There's a season to Celebrate!

I have said my piece for the year! I am winding down because there is a season ahead to enjoy!

Yes, it is Christmas time -- the best time of the year for me! It is a time for catching up and enjoying people -- family, relatives, friends and colleagues, especially those whom I haven't seen for a while, and relishing the company over a good meal! Lamb, chicken, stew, salads, wine, Christmas fruit cake and that amazing variety of treats that you find only at Christmas! Getting gifts for my little relatives and looking out for the old folks! And the best part -- the Christmas service. Yes, yes, it is that wonderful time of the year again!

A deliriously happy time! So, I am off on a long break to enjoy the season! I will write about it next year when I start blogging from the second week of January, 2008.

Until then, my friends, God bless you and have a great season and a happy new year!

Merry Christmas!

Only us to Blame

Ultimately, if we are not happy with our government, the people to blame are NOT the leaders. We should blame ourselves -- the voters. Afterall, didn't we elect them into office?

So, if for whatever reason, we no longer believe in our elected representatives, then, I think, we should do the right thing and vote them out.

I am looking forward to the next general elections to see what the majority of Malaysians are thinking -- and want!

A case of good government?

On the Sunday of Nov 25, about 30,000 (some say 40,000) Indians converged on the Kuala Lumpur city centre to hold a peaceful demonstration and to hand a petition signed by about 10,000 people to the British High Commissioner in Malaysia. They were denied a police permit to hold the assembly and, in addition, their leaders were arrested. But, they decided to proceed with the demonstration, despite roadblocks all around Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days prior to Nov 25.

The group was led by the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) who has initiated a class action suit against the British government for bringing them by the thousands to work in the estates as indentured labourers, exploiting them and leaving them there even after Merdeka (Malaysian Independence) under the British colonial legacy of divide and rule. Hindraf is seeking a compensation of about US$1 trillion -- US$1 million for every Indian in Malaysia. And Hindraf was seeking a petition from the Queen (Queen Elizabeth, reigning monarch of England) for a Queen's Counsel to help them in their case.



The demonstration stayed peaceful for a couple of hours, then the police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water on the demonstrators to disperse them, and a street fight ensued. Since then, the issue has escalated into an open confrontation between Hindraf and the government. The latter has been lashing out with unbridled emotion at Hindraf, calling them names (crooks and thugs), dismissing their claims of ethnic cleansing as "lies, lies, lies and false allegations" and implicating them in terrorist connections!

The government may have its reasons for dealing with people who break the law -- in this case, for not getting a permit to hold a rally, even though the right to assemble is part of Federal law. But, should they have met this simple, heartfelt act of calling attention to their plight (Hindraf's) with the full force of high-handed power?

Consider what the government has done so far:

• They tear-gassed and dispersed the crowd


• They arrested (later released) Hindraf leaders, and arrested many other protesters


• They charged protesters with "attempt to murder" (where on earth did you hear a charge like that against a protester?)


• The prosecution team is led by no less than the Attorney-General himself, Tan Sri Gani Patail, who has linked Hindraf to the terrorist group, LTTE (Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers). We are still waiting for facts to prove his point.


• Every day, the major media carry shrieking headlines denouncing Hindraf and demonising them as "The Enemy"


• Meanwhile, reports here and there say that Hindu temples continue to be demolished, despite official assurances of time extensions

Everyone can see this is an uneven match. A powerful government coming down hard on a small powerless group who can't hit back because they don't have the resources to do so. Up to the day of the protest, all that Hindraf wanted was to be heard but no one wanted to meet and listen to what they had to say.

Hindraf had on previous occasions sought to see the Prime Minister and/or his representatives to present their grievances, but they were never given a hearing. In their exasperation, they protested, getting unexpectred support by the thousands, which alone revealed the extent of marginalization Indians were feeling at the ground. And, for standing up to be heard and counted, they got beaten - by their own government.

Like me, many Indians do not agree with all of Hindraf's claims. But, we, and every true fellow Malaysian agrees that the government over-reacted, coming down too harshly on its own citizens at the bottom of the social heap.

There is, of course, no ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.

But, look at it from Hindraf's point of view:

• Every day, you see or hear that a Hindu temple has been demolished. Despite assurances from politicians and documents to show a stay of execution, temples are summarily demolished. You see the images on video: statues of deities toppled, crumbling down and tossed aside.
• You hear of Hindu wives with Muslim husbands who are bereft because their husbands have died but the authorities take their bodies away and they can't grieve in peace.
• You hear or have a son, brother, relative, colleague or a friend's son, brother .... picked up in a police raid and held under custody because a crime has taken place in the vicinity and they and their friends become prime suspects because they are Indians. Worse still, they don't come home and nobody knows what has happened to them. And, a few die in custody and nobody knows what to do. If they do something about it, they are targetted.
• You bring these issues up year in and year out, but your representation (Malaysian Indian Congress or MIC) is unable to solve these problems.

From this standpoint, would you not think that there is a systematic effort to push your community out of the mainstream? And, if your community is at the bottom of the social heap, would not this mean that you will be unable to live? That this is ethnic cleansing, in emotional terminlogy? And, for the same reasons, would it be hard to assume that this is an "apartheid" government?

If the government had let them demonstrate, everyone would have gone home and had a good night's sleep with the satisfaction of knowing that democracy has worked. But, now, the government is on a collision course with Hindraf, with both sides unlikely to back down.

To me, there seems only one thing to do to diffuse this crisis: Let the government and Hindraf meet and talk. Let the former hear what the latter has to say, and provide workable alternatives. Changing of positions and compromises can only take place where there is respectful constructive engagement.

Let the government take the first step. Show mercy, and meet Hindraf.

I am reminded of the Biblical verse in Matthew 5:7: Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.

Show mercy, and surely, this nation will be blessed.

A friend from afar

What a very pleasant surprise! Someone I don't know and who speaks a foreign language made contact with me! How do you do, CresceNet? But, I am so sorry, I didn't understand what you wrote! It sounds Spanish or Portuguese, and I speak neither language. Is there any way you could do an English translation?



From my name, you might have thought that I am Spanish or Portuguese. I come from a Catholic background, and that is why I have a Spanish or Portuguese name. My parents came from India. My forefathers converted to Christianity and took on the names of the first missionaries -- Spanish and Portuguese -- who came to India.



Maybe, you would like to say something about yourself?

Deepavali Birthdays

Just got back from a lovely Deepavali lunch hosted by a bunch of young pretty women who outdid themselves in creating a pleasant environment to enjoy a filling meal -- after another of those long department meetings! Wesley, if you are reading this -- no offence meant!

The healthy main meal of chicken and mutton parental (dry curried meat dishes) and vegetable kurma (chillyless spicy curry) was satisfyingly just right. Topped off by an array of delectable desserts -- cookies and O! those hard-to-find ooorundais (ghee or semolina balls) and words-can't-describe kesaris (soft candy)! Of course, there was the all-time favourite -- murukku (crunchy, spicy swirls). And, eating all this among friends talking and milling around in a lecture room turned into a dining hall was a fitting end to a tiring week.

My friends created a relaxing ambience for a sociable meal. They drew a pretty kolam (floor designs made of coloured rice), created a water feature in a corner -- a basin of water filled with floating carnations, and added slight touches of Indian decor at the door and here and there.

Not only was it a festive meal, but a birthday celebration, too -- for those with November birthdays. And, that included Wesley's -- the department head. So, here's to all of you, and especially you, Wesley, .... Happy Birthday! And wishing you every good thing!

Next week I am taking a break because I need to catch up on beauty sleep! In the state I am in, I can go to sleep standing up! Which is better than sleeping at the wheel of the car! ZZZzzzzzzzzz.........

Cross-legged Miracle

On Deepavali (Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus worldwide) day on Nov 8, something special happened to me. It was early morning, and raining slightly, so I pulled my blanket snugly around me. Now, half awake and enjoying the gentle sounds of rain falling lightly on the roof, I noticed something unusual about my sleeping position. My left leg was comfortably folded under the right.

"What? No pain?" I moved my leg and folded it in different ways. No pain. No pain! For about seven years I couldn't lie on my back and fold my left leg horizontally because it hurt. Neither could I sit cross-legged. So, I always lay on my right side, with right leg folded and my left leg stretched over it and never sat cross-legged. But, now, I could fold left and right leg in that position and there was no pain, and I could sit cross-legged!

What amazed me was that I didn't pray for healing of my left leg! And, I told no one about the problem for them to pray for healing or advise me on how to get it right!

I think, the body just adjusted itself -- albeit after seven or so years, and, maybe, with the help of the exercises I was doing. I have not been doing anything different except to cycle in the air and do sit-ups about three times a week. And, that must have somehow got the "unworking" parts working again!

Like your car. You have to whack it around occasionally so that those out-of-place pieces can fall back into sync. You know, like we all do when once in a while we thump or kick the car here and there, and then see it behaving itself again?! With the human body, we should whack it with, perhaps, exercise, and then see how the body adjusts itself!

But beyond doing the practical to make things work, I see something else: the truth that human reality is primed for miracles. The potential for miracles is all around us. It is inbuilt in our world, I believe. We don't know how it works, but once in a while, something triggers (faith to those of us who believe) the inbuilt mechanism and overnight, unexpectedly, inexplicably something happens to lighten our burdens. Many of us can attest to these things. And the skeptics can call it whatever they want.

For me? Halleluyah! It is a miracle!

Birthday Girl!

Last Saturday, my good friend and colleague, Swagata, added one more year to her life. I knew it was her birthday and was planning to do something for her. But, I forgot -- put it down to age! But, Cy See, my other colleague, who sits in the cubicle adjoining mine, didn't forget and being the good friend he is, made it a point to remind me, "Hey! Your good friend's brithday is tomorrow!"

Then, I rushed and got this cute little tiramisu cake and surprised her with it the following day. Swagata, who loves sweet stuff and delicacies, cooed over it! I am glad you liked it, Swagata!

It is funny how people come into my life at the right time. I am not a very people-person -- although I love good company -- and have just a small group of friends. And although they live in different places of the world, we stay friends forever! These are people who enter my life at crucial periods, and then stay on. Swagata is one of them.

I got to know her, thanks to See! When I first joined UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman - a private university in Malaysia), I met See and somehow he saw through my forbidding demeanor and spoke well of me to his friends, who eventually became my friends. Among them was Swagata, with whom I had more things to share because of our common love for books. And, we clicked.

These friendships made adjusting to a new environment like UTAR's much easier. But, over and beyond that, I think it was a time when I needed someone to connect with, and, Swagata filled in the space. Connections: That is what makes people so precious - when you can connect with them. It is always the start of something new and enriching.

So Swagata, I hope this new year in your life will be the beginning of something you will cherish for the rest of your life!

By the way, Swagata has a sister who is an up-and-coming artist who lives in New Delhi -- and she has her own blog. Do visit her blog at http://sanchozone.blogspot.com/ and catch a glimpse of her art pieces. They are lovely, and reveal both the Indian and Malaysian influences in her life.

Vote for Me!

In the next general elections, I am going to vote for myself. That's right, for "myself"! I am not going to vote for any political party or alliance, or the government or the opposition or the New Economic Policy or Vision 2020 or capital development or more democracy or less government or affirmative action or more liberties. I am simply going to vote for myself.


No, I am not standing for elections! Evidently, from all the talk that is going on and the posturing and postulating (some very ugly) that politicians have taken to of late, an election may be announced soon. When it is announced, I plan to vote, like I always do. But this time, I am going to vote for whoever represents me, yes, me -- not any one else or some great ideal out there that benefits no one except those who churned it out it in the first place.


And, I am not going to ask the candidate standing in my constituency what he or she can do for me! I am simply going to sit back and watch. And see if the people who I helped put in place in the last elections are serving - me.


I am going to see:

• Will I get a job on merit and not because I fill a statistic in government quotas?



• Will I move upwards or hit a low glass ceiling and find myself working under those who are there because of political patronage?


• Do I have to work twice as hard to only go half as far simply because I am a minority?



• Will my children be bullied, dismissed and ignored because of the colour of their skin? And can they get scholarships with the ease with which others get them? Will they get jobs that I couldn't?



• Do I have to worship in a shoplot, because civil servants won't give the approval to build a place of worship on a piece of land so that I can worship in peace?



• Will the cops who stop me for a minor offence ask me: "So, apa macam? (how)" In Malaysia, we all know what that means, when a policeman says that!



• Will the cops who take in a brother or a friend or a friend's friend or a friend's friend's friend ... have the daylights beaten out of him and/or he dies in police custody and no one knows anything about it?



• Will the returns to my retirement money be increased or diminished because of the way EPF manages my money?



• Will my taxes work for me? Or, do I still have to drive on tarred roads pock-marked with potholes, and, worst still, which gets flooded with every thunderstorm? Do I have to pay exorbitantly to get quality health care -- privately -- because public health care takes too much of my time?

• Will the municipal council continue to summon me everytime I park by the road because there is no place else to park? And raise my annual assessment even though my garbage is messily taken out? You know, the garbage gets taken out but never without leaving a regular residual litter? And the garbage collectors are not taught to shut the door of the bin chamber every time they take the garbage out? And break-ins are frighteningly an everyday occurence? And traffic jams are a daily exasperation because neighbourhoods are planned without adequate exits and efficient traffic flow?
  
  


• Do I have to pay a premium for safety and stay in a guarded community because I am not confident that me, my family and my belongings will be safe any where else?




• Will my bills, which I duly pay, keeping going up even when others don't pay?




• Do I have to contend with a traffic jam everytime I drive? Or rely on unscrupulous taxi drivers who find every opportunity to fleece me when they can? Or rely on public transport that makes me wait for hours before I get to my destination? Or use transport driven by over-worked, minimally-paid, at-the-bottom-of-the-heap labour who sleeps on the job because they have to work nights or extra time for a couple of Ringgit Malaysia?




• ..... the list can go on ...

I think you know what I am getting at. Yes, this election, I will be gauging micro managers in the civil service and the municipal and city councils to see if they are doing their job. Or just waxing fat on my taxes. I am tired of voting for the "big picture" at the expense of the "small picture" of the ordinary person -- me!

I want to know if the next government will help the little person, me. Since jobs are hard to find, will I get a licence to run a stall? Or, will my stall get moved because I am not supposed to hawk there? But, find, a few months later that a goreng pisang (banana fitters) or hotdog stall has popped up in the same place and up to now no by-law has been invoked to move him or her?

See what I mean?

It is time to serve notice on the other small fellows behind big desks at the municipal and city councils who pretty much do as they please because the public spotlight is focussed elsewhere. And, on the few occasions when it does fall on them, they get away with minimal damage because Big Brother somewhere bails them out or excuses their gross dereliction of duty.

Well, I want them jumping on their toes, at the beck and call of their constituents. But, I know, I am just a small person with an inconsequential vote -- too small to bring about change. But, when thousands of small votes are cast in the same direction, they will count, won't they?

Some people can say that my vote won't count but, I think, it is going to matter.

'Cos, like me, thousands -- perhaps, millions -- of small people are watching and making deductions.

My vote is going to count.

Picture Credits

This was the first time I posted pictures on my blog. The anxiety before doing it was greater than actually doing it -- after Regina told me of the "how to"! One of the things I am learning about the Web is that you should just not be afraid about hitting buttons! Just hit! If what you want doesn't appear, go to previous and you still retrieve what you want! I am slowly but surely finding my way around!

By the way, the pictures of Langkawi were not all taken by me. The eagles' picture was mine. The rest were given, courtesy of Priya Devi who was also on the trip. She really had some good pictures and, I think, it is only right that I give her credit for it. So, thanks a lot, Priya!

Langkawi lingers on

Thanks, Regina, for the tip on how to upload pix! I am at a loss when it comes to the WWW! But, learning to get on top of it! Here are a few more pictures. Enjoy!

Captions for pix, clockwise: Rainbow on rainforests/Bird's eye view of Telaga Harbour/Sunset over Telaga Harbour.

Langkawi lingers

I just got back from a short but satisfying holiday from Malaysia's famous island -- Langkawi. "Lang" in Langkawi is from the Malay word "helang" for eagles. The island is the natural habitat for the medium-sized orange-brown Brahminy kites.

This was my second trip to Langkawi. The first was nearly two decades ago when it was still undeveloped and, apart, from looking at the sea, it was a boring! But this time, I had fun!

The first day was stressful because I hired this creaking and squeaking Proton Iswara (yes, if you go to Langkawi, you must hire a car to get around) whose meters were all set at zero! The first thing you do is, of course, to fill up your tank. Then, driving around I panicked because I did not know when the fuel would run out! And petrol stations in Langkawi are not found just round the corner! Well, I managed to find my way around, while giving my arms good exercise handling a non-power steering wheel!

Apart from that, everything else was simply enjoyable. I booked a standard twin-sharing room at the Awana Porto Malai (4-star hotel, but I would give it a very high 3-star rating!), but, I suppose because it was the off-peak season (the week before Hari Raya) they upgraded it to a pretty and cosy deluxe room with a balcony and an astounding view of the sea landscaped by a series of islands. On the last day, after a hearty breakfast, all I did was sit on the balcony and soaked in the view until checkout time!

There, really, is a lot to see in Langkawi unlike the last time I was there. There is the Underworld Water Langkawi, which features a huge range of very small fishes of amazing shapes and colours. The tanks with the big fishes were closed because the fishes had died of suspected poisoning. The tiny fishes are truly worth seeing. Imagine, for millions of years these tiny creatures have contributed to the balance of the ecosystem. In addition, there were penguins and a couple of playful seals as well. Entrance fee is RM 28 for MyKad holders and RM 38 for the rest.

Then, there is the cable car which is an exhilarating experience. The view from the peak, at 700m above sea level, is simply breath-taking. I took several pictures which will be uploaded and posted as soon I learn to how to do it! And, we were serendipitiously favoured with the sight of a rainbow that fell on the lush curly foliage of the rainforest on the land-side view from the cable car. Wow! Rainbow on rainforest on your left and mystic islands on ocean on your left! Wow!

Another "wow" is the eagles. It is the highlight of the island-hopping trip (RM 40). A longer one which includes visits to a mangrove, fish farm and bat cave costs about RM 120. One operator gave a discount to women at RM 80! The tour takes you to an island with a huge inland lake and monkeys who don't mind posing for you and to another with a beach with silky sand where you can safely swim, and then the main show -- eagle feeding.

That was a treat! The boat operator throws chicken skin on the water. And, soon, a flock of birds will descend swirling, dipping and swooping down to the water surface to pick up the food with their talons and fly away. I was agape! I have never seen so many eagles flying about so freely all at the same time -- and at such close quarters! Among the brown winged Brahminy kites, I saw a larger white-bellied sea eagle. What a marvellous sight! Seeing them with their wings stretched out, swinging out into the open, hovering and circling and swooping down to pick up their food! Wow! That was, indeed, a treat!

There were other things to see. Upon arrival at the airport, you can get a map and brochures of what Langkawi offers. Instead of paying for airport transfers, just hire a car to see places! You can do that, too, at the airport. But be prepared to top up your fuel regularly because the cheaper cars are usually guzzlers! They won't tell you, but you have to pay parking (RM2) to park your car when you return it. If you raised it as an issue, they (tour operators) will tell you -- softly but firmly -- that that is our expense, not theirs!

That's the nicest thing about Langkawi. The people there are unhurriedly nice! It is truly pleasant Malay hospitality! Even when you are upset, they will maintain this calm laid-back niceness. What a refreshing change from the crass ugly competitiveness of the Klang Valley!

Back to Langkawi -- you can find food of all types there. I found an inexpensive place called the Boat Restaurant just outside the Holiday Villa which serves Chinese food at reasonable prices. A small Singapore fried mee hoon costs only RM4. Another place which serves really good Indian food is the Tulsi Garden. It is slightly pricey, a vegetable dish can cost from RM 9 to RM 14 and good for 3 or 4 people -- depending on your appetite -- but very tasty!

At Telaga Harbour, you can get a choice selection of Western food -- even Russian cuisine! The lively place for eating, drinking (there are a few bars) and socialising is, of course, along Cenang Beach. You can get all sorts of food, trinkets and accommodation at varying prices.

Night entertainment is not much. But, for bonding while holidaying, Langkawi is a great place! And, not so expensive. I took the AirAsia Go Holiday 3D2N-package for only RM 615 for two. The package included flight and accommodation at Awana Porto Malai with daily buffet breakfast. I spent about RM 400 for other expenses.

And, bring a lot of cash! In Langkawi only a few outlets accept cards. In most places, they want cash!

Despite the few inconveniences, all in, I think, it was a pleasant breakaway from the frenzy of urban rush.

Captions for pix: Eagles descending/Mystic islands on ocean

The suit against God

Firstly, I got carried away with my first blog. So, it was long. But everything else is going to be short!

Recently, I got tickled by a little story I read in the newspapers. This US senator from Omaha, Nebraska, Ernie Chambers -- a self-proclaimed agnostic -- filed a suit against God for making "terroristic threats against him and his constituents, inspired fear and caused 'widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of Earth's inhabitants'." Senator Chambers was seeking a permanent injunction against God

So funny, this man. For an agnostic, he surely spends quite a bit of time, energy and resources on God! Do agnostics do this? I thought agnostics were honest people who don't know if there is a God, and not knowing they don't waste their time or effort on something they don't know anything about.

But agnostic Senator Chambers is riled up about God. Now, what does that say about an agnostic? His actions prove what his thoughts can't. He is an agnostic but he bothers to talk about God. Of course, he is making a mockery of God -- if there were one. But, in doing so, he is, in fact, keeping alive the possibility that God exists, or, at least, could -- that is a far cry from an agnostic position!

So, I want to thank Senator Chambers for keeping alive the discussion on the existence of God! I think, God may be quite pleased with him, really. Who knows, one of these days, God may actually peep in on him, and say, "Hello!" But, if I read Senator Chambers right, he would probably look at him, blink blindly and say, "So, what are you doing here? Don't you know? I don't believe you exist. Get out of my window, you are ruining my view!"

Hilarious! What is as funny is the response to Senator Chamber's lawsuit. Two filings were sent in response to the lawsuit arguing that God is immune from earthly laws and that the courts lack jurisdiction over God. Suits and counter suits over God! What a laugh! And, what a great way to dissipate the tension over an extremely sensitive subject! I must compliment the Americans for playing along with Senator Chambers and doing it so correctly and rationally!

If something like that were to happen in a developing country, there would be an immediate religious riot, or an edict would have been sent all around the world to assassinate the guileless Senator Chambers! But, no, in this case, there was no violence, no fights and no bitter animosity. There was just an Almighty dose of tolerance!

Something to learn from!

What's in a name?

The words "warrior" and "rose" have special meanings for me. "Warrior" is part of my name. Coming from a good Catholic family, my mother named me after a saint -- Saint Gertrude. What she didn't know was that Saint Gertrude was a German saint. She only knew that Gertrude was a saint with a nice name and that was good enough for her to give it to her youngest and only daughter to define both my Indian and Catholic heritage.

It was only as a young adult that I made it a point to find out what the name meant. That was when I became aware of my "German" heritage, and then I was nicely surprised. Gertrude in German means "Strong Spear" or "Spear Maiden" and in some variations, "Warrior Maiden". You know, how the thinking might have gone at that time: If a woman is associated with a spear, she must be warriorlike!

If my mother knew the meaning of the name, I think, she wouldn't have given it to me. No girl child of hers was going to be warriorlike, bearing a strong spear! O, no! Not a girl. Indian girls do not grow up to be warriors and spear-carriers. They grow up to be wives and mothers -- even if they were smart and capable and had careers and were independent -- and attain sainthood through that route. But a spear-bearer? A warrior? Never.

My mum never knew what mantle she laid on me with the name because I never told her. I don't know how she would have taken it. But, knowing her, she would have sat down, a slight smile playing around her lips at the irony of her mistake, and said very slowly, "Aiyo, I made a mistake!" in the typical sing-song way of spoken Malayalam. But, she would have hoped that the Catholic part of the heritage would still have gotten a hold of me. If I had told her that the German, Gertrude, became a saint because of her great love for Jesus Christ because of which she became one of very few people on Earth who had the privilege of seeing Him, that would have turned the smile into a broad grin -- that she did me good after all!

As a young woman, I didn't want anyone to know what my name meant. Especially the young men. If they asked, I would tell them about the "saint" part and coolly left out the "spear and warrior" part! I mean, I wanted dates! Not frighten them off. But, maybe, I lived up to my name, because dates were always few!


As I grew older, I liked the idea of a warrior attached to my name. A warrior is a star, burning bright in the night sky. With millions together, they scorch the night, crushing the dark, illuminating yearning souls looking upwards in a halo of hope. Their interminable light is unstoppable reaching even the furthest remotest corner of Earth.

Warriors never waver. Wherever, whatever and whenever their battleground, they heave, stretch and push ahead standing up to invading armies, oppressive systems and sad conforming reality. They are unafraid to unsheath their swords when others cringe, cower and retreat. And they wield their weapons with the mastery of a craftsman, slaying demons and demi-gods in their stride and bringing insolent might to its knees. Warriors fight till they die. Yet, in death, they live on. Their bodies rot and mix with the earth, but their lives are indelibly etched in memory, shining examples of hope, possibility, triumph and survival against an ever overwhelming world of compromises and convenient expediencies.


Warriors are always larger than life. They are the Joans of Arc, the Indira Gandhis and the women in the food line who, in desperation, shamelessly throw proprietary to the wind and stretch out their hands for morsels of food for babies at their empty breasts. Warriors don't care how they look; they fight to live and leave their mark living. We hear of them off and on: the single mum, sacrificial father, retrenched husband, abused wife, estranged individual, exploited worker, marginalised maid, unyielding activist, indomitable politician who strove against the odds piled up against them, vanquished, rose and breathed, again. Fighters, survivors and trail-blazers -- warriors all.

These are the beautiful people of the world. They remind me of the red roses in my mother's garden. It was one of those pleasant memories I have of home. Home was a typical small-town house in Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan) in Perak, Malaysia. It was a large solidly-built wooden house on concrete pillars. The floor of the house was raised on the pillars. A flight of long, lengthwise, concrete steps led to the verandah of the house. The sides of the steps were raised to form another step formation on it. So, we could sit on the long steps or the short elevated steps at the sides.


My mother had planted a red rose bush at the foot of the steps. It bore the reddest roses I have ever seen in my life. They were a bleeding red; in full bloom, they had the most lovely fragrance to send me dizzy. The memory of it is so strong that I can still get the fragrance of my mother's red roses. So powerful is it that it has influenced my preference for perfumes. I am allergic to perfumes, but give me a perfume with the original flavours of a full-bodied rose and you would placate my hyperactive sinuses!

As a little girl, I loved standing on the lowest of the raised steps and taking long, deep breaths of my mother's red roses. It was one of those things I did as a daily routine: to see if the rose bush bore blooms of rose fragrance I could inhale. If it did, you would see me standing on the last step, carefully cupping the rose with my fingers so as to avoid the thorns and drawing my nose to it and inhaling deeply. It was a moment of sheer sensory pleasure!


It was better on a dewy morning, or after a rain fall. Little drops of water remained on the leaves and the interwoven petals. Sometimes, you didn't see the droplets, but when you gently wipe the petals of the rose, you feel the moisture on your finger tips. And, somehow, against the freshness of a downpour and the damp greenery of my mother's garden, the roses were even more acutely scented.


My mother grew many plants, some of them were difficult to grow, like orchids. But her red roses were the best.


I guess it took someone like my mother to raise a warrior and a rose.

Warriors and roses. Individually, outstanding and grouped, a spectacle! Just imagine a group of warriors and a cluster of roses. Like the stars in the sky, flowers in the field and soldiers going for war. It is, indeed, a sight to behold!

Formidable, even unreachable -- from afar. But, to embrace them, you need to draw close and find a way to get around the thorns and the amoury of weapons they have strapped themselves with! Then, it is easy to disarm them, like the times I pinched off the thorns to get a fuller grasp of my mother's roses!

An unfortunate thing about warriors and roses is that you can't leave them with other equals. They either destroy or outshine you. A rose in a bouquet of carnations will push the latter to the background. A warrior in your midst will send everyone stepping out of the way!

But, put a rose with a warrior and you have a phenomenon!

Unlikely match! Incompatible! An improbable reality! I say, no. It is just a unique complement of contradictions co-existing peacefully. Just imagine a warrior like one of those he-men in the movie "300" holding a rose close to his chest. Incongruous? No. It's a powerful image -- an interaction of two unparallel icons in company, without cancelling out the other. Like twin stars. Like a blaze of black and white. Like East meeting West. Like technology leading development. Like modernization moving along with tradition. Like your past colliding with your present to blend with the future.

That's the thing about warriors and roses. They couldn't cancel the other out. They are too noble for that. Their very nobility protects the other. And that is the reason I chose the name for this blog. Together, a warrior and a rose, symbolize the possibility for contradictions to co-exist comfortably in modern times.

And that is what this blog is about. To feature thoughts even when they contradict, and, let them be.

Comments are most welcome! Oh, By the way, all subsequent blogs will not be this long!

Welcome to WarriorRose

Hi, welcome to my cubicle of virtual space! To a bit of cyberspace that I have seized as my own. A place to express myself and to see your comments. I think it is going to be an interesting exchange of ideas and experiences. We are going to have fun, and grow, too, as we go along. Who knows, if I get bytes and bytes of comments, I might change this to a community portal, doing whatever we want to do! For a start, let's just chat!