Language has been playing a very important role in leading the life of people and as the symbol for each nation around the world. Language is considered as the learning source for all people to gain profound knowledge from. Each language is known as the literature for each nation. Among of those, Khmer Literature of Khmer Nation has been being well-known to the world for centuries. It is grouped to Khmer-Mon Language Group as the oldest language group in South East Asia (SEA). Khmer and Mon Language contributed much to the establishment of new languages in the region for newly states like Thai, Burmese, Laos, etc.
When the peak of the Khmer Empire rose up in Angkor Era, Khmer Literature grew up quickly with clear rule developed base on own language of ancestors and the language flew into SEA from India such as Pali, Sanskrit, etc. It should be noticed that Khmer Nation at that time living basically in her territory which covered Thailand, Laos, Some part of Burma, the south of Vietnam, the Gulf of Khmer Empire (now the Gulf of Thailand), some part of Andaman Sea, and most of South China Sea. Therefore, Khmer Language was used widely in this territory by Khmer People and other people fled from the south of China. During Angkor Era, Angkor City was an international city to attract foreign students from different countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Champa, Malaysia, etc. Languages to learn are Khmer, Pali, and Sangskrit, especially rich Khmer Literature documents was kept in the library and Khmers’ house for all learners. Later, in Chaktomok Era, King Ponhea Yat recovered Khmer Literature hardly since most of Khmer Literature Documents were robbed and fired by Siam.
In Longvek Era of 16th century, Khmer Literature reached the peak of Khmer Literature under the reign of King Ang Chan Reachea again even though most Khmer Literature documents were robbed by Siam during the rack of Angkor City. In this era, many Khmer Literature documents were created and were used as the tool to teach all next generation. Throughout the kingdom, Khmer People were taught Khmer Language since the childhood, especially men in the pagoda while only some women learnt Khmer Language at home. It should be noticed that King Ang Chan Reachea was a keen king to promote the Khmer Literature’s improvement within Khmer Nation. All Khmer Literature documents were usually kept in the royal palace in Longvek City and every pagoda throughout the kingdom. Significantly, most of Khmer Literature documents during that time were considered as the excellent documents about Khmer Literature rarely to find today. The most unforgettable things of containing the valuable Kingdom Controlling Rule and Khmer Literature in that era were Preah Kor (Statue of Royal Cow) and Preah Keo (Young Buddha Statue) in which now kept in Royal Palace of Bangkok. It was believed that Thai King has been learning these rules to control his state from generation to generation after getting Preah Kor and Preah Keo from Longvek City in 1594.
Since then only in the reign of King Preah Reach Samphear and King Ang Duong, Khmer Literature experienced the improvement again and the golden age. Many Khmer poems and other documents were written and left until today. During French Colonialism in Cambodia, Khmer Literature was allowed to learn only in the pagodas, but many Khmer poem writers were well-known as an example of Preah Phirum Pheasa Ou called Ngoy being admired to be the best poems and rule for all citizens today. Similarly, in Sangkum Reastr Niyum the glory age of Khmer Literature rose up. Many schools were built from city to the rural area. Both male and female were granted the same freedom going to schools. Khmer People loved their language with national solidarity under Samdech Preah Sanghreach CHUON Nat who established Khmer Dictionary, National Song, and so on. It should be noticed that his dictionary right now is transformed to be the electronic dictionary which could be found online.
Nowadays, Khmer Literature was the main issue within Khmer Nation in Cambodia, many Khmer Communities living overseas and millions of Khmer People living in her territory controlled by other nations like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. In Cambodia, the freedom and Khmer Literature Documents is available for every one living here while the promotion of Khmer Literature is being adopted by Royal Government of Cambodia. Every year there is the national competition students from different provinces or cities for the top ten best high school students specializing in Khmer Literature. Most of Cambodian people are intelligent in Khmer Literature. However, for millions of Khmer People living in the south of Vietnam and in the southeast of Thailand, Khmer Literature is facing the dangers to lose from Khmer people there. According to the report of Khmer Sorin, Khmer people living in Srindr Province (Changwat Sorin) and other southeast provinces of Thailand get less education about Khmer Literature. This occurred because the restriction from Thailand’s government has been conducting since 1950s until today. It is estimated that there are more than 5 millions Khmer People living in these southeast provinces in 2009. The demonstration for Khmer Language learning programs in formal education in the province was conducted and Thai Officials in the Ministry of Education approved, but never practiced. Less and less Khmer people are well-educated on Khmer Literature while Khmer Teaching Programs is being conducted in only small programs and is impossible to teach all Khmer People there. Some of Khmer Sorin ignore their birth language and considered themselves not Khmer People. Born as Khmer should be called Khmer! Simultaneously, Khmer People in Kampuchea Krom (the south of Vietnam) also have been experiencing nearly the same as Khmer Sorin, but stricter since Vietnam is adopting Communist System. Most Khmer Krom People are less educated and very low in Khmer Language competency now. New words in Cambodia today are unknown to Khmer Krom People such as identity card (អត្តសញ្ញាណប័ណ្ណ) as an instance. Even in the pagodas, Khmer Krom People are hard to learn Khmer Literature since the government of Vietnam warned all Khmer Literature materials imported from Cambodia and most of Khmer Krom Literature Documents were destroyed during Vietnam War. Today Khmer Krom People are still speaking Khmer at home with her children and relatives, but writing is hard to describe. Anyway, Khmer Krom People are using her best effort also to reserve her own language. It is estimated that population of Khmer Krom People living in the south of Vietnam is around 8 million Khmer People recently. It should be noticed that Oknha SEUN Kuy was a hero of Khmer Krom People, especially for Preah Trapeang Province (Tra Vinh) in devoting his life in front of Vietnamese Authority to reserve Khmer Language for all Khmer there. Khmer in Laos may have less educated about Khmer Literature since the less number of them living in the south of Laos. It is thought that Khmer Literature alive only in the family of those Khmer People. On the other hand, there are Khmer Communities outside Cambodia such as in the United States, France, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Germany, Canada, Russia, Sweden, and so on. Knowledge of Khmer Literature are strong with Khmer People overseas born in Cambodia, but less strong with young Khmer People born overseas. However, it is seen that right now Khmer People overseas are doing her best to promote Khmer Literature within her next generation. “Literature is the soul of nation!” “Do not stop! Go on! Be successful one day!”
By: POK Panhavuth
