Timeless thoughts

சுட்டும் விழிச் சுடர் தான் கண்ணம்மா சூரிய சந்திரரோ
வட்டக் கரிய விழி கண்ணம்மா வானக்கருமை கொலோ

The blazing flames that are your eyes, are they the sun and moon; 

And the round black spot in them, from the darkness of the sky.
பட்டுக் கருநீலப் புடவை பதித்த நல்வயிரம்
நட்ட நடுநிசியில் தெரியும் நட்சத்திரங்களடீ

Your silk dark (blackish?) blue saree, with its embedded diamonds,

Like stars seen in the darkest hour of the night.

சோலை மலரொளியோ நினது சுந்தரப் புன்னகை தான்
நீலக் கடலலையே நினது நெஞ்சின் அலைகளடீ

The radiance from a garden of roses, your beautiful smile;

The blue waves of the ocean, the curves of your bosom / the waves of your heart. 

கோலக் குயிலோசை உனது குரலின் இனிமையடீ
வாலைக் குமரியடீ கண்ணம்மா மருவக்காதல் கொண்டேன்

The song of the koel, the sweetness of your voice;

Young maiden, Kannamma, I am in love with you. 

சாத்திரம் பேசுகிறாய் கண்ணம்மா சாத்திரம் ஏதுக்கடீ
ஆத்திரம் கொண்டவர்க்கே கண்ணம்மா சாத்திரமுண்டோடீ

You speak of rules, Kannamma, but what for?

For rules don't apply to people overcome by passion.

மூத்தவர் சம்மதியில் வதுவை முறைகள் பின்பு செய்வோம்
காத்திருப்பேனோடீ இது பார் கன்னத்து முத்தமொன்று

With our elder's approval, we will observe the marriage rituals later,

How am I to wait till then? Here, a kiss on your cheek. 

மஹாகவி பாரதியார் 

The great poet, Bharati

Guys of this generation need to step up their game. 

Today's rant.

So much on my mind. Thoughts for today:

1. Religion is personal.  I have never had to define my religion or show proof of my faith to anyone, not even myself. I accept my religion with ambiguity, and it's easy to do being Hindu. Our epics cover both sides of any story you could think of. Being Hindu makes it easier for me to see how ridiculous it is to police religion. Don't police religion, just don't.

2. Malaysia is not an entity separate from its people. "Malaysia is racist, Malaysia has messy politics, Malaysia has no career opportunities." You are Malaysia. If you are unhappy with the way Malaysia you are, do something! Or at least don't ridicule people who are trying to.

3. Yes, there is racism in Malaysia. No, racism does not automatically mean the Malays are being racist towards the non-Malays. When you whine that your child got full As but a Malay with lesser As got the scholarship because of quota, you are being racist. Just because the student is Malay does not render him/her less deserving of the scholarship. A lot of factors play a part in scholarships. Deal with it. And yes, Malays deal with racism too. Races are not racist. Individual people are racist.

4. Freedom of speech is not freedom to pass offensive remarks.

5. It's so easy to complain. All the people who criticize the state of things in Malaysia are so oblivious to the fact that it is they who must change. They need to change their 'know-it-all' attitude, they need to start investigating facts instead of perpetuating stereotypes.

6. Stop making everything about Article 153. My kid didn't get a scholarship because Article 153. Non-Malays can't get good jobs in the government because Article 153. I want to emigrate  because Article 153.

7. Teach children to be nice. To be understanding. Raise them free of racial, religious, gender stereotypes. Raise them proud of their culture but not critical of others.

Rant of the month:  Omg, you work with the government? I'm sure there aren't many non-Malays. Do you wear baju kurung to work? Do they air prayers on the PA? What do you eat, you poor thing.

Yes the majority of my colleagues are Malay-Muslim, because last time I checked, the majority of people in this country were Malay-Muslim. Yes, I wear baju kurung sometimes because I have nothing against the outfit plus it's so comfortable. No one makes me wear it, and even if they did, so what? You pergi kerja pakai saree ke? We all conform to uniforms/ dress codes. By the way I could totally wear a saree if I wanted to. They air prayers on special occasions, but being Hindu does not mean being against Islam. Plus they pray for the well being of everyone at the office (me included), ain't nobody mad about that. And I eat food. Yummy, cheap, food.

The joy in teaching

I'm revisiting high school maths to help a friend catch up before classes commence for her masters course - drafting out lesson plans beginning with the BODMAS order of solving equations, to basic algebra, a sprinkling of calculus, leading all the way to compound interest and annuities. Only one lesson down so far, but she's proving to be a fast student. Of all my mini math tutoring stints, this one is definitely the most noble and most joyful, as she is going back to study after more than a decade of being a mum. So, being humble is out of the question, I so damn proud of this!

It is such a wonderful thing to help someone out. To put our knowledge and skills to good use. For surely there is no use in being knowledgeable if you don't use said knowledge to further someone else's understanding.

Take pride in the number of people or causes we have helped with our knowledge, not the possession of knowledge itself. 

மலர்கள் கேட்டேன் வனமே தந்தனை

One surprise after another. After so many last minute decisions and changes, I'm finally posted to The National Institute of Valuation, an educational institution cum research centre.
I get ALL the things that I was trying to choose among:

• A door into the Public Service,
• Corporate professionalism,
• leadership development,
• international involvement,
• a career in education
• some dabbling in the actuarial field.

A little bit of everything thrown in with the thing I want most, an opportunity to advocate change. The following year is set to be the perfect crash course in everything I need to go about that.

Once again, Big Boss knows best. And he'll know what to do with me when the year ends.

நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே, அதை நலம் கெட புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ எரியவில்லை!

The Malaysian feminist gets a voice

Here's to a year of change and empowerment as an Alumni Yayasan Tun Razak ExCo member.

The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.

வேலை இல்லா பட்டதாரி

I'm currently spending all my time keeping the house and myself looking acceptable. 

“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.” Albert Camus

Sydney

“You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again.”

― Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran