It is exactly one week after the Hindraf rally. Within this short period, reactions and comments, both in the media and alternative news portals have over shadowed even the BERSIH rally held earlier. Summarising the whole episode of the Hindraf rally, in spite of very negative comments, the following is a true perspective of the events leading to the rally.
On the 12th of August an 18 point memorandum was submitted to the Government pointing out to the marginalizing of the Indians. No action was forthcoming from the Government. Various meetings were held throughout the country and a decision made to hold the rally to submit the petition to the Queen. If the Government had responded the second course of action would have superfluous. But then, Indians have been over the years have not been given any attention except when election is around the corner. Of course BIG BROTHER MIC is there to make sure Indians get their dues like any other ethnic groups. But BIG BROTHER had his own avaricious hunger for the bits and crumbs dished out by UMNO and he had to besides himself, look after his family and friends. Thus, Government hand outs never reached the Indians. In the economy, social, religious and educational fields the Indians were slowly being strangled but life went on with BIG BROTHER thumping his chest “semua-nya ok”. The ultimate insult was the destroying of temples and I believe the Government touched their raw nerves. Many temples were destroyed and the little Napoleons took sadistic pleasure in humiliating the Indian group. Padang Jawa was not much in the news earlier, but after the destruction of the temple there, the Indians had to act.
The first stanza of the MIC song goes something like this:
Saathanai namathu kaiyillae.
Sarithiram padaipom naatilay.
Sothanai aayiram vanthalum.
Thodarnthay naamay munehruvoom.
A loose translation of this will be:
Persuance (accomplishment) is in our hands,
Let history be made in this country,
A thousand trials we will face,
But let us continue on forward
Without any help from the Government nor BIG BROTHER Hindraf had to act. If a permit had been issued by the Police the rally would have been peaceful and the media possibly may make a fleeting reference to it, and the rest would be forgotten after a couple of days.
To add fuel to the fire, the Police showed their ugly side and a peaceful rally became a violent one by the usage of chemical water and tear gas. Hindraf is not responsible for the violence.
As the MIC song goes, Hindraf has shown the way.
