thing I learned is that even though Margaret was the wife of a colonialist of Sarawak, she seemed to be very well liked by the locals at that time. Just hope she is not patronized too much.
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