Sharanya Manivannan & Anushka Anastasia Solomon

Two young Malaysian Indian ladies, who were once the “makkals” of this country, both poets, have written a lot of our country. The Indians of this country salute them, and thank them, for not forgetting this country and the brothers and sisters they left behind.

Thanks to fellow blogger James Wong Wing-On, I knew about Sharanya Mannivan. A big thanks James.

Another big thank you for Malaysiakini, for publishing a letter from Anushka Anastasia Solomon. Feel free to link up with their stories. You will enjoy them for their literary prowess, but the stories they tell without fear or favour (no ISA) points to misery that is in Malaysia.

Hindraf & Castor Oil

When I was a small boy castor oil was my enemy. Present day generation may not know this, but this thick oil was a laxative for small children and adults alike. So the expression “velakkanai kuditha mathiri” refers to disgust and yuk. The countenance of the face changes when this horrid oil is mentioned. Nowadays the fear of this oil is gone. But over the years this castor oil is used to refer to any utterance or action that has no merit.

I am getting this yukky feeling when people refer to the Hindraf rally. Accusations are aplenty and they include:

• The Indians are greedy for the millions of dollars they are expecting to receive. A “velakannai” story.
• The Indians are enjoying the best in this country, what privations, they are better than what they were in India. A “velakkanai” response.
  
• The Indians must sit down and talk. When, after tasting the “velakkanai”
  
• Hindraf is supported by the Tamil tigers from Eelam. Another “velakkanai’ story, as if the tigers are not having enough problem with the Sri Lankan government.
  
• Hindraf is stirring up racial and religious tendencies. What “velakkanai” story is this. Did Hindraff say anything about other religions or races. Is asking for the dues of the Indians, comes under this. Please do not break our temples, Hindraff says. Can’t we just talk about our own temples?
  
• The Indians under Hindraff are creating chaos to the country. Did the Indians ask for this? If they had been left alone, no temple breaking, some form of equality with other races, a wee bit of tolerance in education, socio-economic life, jobs etc etc, would they create trouble to boost up their ego.

The requests by the Indians fell on deaf ears, but now, once their plight has been made known why is the hue and cry.

By nature the Indians have been docile, but, in generalizing, I have not taken into account, the youth, and those directly involved in the dirty tactics of the Government. If the Indian stoops down at every knock on the head, will it not a create a situation where a person is stunned of growth. An attempt is made to regain, a wee bit of his original stature and the accusation heaps up they are racist or religious misfits.

Indians are not racists or religious fanatics then, now and in the future.

Poor DJs

Malaysiakini reported on the 3rd of December that State owned Minnal FM had sacked several presenters including some popular ones for supporting Hindraf.

The next day “Makkal Osai” identified the seven presenters viz: K Meenakumari, K Sillalee, V Jamuna, Mahendran Veluplay, Kavirajan Jagarajan, Vijayan Muruti, Dhayalan Sharmugan.
They are barred from going on air until investigations of their involvement in Hindraf is complete. The Director of the FM station Minnal has not made any comments on this. At least they have not been sacked.
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) have voiced their dismay and asked Minnal to suspend their action.

So it comes. I feel sorry for these presenters and hope nothing comes out of it. Or at least Minnal should be made aware that there is a hue and cry from the public and they are listeners as well. You just can’t take action without a reasonable cause and attending Hindraf or any rally is a democratic and personal wish unless we are under some pseudo Gestapo or Malaysian Gestapo.

So Minnal the choice is yours.