A Samad Said’s son shares pride and pressure of being child of a national laureate, recalling father’s lifelong guidance
USUALLY, children are the source of pride for their parents, but what about children who take pride in their parents?
Helmy Samad, the son of prominent Malay novelist and National Laureate A Samad Said, shared on Threads how it feels to grow up with a literary legend as a father.
While he takes immense pride in his father’s accomplishments, he admits it also comes with the pressure to uphold his father’s image.
“However, in recent years (around 7–8 years), I’ve started to feel worried. The pride is still there, but now it is accompanied by a sense of protectiveness towards my father,” Helmy wrote in an emotional note.
He recalled that even during his lowest point — following his divorce — his father encouraged him with a simple yet powerful message: “Be a strong man, son!”
Helmy shared that even during the lowest point in his life, during his divorce, his father said “Be a strong man, son!”
Fans of the literary legend flooded Helmy’s post with heartfelt comments, sending regards to his father.
“Alhamdulillah, it’s not easy being the child of a national literary figure. Every step, every word is scrutinised. Now, we have the answer… The writing is excellent, just like the father’s,” one user commented.
