Norsiah Abdul Gapar
Norsiah binti Haji Abdul Gapar | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 24, 1952 Seria, Brunei |
| Occupation(s) | Author, acting chief scientific officer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | First woman from Brunei to receive the S.E.A. Write Award (2009) |
Norsiah binti Haji Abdul Gapar (born 24 April 1952) is a prominent Bruneian author and became the first woman from Brunei to receive the prestigious S.E.A. Write Award in 2009. She is widely regarded as one of the foremost female literary figures in Brunei, celebrated for her works that reflect and advocate the nation's civility.
Education and career
Originating from Seria, Norsiah attended Muhammad Alam Malay School between 1960 and 1963 before completing her secondary education at Anthony Abell College in 1964. In 1972, she pursued studies at Southampton Technical College, followed by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in medical biochemistry from the University of Surrey in 1978. Later, she achieved a Master of Science in clinical biochemistry from London University in 1997.
Currently, she holds the position of acting chief scientific officer within the clinical chemistry laboratory at the Department of Laboratory Services, located at RIPAS Hospital.
Writing career
Norsiah’s initial contributions to literature include anthologies such as Hidup Ibarat Sungai (1972) and Bunga Rampai Sastera Melayu Brunei (1984). Her first solo publication, Pengabdian (1987), which has been reprinted several times and incorporated into academic curricula, secured first place in a DBP novel competition celebrating Brunei's independence. Additional significant titles are Puncak Bicara (1985), Anthology Cerpen Wanita Brunei Awan Putih Berarak Damai (1988), and Janji Kepada Inah (2007), which targets adolescent readers.
The release of her 2009 anthology Tsunami di Hatinya further cemented her literary standing. Unlike poetry, Norsiah’s oeuvre primarily consists of novels and short stories that explore contemporary issues faced by women.
- Hidup Ibarat Sungai (1972)
- Bunga Rampai Sastera Melayu Brunei (1984)
- Puncak Bicara (1985)
- Pengabdian (1987)
- The Islamic Interpretation of ‘Tragic Hero’ in Shakespearean Tragedies (2001)
- Colonial to Global: Malaysian Women’s Writing in English, 1940s-1990s (2001)
- In the Art of Naming: A Muslim Woman’s Journey (2006)
- Janji kepada Inah (2007)
- Tsunami di Hatinya (2009)