Looking back at M’sia through our grandparents’ eyes

In a remarkable discovery, the maternal grandfather of Sonia Latha, a Malaysian historian and independent curator, spent years preserving an archive of their family's history. This archive, which included photographs, newspaper clippings, diaries, and other memorabilia from the 1930s to the 1990s, featured old tickets to the historic 1957 Merdeka celebrations at Stadium Merdeka.

Inspired by her grandfather's collection, Sonia Latha reached out to her acquaintances and encouraged them to share photographs of their own grandparents. This initiative resulted in the exhibition "Grandparents: A Living Archive 1.0," showcasing about 70 to 80 photographs preserved by families that have never been publicly displayed before.

The photographs date back to the 1930s and were taken as recently as last year. Sonia, who specializes in South and Southeast Asian history, hopes the exhibition will inspire visitors to view history differently by recognizing the contributions of ordinary people in shaping the nation's history. The exhibition will feature images of various professions, such as mine workers, barbers, seamstresses, and housewives.

With plans already underway for a subsequent exhibition, "A Living Archive 2.0," which will include physical exhibits and other personal artifacts, Sonia aims to provide visitors with a captivating glimpse into the everyday lives of earlier generations in Malaysia.