Knocking the room door number 43!

Reaching the 40 something flagpost gives a nerve feeling of tangy cool and an inner twerp, ``Wah! 40 plus alreadi aarrr?'', I asked myself. Ticking clock doesn't wait for anyone. It just glides past us and journeys towards it's unending destination. Living in a borrowed time in a span of couple of decades makes one to realise how we are part of the ``grand scheme of higher order''. We just fit perfectly nice in that plan and carry out our ``temporary acting'' career while in this earthly sojourn, and let the ``Great Planner'' do the judging of how we have performed all these while.

We are not in actual sense will be judged as beeing good or bad, right actions or wrong actions but simply governed by the law of cause and effect. Remembering, the words of Satguru Sivayasubramuniyaswami (http://www.gurudeva.org/), ``The earth is the university, experience is the lessons we go through and karma is the teacher who teaches us constantly to auto direct our inner compass reaching towards the right destination.'' ``Emm, my play act still required. I have to ensure further improvement and progress in my act for the years to come. Continualy refining all loose ends and shape up rough spots(behaviour, character and attitude.)''

Hence, I glanced back and started to review all my previous years plans and actions once again. Jotting down in a note book, highlighting achievements, goals not met and analyse what(5W's) went wrong as part of formulating my new year(2008) plan: targets, goals and objectives.
Part of my resolution are :

1. Pilgrimage/Trip to Hawaii (again)
2. Improve my Japanese language.
3. One hour Veena practice daily.
4. Planting minimum of 10 tress/plants.
5. Learn how to design web page.
6. More savings, of course.
7. Sponsor Iraivan's floor tile( one piece at least)
8. Start MC lesson teaching to kids and youths.
9. Paint the house.

Of course, I do have the full listing of other key plans and goals. These needed scrutiny and professional guide. Hope all the above visioned plans do materialise eventualy. Meantime, my 43th birthday just went by without any pomp and pagent. I did not celebrate at all (haha). Just shared chocolates with music classmates(TFA) and teacher. They sang ``Happy Birthday'' to my suprise and that is just perfectly enough for me. I am just as happy celebrating in this simple guesture, nevertheless.

Just cruise along with the cosmic way towards ``It's'' journey.

My little story....

JKR quarters

Segamat town(now)













Sekolah Bukit Hampar Segamat(now)

The lamb post where sis falls and had a permanent scar on her forehead!!!







                                                             
                                                                                           
   Sekolah Menegah Seg Hwa.

Belimbing tree where I had a ``wonderful' fall'' (still there -2006)

Gurdwara








Segamat High School

Chinese Temple at Jalan Buluh Kasap

HinduTemple (Mahamariamman), just beside Chinese Temple

Masjid Jamek Segamat

Sekolah Bukit Hampar Segamat (now)

Sekolah Dato Wan Idris / Sekolah Bukit Hampar (used to be coexisting)

January 16th, 1965 is a day history in making for a typical Indian lower middle class family. I was born to Letchumi Athimulam and Krishnan Peter Pereira. A small town, Segamat, which located between Johor Bahru (Capital of State of Johor) and Kuala Lumpur (capital of Malaysia). 4.00am to be exact when the recording of time of birth was written into log book as birth proof certification. Most probable mother would have been the most delighted person as I am the second child of her's. I was told that I looked different from parents feature characteristics and texture that the doctor and nurses who helped to deliver me were astonished and kept asking mother. She was very proud of me then and shows me off to her brothers and sisters with much joy and happiness.

Father, a little shocked and disbelieved but somewhat understood that there was a mixture of genes in him where his ancestors were actually are descendants of the Portuguese sailors who traveled to far east, places such as Calcutta, Kerala, Pondicherry –western India and finally settled in the Portuguese settlement in the state of Malacca some centuries ago that over shades my features. Grandparents too were overjoyed to level of `euphoria.' Sense of changes was noted in them with material abundance were reportedly begotten. Grand mother's `kacang putih’ business was nevertheless flourished at the Segamat `Rex’ theater. Grandfather started to acquire lands even though he was just a `JKR” – Jabatan Kerja Raya – Public Works Department trucker.

Blueboy
Growing up as `blue eye’ boy to granddad and grandma had it's nicer things in life. Slightly with a larger head and frail body has resulted in infancy nickname `Kuruvi’ or `bird.' As I grew a little older, I really despised such name calls. That can result into friendly quarrels between siblings that often turns into ugly `fighting.' Older brother, Mohana Das, followed by younger brother Sivalingam, sister Athiletcuhmi and youngest of all Arulpragasam. I was close to my elder brother, but we often flare up in `war’ of words and `physical’ kid street fights, on and off. Both of us liked to sing spiritual songs at a very early age. Somewhat he is better than me. I am naive, `soft,' sensitive, quite but at time `talkative.' Already started to converse before the age of one. He was cheerful, lively and energetic as well `smarter.'

Kebun Teh years
I recalled some of my early years staying in Johor Bahru’s JKR quarters. Kebun Teh (Tea garden) – supposedly there had to be many tea trees planted but I personally had not seen any tea trees at all! A small squatter house in rows. There were no rooms in these houses. Seven members of a family crammed into `sardine canned' house! Anyway, we were called `orang barek’ – barrack folks! – `Orang kerajaan' – government servant! ( These houses had given way to new modern flats many years ago.)

Riding on an old ``Raleigh'' bicycle
One of my favorites or happy times were when father cycles us – me, elder brother and younger brother in his `Raleigh’ bicycle around the barrack and he would stop by at a small shop – wooden, and treats us sweets and `potong ice creams.' Imagine, he balances 3 of us in his bicycle as we hold dearly on the handle bar of the bicycle. Me and my older brother would sit at the rear and Sivalingam would have his privilege to sit in front of father, holding the `bicycle steering.' On a smooth road, it's joyous ride but on a rough terrain, it will be a nightmare. Excruciating painful bottom, up the bones and we would quickly jump down once reached home!

Those were the early memories, I could recall at Kebun Teh government quarters houses until dad had to shift to a little town named Segamat about 150kms from Johor Bahru. Even though it was a new place for me and still much in the early age to understand those changes associated with moving places, I am back, to be closer to my grandmother and grandfather who were very much fond of me. Grandmother used to place me beside her when she sells `kacang putih’ at Rex theater and I got all the free choices to eat all type of nuts and chips. She does this business as a hobby and self-sustenance even though she need not work for a living. Granddad is JKR lorry driver and he earns handsomely (in those years)

Jalan Buluh Kasap, Segamat
I recalled of the old house where I used to stay at 600-4 Jalan Buluh Kasap Segamat, Johor. Wow! I could still remember the address of the house. Spent almost 19 years of my life as `barrack boy,' from 1970’s to 1984 - Recent photo showing the dilapidated condition of the house. (22nd October 2006 picture) Just imagine how mum gets ``shells'' from grandmother when I was not taken care off correctly,' especially where food is concerned. I was feed with 2 half-boiled eggs every day to increase my body protein as I was thought to be too thin and undernourished!

As our family members increased, with the presence of a sister, Athi Letcmy whom we used to call `Papa’- meaning small girl, I was very happy to have a small baby girl sister among us. Brother, Siva is my second brother, whom we always `scratched’ at each other. He looked fierce some, even during his childhood days – darker than me, tout and commanding feature. We used to call him `Sivappu Kaka’ – meaning white crow (it's a reverse meaning actually. Meant to call him black crow!). Aside that, we enjoyed cradling `Papa,' our little sister in the pram around the quarters every evening until she cries for help when we `scare' her off with high speed pushing along the road. It is fun seeing her crying and then we would sooth her with flowers and leaves. A remedy we found out once we saw her playing alone. This would made her stop crying and pays attention to the flowers or the leaves.

Waiting dad return home from work, we would wonder what he bought us? Sweets, chocolates, chips, nuts, are some of those `tidbits’ he would buy us. He usually comes home at 4.30p.m. Dad goes to work quietly and come back with boisterous noise and heightened sense of sensitivity to mum. They often quarrel. However, I don’t see to that at all, as long sweets and crackers are in our hands. Mum and dad sometimes do bring us out for movies. I still could recall those memories. In particular, of an old movie, `Athi Parashakti, a devotional movie. Many ladies went into `trance.' Few men stand by with `holy ashes' – or `vibuthi' and would smear forehead of those who went into trance or uses `camphor' to place them into their mouth as mean of `neutralizing' them back to normal consciousness.

Movies
Ati Meere Saathi, Aa gale Lagja’, Deivam, Ulagam Sutrum valiban, Thiruvilaiyadal, Simanthe MmanRaja, Thanga pathakkam, Bobby are among those Hindi and Tamil films I had attended with the whole family. Since grandmother operates her ``kacang putih'' stall, we got them for free. The theater scene is really a huge kind of projector for me, no doubt and I seemed to be dwarfed by those giant screens in the theater! That was a major family entertainment in the seventies.

Another angle of the house! 7 family members crammed (corner house). Each block consists of four houses. There is a `guava’ tree in front of my house and it was a perfect hideout location when mum wanted `to have me’ for a good `rattan’ session. I used to hide on top of the guava tree for hours, till the night had drawn in. (Photo taken on 22nd October 2006)

Family neighbors
Neighbors were a good lot and I liked to play with their kids. I had many Malay friends of similar age or younger. Pak Atan’s family is our immediate neighbor who had 3 kids and they are `adik,' `Umi’ and `Kedek.' These are nicknames. I started to converse in dual language; Tamil and Malay. We called Pak Atan as `Ayah’ and in those days this is perfectly all right, as young person calls and elderly men of the same status as own father, though of different ethnic background. They would treat us with love and sees us as their own kids. `Ayah’s wife was also a very nice lady and often allowed us to watch TV. My family doesn' t have a TV set. The only problem was, as we grew a little older, TV had been a source of envy among families. It was a yardstick of affluence, of the have and have not's for lower income level families like us.

JKR Technician’s house (Mr. Masilamani), his sons, Lourdes, Lawrence and Lawson were good family friends but kept a distant as they were a class above from the rest of us.
Auntie (Lourdes mum’ was a nice lady and she had been one of my life catalysts. She used to say, ``Ravi, you must earn a four figure salary when you had grown up and be well in life''. Their bungalow of wooden house used to be beautifully kept. (Recent photo, 22nd October 2006.

`Ayah’had been a strong support. Particularly, the days when my father loses his control that would prompt `ayah’ extending a helping hand advising father till he sobers down.He allowed us to sleep in his home if things are ``too out of control.'' `Ayah' is a JKR driver and drives a `Vespa’ scooter ( common motorcycle used by low income group government staffs). I admired `Ayah's Vespa motorcycle. He often drives his kids whenever he comes back from work.

Each quarter blocks consisted of 4 houses. At end of our block, (first house) was Mum’s good friend. We called her `Devi Amma.' Actually Devi is her daughter's name. It is common in those days to casually call in such a way, addressing a known close person, such as kids, husbands, etc. as means of easy and polite gesture, rather than the actual name calling. Her husband's name is Karuppiah. Ironically, Mr. Karuppiah was very much shorter than `Devi Amma.' She was a tall lady – almost 5 feet 9 inches tall!! He was merely 4 feet tall. Thus we nicknamed him `Katek,' denoting `shortie’ or in Tamil language `Kattai’ –short. He doest liked name calling and would shout back if someone calls him `Kattai Karuppiah'.

`Devi amma's children, Kamala, Raja, Appu and Devi. There is something I noticed with `Devi Amma.' She eats `chili padi’ pure raw- that's a really hot chilly! She would just munch raw chilies with plain rice. She is an imposing lady and we would run halter-scatter when she opened her mouth. Seeing her protruding teeth, we would tease from afar how handy could her teeth be used to `grind coconut’!(haha) We would play with Raja, her son even though he is much senior in age. A naughty boy, Raja frequently bullies us.

JKR quarters house blocks were for servants of lower income group government staffs. My friends were mainly of Malay descent and we were one `crakko' bunch of `barrack boys.' I spoke fluent Malay due to years of exposure to Malay culture environment. I had many close cross culture friends. {Sadly, this kind of closeness amongst ethnic races can't be seen easily nowadays in our society!} (Recent photo – 22nd October 2006)

Barrack boys and quarter houses
Other friends included Karim, a talkative and young silat exponents Bujang- body full of `maps’, `Latif - mamak boy who always cries and easily get bullied by senior `barrack boys.' Ranjit, the half Punjabi and half Chinese boy who speaks fluent Malay. Extremely naughty and robust boy! Rosli, Pak Abu’s son. Front neighbor house kids - Vijay, Mohan, and their elder brother whom we called `cat’ because his eyes were like cat's eyes (he is Naidu boy). My mum and their mum never spoke to each other (sort of sworn enemies, I guess). This had caused us, the kids having less close relationship as friends. We just would `smile' and quickly turn our face away.

We are `barrack boys.' We rule the entire JKR barrack! We move and played as this is our territorial control ground. We defended our area from any intrusion by other boys from other part. Generally, I don't join in inter- barrack guys `stand-offs’, but would just merely stand afar and enjoy the seniors show off their territory power. I and brother's involvement were a mere spectator, otherwise this will invite bigger issue at home with mum!! (rattan)

This is an another block of quarter's house. The center lamp post had a long holding wire up to small culvert. My little sister once had dropped and severely injured while playing with me and I was severely `whacked’ and scolded for `pushing' her down that causes a deep gash on her forehead. The scar was permanent. (I testify that I didn't push her). She actually fell after swinging herself around the wire rope of an electrical post – giddiness caused her off balance.

Within our barrack group, we are divided into two types – the good and the bad boys! One group is just plain naughty and playful boys and the other is young mischievous juveniles who will go around stealing from neighborhood houses, fighting and, etc. We don't mix or mingle with them but just acknowledge their presence as our `big brother.' They can be of good help at times, protecting us from adjacent kampong's prank boys.

Just at the back of JKR quarters, there were Jabatan Perhutanan and Perhilitan's officers house blocks of story half brick-wooden elevated houses. I had a very good friend named Ajib who originates from Kedah and he doesn't speak good standard Malay. I studied together with him at night at his home. Under the house, there are many captured animals by forest rangers kept temporarily.
(Recent photo – 22nd October 2006)

The early school years (1972 – 1977)
As the year passed, it is time for me go to school, Uncle came into the picture to helped to enrolled into one of the most well known national schools in Segamat – Sekolah Bukit Hampar Segamat. 1972, 7 years of age. My enthusiasm is so high to attend school. While everyone had their parents themselves present at school classrooms, giving instruction and guidance, I was left alone after Uncle Krishnan (mums elder brother who is also a teacher at the same school) registered me into standard One. He is a very strict man and will cause shivers and blood in body veins shots to our face seeing him approaching us!).

So, the first day at primary school was not that bad. Started to enjoy as time went by. I am in the same school where my elder brother is studying. The school uniform that I wore was actually belongs to my elder brother, Mohan. The old tradition of recycling uniforms to younger siblings prevails!! He got all the new dresses and pants and I have to be happy with year old uniforms. (Not fair huh!). Who cares? I just need the books, pens and colour pencils!

Primary school's building blocks. At the left corner of this picture is the added building in recent years.I studied here from 1972 to 1977. Originally this was a dual school. Rotating between Sekolah Dato' Wan Idris and Sekolah Bukit Hampar Segamat.

Two schools in same building
Two schools in one building block, one is Sekolah Bukit Hampar and the other was Sekolah Dato’ Wan Idris. We are rivals in every aspect, be in education or in sports. Friendly rivalry always turns into ugly scenes during inter-school sports completion and soccer matches. Shouting of `Dato sudah tua,' `balik Kampong tanam jagong’ (Old man, go and grow maize) They would respond us with the word like `Bukit’ or `budak tumpang’ (temporary sheltered boys).

Only later, we knew that our school building actually belongs to them and we were just temporary occupants on sharing basis until new buildings were built. Sekolah Bukit Hampar Segamat of yesteryear comprised a total of 7 blocks of classrooms buildings made of wooden planks and half cements. A television room. The first 2 blocks were standard 1 to standard 2 graders. 2 blocks were for standard 3 and 4 graders and the last blocks were for standard 5 and 6 graders, facing the secondary jungle.

Rival schools - Sek. Dato (left picture) where we shared same premise and Sekolah Menegah Seg Hwa (Chinese National type school nearby- right picture)

Of shoes and socks..
The early years of schooling brings many nostalgic feelings of a bygone era of `free play,' especially the first 3 years of primary school. While other primary school children enjoys wearing `Bata’ or Power’ branded shoes, I would wear the plastic shoes that become brownish as time wear them off. It was quite difficult to clean the brown stains. The advantage of these shoes were, it cannot be worn out as easily as other canvass shoes and doesn't require to be polished using shoe polish. Made our feet smelled as rotten fish if not washed regularly. No way to ventilate a fully rubberized shoes worn for almost the entire day at school. Personally, I despised this rubber shoe, but I had no other choice. We couldn't afford a better one except for my elder brother who wears almost exclusively a better brand each year. Another fond memory of my stockings that I wore to school. Torn socks show off my entire front feet and the back ankle exposed- a gaping hole (ha-ha!!)

Now, this is an elegant and beautiful school. Finally, my Alma matter had been given a permanent building structure, situated near to Bukit Hampar, Segamat Township. Photo was taken on 22nd October 2006.

Those socks were of cheaply made materials and easily gave up on its elasticity. This leads to `slipping’ down to the base of the ankle and I usually tie the pair up with rubber strings. This causes streak lines on the leg skin and a slight swell due to strangulation/tightness). There is an art of tying up rubber strings without others noticing them. This string will not be noticed by others because I bend the access socks over the rubber string, render them as though I am wearing a straight and good socks. If it rains, then there is an another ingenious way to cover up the socks and shoes. Using plastic sheet cover. The whole shoe will be covered. Another way to cover, act as double socks layer protector to ensure no water slips in and wets the socks. I hate to have wet socks during school hours. It's a common sight seeing us hanging our shoes and socks during rainy days at school veranda.

I had to walk about a mile to school daily. An arduous task for me as the school is situated on top of a hill. This was why the place named Bukit Hampar (It’s a granite stone hill). Our walk starts by going through row of houses and trading swampy red soiled a road and almost 40 degree hill road inclination up-scaling and finally reaching on top of the hill. Our school bags were loaded with books weighted few kg! Unlike these days, books of those years are thick and lot heavier! The best mean of carrying heavy school bag was by placing bag's hanger on the forehead and let it hang at back. It was a common scene of how children goes to school carrying bags. These are canvass bags. They're often gets wet in the rain. Favorite color is a green bag.

My buddy
I had my own buddy to walk together to school. A Malay boy (can't recall his name). We used to pick and pluck mangoes, rambutans, guava, or any type of local fruits we could get or reach along the way to school. Our school uniform would always be of fruit juice stains, dirt and soil smeared. Mum nonetheless, can’t control the white uniform to clean color. She uses `blue chemical – nila' to give a bluish finish to our school uniform.

Small `belimbing' tree is still rooted today! I often climb this tree and pluck the sour fruits and eat plainly. Or cut into small pieces, added with salt and sugar- a wonderful taste. Fruit also serves for many families for cooking`sambal’paste or as sour curry ingredient.


Looked a little different from the other boys, our school shirts were rigid and ``bluish'. Can you imagine, me, wearing bluish, starch coated, non ironed, missing button school uniform and an over sized second hand(handed down from brother) blue short pants hooked with a safety pin as a secure device to ensure it doesn't loose down while walking with canvass made school bag balanced on my forehead, bulging short pant's pockets full of fruits?( ha-ha- a frail clown all right!!).

It's a nightmare for mum preparing us to school! Three of us, Mohan, Siva and me bath together at the back of quarter's house. In the beginning, there were no extended roofing made. So, it's an open bath, joyful and we would `dance in open space in superman's suit' before complete bathing. Not until hear mum yelling. One by one would dry up and prepare the walk to school. As we have our own `gang’ to walk to school, we often will take different path and timing from each other. However, there is an additional job given to us by our uncle, we have to take rotation day to pick up `tea-Thermos' for uncle's home.He teaches in the same school. He never carries his `thermo-flask' but we have to `help' uncle to carry and place it on his table in the `common-room’ before the class begins.

Primary School
Marching into `teacher's common-room’ is like entering Goliath's mouth. Uncle had trained us to say `good Morning Sir, Teacher or Madam’ whenever we meet any teachers. It's a tremendous task just to utter this magic word in those days when English was not a common language for us to speak at home. The language had been Bahasa Malaysia, but teachers are quite used to speaking in English especially those schooled in English medium during the British ruled years. So, we used to say those words one by one word. Sounds melodious but in a slow motion rhyme! Our school headmistress is Mrs Wong Kee Lim. Her distinct feature is her short, plump body, butterfly-shaped glass, cheongsam dress and her standard black handbag. She had exactly the same look as how cartoonist Lat had drawn his teacher in ``Lat, the Kampong Boy'' comic book.

Uncle and auntie 
I knew where to place the flask. Once in a while, if uncle comes earlier than us, he would `pass’ some biscuits or 2 and I will sheepishly take them before leaving the room watched by other teachers who will smile at me, acknowledging my presence. Uncle is a well known discipline master in our school and I dread not look direct into his face! We were so scared of him. Mentioning just his name itself sent shivers to our spines! I had seen him giving `tight slaps,' pulled shirts of `naughty’ school boys (usually those very naughty boys) and swings his famous slaps across their face or giving then `rattan' on their backs! Corporal punisher kind of sort! He is a discipline master but very good teacher too!

In contrast, auntie is small sized person who often took good care(softer) of us. I regarded her as an angel.She is a good housewife. I loved my auntie very much.She would give us plenty of biscuits and fruits whenever I went to her house, helping her running errands when needed. She thought Mathematics, English and Bahasa Melayu to standard One to standard three students. from home. A patient lady. I loved her tutoring methods better.

Uncle's (Mr. Krishnan- mum’s eldest brother) house is a lot of house that could accommodate almost twenty over students at any time. He is a famous tuition master. His fierce-some character made students excelled in their studies. I remembered, when auntie weren't able to teach us on a particular day and uncle took over her role to teach us, my heart almost stopped! His teaching method was so fast and he scribbles his writings when he explains. I used to shed tears whenever he replaced for auntie. By all means, on later years, I realized that the uncle had a very difficult childhood days and had been instrumental in guiding his siblings out off difficulties during Japanese occupation years (1941 - 1945). He is actually a very kind hearted person. He often gives free tuition, provides school fees and foods for poor and needy students.

Primary school teachers
Many of uncle's friends were teachers at the same school. They knew me well. My first standard school teachers were Cikgu Normah and Cikgu Onn Jaffar. Cikgu Normah is a fine teacher, but I used to hear her speaking English in a funny accent to uncle. Good Bahasa Malaysia teacher, we loved her for her continuous smiles. In contrast, Cikgu Onn is quite fearsome fellow. His method of teachings was very demanding and he sound cynical all the times. Somewhat I found him rather doesn't treat certain students fairly. I had a friend whose name is Punithan who always get scolding, pinching, canning on palms and derogatory name calling. I pity this boy, but we can't help much. Nevertheless, Punithan always fights back when Cikgu Onn berates him. One day when he pulled Punithan's short pants down and made him cry. Punithan retaliated with strong and harsh words before bolting away from the classroom.

Year end streaming leads me ending up in standard 2B (Dua Kelabu) (1973) and our teachers were Cikgu Khatijah and Cikgu Omar. I enjoyed very much in standard 2. That was one of the best memorable times as our class teacher is a `nice' teacher and treats us well. My studies were good and I do score good marks in exams. I am at ease with Bahasa Malaysia. I found English subject challenging in terms of communication/pronunciation. I could just perform better in Bahasa Malaysia exams. My spoken English is rather limited in vocabularies. We, brothers, converse easily in Malay language rather than mother tongue at home –Tamil or English. It is strange though to hear uncle speaks Malay to us but spoke in English with auntie and his children, Uma and Jothi (my cousins).

It was a co-ed school, boys and girls were placed in the same class. In standard 2, teacher made us sit with the opposite gender to ensure the boys don't get distracted and `make us feel shy’ to sit beside girl students. I still could remember my next table girl is an Indian girl named Punithavathi. I never speak to her at all. Dare not even turn my face and see her! All my friends used to tease me by calling her name when they met me or saw her. Purposely got us blushed! Know what? She shall be my paired table classmate for the next 4 years!! I confess, I don't like to speak to girls during my schools days, especially Indian girls! Always found tongue tied, but rather comfortable speaking to girls of older age. (Mentioning Punithavati, she is a teacher in secondary school and graduate from University Pertanian Malaysia. Met her couple of years ago in Johor Bahru, married with 3 kids)

Schools holidays were happy days – In the state of Johor, school off days are on Friday and Saturday of each week. Time was mostly spent frolicking at quarter areas or in mum's sister's home at Jalan Temenggong, near Segamat railway station. It is situated on top of a small leveled hill soil and railway track is nearby. I loved to walk to `Cinnaamma' s( in Tamil means `small mother’- denoting younger sister of one's mother) house and `gang up’ with my cousins Maheswaran(Viji), Maheswari (Ah Moi), Sivam(Anand), Shanmugam(Apoi), Kopuramdevi(Veni). It's a 3 km walk.Sometimes I would take `taxi’. Cost about thirty cents or public bus, which cost about twenty cents).

Cousins at Jalan Temenggong (near railway)
The two days in weekends were spent helping `Chittaappa’ (Mr.Govindasamy) who is also a teacher – Tamil school, in planting vegetables in a plot of land (they are on railway land). Tapioca, ground nuts, carrots, sweet potato, cabbage, spinach, ladies finger, brinjals and other edible plants were grown by `Chittappa’ who is fond of farming since young. My cousin Viji, also like his father loved to work with his father, farming and animal breeding, especially cows and goats. They do have few cows and goats. The cowshed they built at the back of their home were our playground. My elder brother, Viji and I would become cowherds and tended them at lowland area where plenty of grasses were available. We also do cycle to nearby village – Kampong Berata, cut grass, picked leaves and ripped fruits such as watermelon, pumpkin in gunny sacks for cows.

Mischievous as well, we also, would without the owners permission ``pluck' local fruits from trees and cover with grass or plants collected for the cows in the gunny sack and quietly cycle out of their eyesight as fast as we could. Fruits were shared once returned home, near secondary bushes (No! Chittappa and Chinnamma don't know our antics! If they knew about this, rest assured, we would receive a fine ``blessing'' in the form of a cane!).

Police and thief game
Playing police and thieves in the secondary bushes gets our adrenalin powered up. We made toy guns out of plank wood. Quite an easy method. First get a half inch thick plank and cut it into gun shape with a saw and tie a small piece of equal sized wood on top of the surface area copying a trigger point with plenty of rubber tie bands. In front of the wood gun pointer, tie with few more rubber strings to act as a catapult (a bullet in the form of wild fruit, shaped like a bullet tip and head placed by loading and holding to the trigger wood piece). `Bullet,' when released could strike `thieves’ with pretty good accuracy and can be very painful. `Victim' could momentarily faint, skin laceration and can be itchy too.

One of the reasons why we loved to be at Chinnaama’s place because we get plenty of good food and variety extra ``makans''. They are better off and formed a strong family unit. She is a great cook! Her `iddli’ and `tosai’ (Indian pancakes in the form of steamed rice and flattened rice) are simply fabulous and fantastic. She used palm oil to fry tapioca and food items. The tastes are superb. `Palkova,' `Aathersam,' `kattdhi Urandai,' `Murukku,' `achi Murukku,' `vaadai’, and, etc. are delicious. To my best knowledge, she is one of the best cooks.(She passed away in 2005 due to heart failure- I missed her cooking very much, no doubt!).

As their house is located near secondary jungle, many natural animals, insects and reptiles would stray in. Easily, we could catch anteater, monitor lizard, birds (mynah, sparrows, exotic birds as well), snakes and bats. Honeycomb – bees nest is the common sight. I had the privilege to collect honey after `shoving’ bees away from their nest by means of torching and smoking. We would wear gunny sack, covering the entire body except the eyes and smearing body with `spirit oil’(used in those days `lamps') to ward off stray bees that will ``attack'' intruders, once the burning and smoking starts. I had many bees stung on several of body parts. We would just run panicky, like nowhere to heaven, as fast as we could to avoid ``counter-attack'' by soldier bees. Just pure fun and excitement! Reward is taste of sweet original honey!

The barrack boy (rekindle)I was 6 old when father moved to work in a town called Segamat. Grandma and granddad stays in this town. A small `cowboy' town. I couldn't and will ever not forget in my life of this town, as I was raised till my secondary school before moving away to college when I reached the age 18.

Predominantly, Malay community resides in this town but Chinese and Indian communities also stays as a community. Most Malays grouped in Malay villages or know as `Kampong.' Chinese in estates or Chinese villages and Indian in rubber estates and handful in town area working in government sectors in particular civil as well as teachings.

Mother's brothers and sisters also stay in this town. She had all the support and elders care to her advantage. Grandma operates a small `kacang putih’ (ground nuts) stall at one of the well know theater at downtown – Rex Theater. I know that it is not that she is poor, but she uses her part-time to earn extra income, rather than asking granddad who is a trucker with transport works Department (JKR). Mum told me that grandma sends her money to her relatives in South India.

I am her favorite grandson. She would place me on her lap while doing her business transaction in the theater. I used to pop in and munch away the delicious various types of nuts and chips to my delight and at the same time getting attention from her customers and movie goers!!

Mum is a good homemaker and I remembered her as a very loving person but tends to have pangs of emotional breakdowns whenever father treats her badly when he had been intoxicated.. At that young age itself, I could feel the pain and her sorrows. This prompts me to always be her protective shield whenever father becomes abusive on every `out of control' sessions.

Father, an angel if he was in sober mode, but a `devil' when in a drunken state! Otherwise, he doesn't have any other vices. I guess he picked up his `drinking’ habit from his working colleagues. He speaks fluent Chinese language and dialects (Hokkien, Mandarin and Cantonese). Malayalam and Telegu, Malay and his mother language, Tamil completes his language versatility. He is an expert heavy duty vehicle mechanic. His work orders came as far from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The living quarter that we lived was government owned for `C' class employees and it was a small 4 unit in a row built up houses. Spaces were cramped and just imagine 7 in a family practically lived like packed sardine in a tin can!

My Malay friends and games of childhood
My early childhood friends were mostly Malay boys from the same quarters. We often roamed around our barracks and surrounding villages, plucking fruits, traditional games, swimming in the rivers, ravines, waterfalls, catching butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, fish from swamps and numerous other activities that are vividly enshrined in my mind even to this day. It was a time of carefree days during school holidays but with an exception. Also do get yelling or `smacking' ’ from mother when I come home late from those adventurous outings!

Seasonal games
We loved those seasonal games such as kite flying, `topspin- gasing,' police and thief game that encompassed the whole barrack/quarters. Marble game where the focus is to hit the opponents marble out of a circle that were made on the ground and eventually crack their marble for good!

The wholesome game of rubber string bands with two short poles erected with another stretch of a rubber band placed across. Each person has to place a sum quantity of rubber bands and then using round bullet shaped knitted rubber strings aim from a distance to hit and fell those rubber bands. Those managed to fall the rubber bands shall take as his win share. How to measure the wealth of a winner? None other than seeing him wears all his rubber strings on both hands till reaching his elbow!!

Dangerous gamesAnother dangerous game was `kaunda – kundi’, the game where a long pit of shallow dept was made and a small round wood(mostly guava tree branch) in a size of about 2 inches and length of 8 inches was rested across the shallow pit and another piece of round wood (app one foot) was used to `flick’ the shorter one. This will catapult to a distance. Two opposing teams are formed and if the team that was on the standing zone managed to catch the `flicked stick,' then the whole team exchanges places. If the stick falls without anyone catches than the person nearest where the stick falls will pick up and throw as near as possible to the shallow pit. If the stick falls very close to the pit whence the long stick unable to get a single count, then the person that does the flick had to be removed. If the stick falls at some distance from the shallow pit, a long stick will be used to count by rotating the stick on the ground towards the shallow pit and the number of reading indicates point accumulation.

The second step of the game was more dangerous. After the initial scoop method, the second way was to place a small stick across the shallow pit and on top of that cross ward placement of the 8 in stick. The person whose turn to hit will use a foot long stick and hit the portion of the elevated crossed stick. This gives an upward cyclical trust and subsequently with a skillful way, the `hitter’ will hit the stick towards the opposing team area. This is the dangerous part where the speeding stick may injure a person who catches it. Anyway, who cares of those impeding injuries then, we were much engrossed in the game and having fun of or life till the late evening hours.

Kampong cowboys
`Cowboy game' is another interesting play game, unlike the modern children, who spends countless hours on `play station consuls, we were much in our reality world of making `cowboy hats’ with coconut leaves and guns with a crafted plywood. The `bullet' is a wild bush tress's fruit in the shape of round nail and round head. This fruit is then mounted on the `wooden’ pistol/gun’ and pulled by rubber string attached, releasing the handle where the fruit is placed sets the `bullet’ to rush forward to the targeted object. Look `cool.' Needless to say that it had its harmful effect, if not handled carefully. The `bullet' could inflict considerable pain and generates swollen skin and may damage the eye when directly hit.

Free fruits
Sometimes we would venture further away from barracks and `rendezvous' to an adjacent `kampongs’ and pluck fruits during the fruit seasons. Mangosteens, rambutans, cikku, mata-kuching(cat-eye fruit), langsat, duku, cepu, buah Susie, bilberries, and, etc. Not being selfish, we would bring some back home and share with others, except mum. (She will ostracize us if she finds out our `extra outing activities.’).

Permission to take those fruits for free were not given all the time. Sometimes we do `hijack’ those fruits innocently from the trees. More than often, the owners will give the share as we extended our`help’ to pluck fruits in return. So, a win-win situation!

Beautiful fire-flies and fresh water river fishes
Catching fireflies from the bushes near barrack borders was a wonderful and delightful past times, especially after late night showers. The entire bushy area would turn into stunning light plays of fireflies `tinkering’ lights’ giving awesome `Christmas' tree lighting effects. I would catch few of those fireflies and trap them into plastic bags and brought them back home. I would keep them `lighting’ till exhausted and then set them free!! Hooping them in the closed palm and slowly opening to see the `glow,' delights my heart so much!. It mesmerizes me as how they could emit light from their body!

Roaming and catching fishes in the `swamps,' rivulets and rivers at nearby village were enthralling experiences. My Malay friends were experts in catching fishes. Local fishes such as catfish, tiny shrimps, and colorful fresh water tiger fish, `keli’ (local), `haruan,' toads, `sepat,' mud sweepers, `sembilang,' blow-fish(poisonous) and, etc are aplenty. Usually, we just catch and throw them back into the river. Occasionally, I would bring home those colorful ones and place them in used `Ovaltine’ bottles till they `bloat and float up’ - dead due to lack of oxygen or strongly chlorinated pipe water!

Our own track and field competition
We had our own track and field competition amongst barrack boys; running on barefoot, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters track distance. No clear and fast rule when come to exact distance measurement. Estimate, 100 meters as the straight road from one block of quarters to the next. For 400 meters, virtually, we need to run around the entire barrack (ha-ha). The best part, prize awards are made from paper cuts and paste, patterned as trophies. The joys can turn into painful moments if fall flat on the road! Many of us do have this experience, including me, bruised legs and hands. Hey! Wait a minute! No qualms on this as we really enjoyed ourselves ....(to be cont.')

Saying of Sage Yogaswami

Sage Yogaswami said

Yogaswami said: `Greater than life itself is good is good conduct. Those who conduct themselves with rectitude possess everything that is worthwhile. Non- killing, non-stealing, non-vituperation, non-covertness, truthfulness and humility – this are useful assets for virtuous living. `In whatever pursuits you are engaged, you should train yourself to work with zeal, keenness and delight. Such a discipline will lead you to acquire steadfastedness of the mind. It is then that the mind will develops the power of one pointedness. Which in turn will lead you to enjoy an abundance of anma-sakti. Thenceforth everything will be bright, and you will not be disturbed by agitations caused by seeing difference in objects, as friends and foes, light and darkness. `Everything originates in me; everything finds permanence in me; in me everything revolves in dissolutions.”—so much we become suffused with such pure thoughts. Further, we must frequently meditate as follows- `Nothing do I lack, everyone loves me and I too love all.” Meditating thus, one should endeavor to live up to his ideal. If one can practice spiritual sadhana in this way, the capacity to know everything and the power to do anything will develop spontaneously.
Natchintanai 369

This is an excerpt from one of the pages in www.gurudeva.org

Lagi tentang Kaizen

PENAMBAHBAIKAN BERTERUSAN
Kini, saya ingin mengutarakan penjelasan saya mengenai konsep ``Kaizen'' di dalam Bahasa Melayu pula secara ringkas. Rata-rata, sesiapa yang pernah berkhidmat atau pun masih berkerja dengan kilang milik Jepun seperti Sony, Matsushita Panasonic, Aiwa, JVC dan kilang-kilang yang berteraskan budaya kerja cermerlang biasanya mahir serta selalunya mengamalkan budaya `kaizen' di dalam kesuluruhan kerja mereka.

Apakah `Kaizen'? Mudah sahaja. Kaizen adalah istilah bahasa Jepun yang bermaksud :

Kai - Perubahan yang lebih baik
Zen - Berkesinambungan

Etika dan nilai `Kaizen' sangat berkesan untuk meningkatkan mutu(Quality) pengeluaran dan produktiviti sesebuah perusahaan, kecil mahupun yang besar. Adalah tidak susah untuk melaksanakan keadah Kaizen terhadap kerja yang dilakukan. Selalunya, selepas kita mengenal pasti `area of work' atau kawasan kerja, proses kerja yang memerlukan `improvement' atau ``penambahbaikan'', kita harus ukur (measure) kekurangan yang sedia ada. `Brainstorming' bersama rakan-rakan sekerja untuk mengenal pasti langkah-langkah yang perlu dibuat bagi memperbaiki kaedah cara kerja yang baru dan menilai dalam sesuatu jangka masa tertentu.

Prosedur baru perlu ditulis supaya ianya menjadi satu panduan serta penjelasan kepada pekerja atau staf. Di masa ini juga, perlulah `observe' kepincangan yang terdapat pada kaedah atau cara kerja yang baru dan perbaiki semula sampai berjaya menjadi mudah bagi perkerja/staf tersebut.

Langah mudah :

1. Ambil gambar sebelum `improvement'
2. Nilai, ukur(measure) kerja dan catit proses yang dilakukan.
3. Kenal pasti kepincangan yang ada.
4. `Brainstorm' bersama rakan kerja dan pekerja/staf yang terbabit terus.
5. Cuba atau `implement' langkah-langah kaedah baru.
6. Menilai dan ukur semula keputusan.
7. Tulis `Arahan Kerja' baru (Work Instruction)
8. Pastikan standard diamalkan secara berterusan.
9. Ambil gambar selepas dan `paparkan' (dispaly) bagi semua melihat perubahan yang telah dibuat.

Sebenarya mudah mempraktik kaedah `Kaizen'. Tidak hanya terhad kepada kerja sektor perkilangan sahaja, malah Kaizen boleh diguna pakai di dalam setiap bidang kerja mahupun pada diri sendiri. Anda perlu cuba hidupkan nilai-nilai`Kaizen' pada setiap masa untuk mempertingkatkan nilai diri, keberkesanan perlaksanaan mutu kerja dan mertabat pasukan anda. Pokoknya, keuntungan dan kepuasan pelangan dapat dicapai akhirnya. ( Achieving profit and customers satisfaction)
Untuk keterangan lanjut tentang Kaizen layari : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen
`Kaizen' selalu, kerja bertambah mutu!

Invitation Card

Append the invitation card for ``Donor Appreciation Event'' - 12th January 2008. Kindly view the invitation extended to you by the monks of Kauai Hindu Monastery.

Back To School & College Years

Cherished memories of school & college days.

The first 2 pictures right(top) were shots taken when I was in Sekolah Tinggi Segamat. Me and my cousin (currently resides in Hong Kong / Singapore) were school prefects. STS hockey team, where Mr. Siew is the hockey coach. (I am seated second from right). I continued to represent Segamat district and later with few Selangor based hockey clubs till end of full-time study course. 1982 pictures.

Bottom 2 pictures were taken at WIT (Worker Institute Of Technology), Port Klang, Selangor and Singapore respectively. I was an active member with college's student council and served as Exco Member. Unable to obtain fund to further my studies to UK, I packed and moved to Singapore and worked in AT&T (S'pore) Ptd. Ltd, an American telecommunication giant for the next 5 years. You can see me in a rented room in Hougang HDB flat unit. 1987 pictures

Donor Appreciation Event - 12th, January 2008

HH Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, current spiritual head of of Saiva Siddhanda Church, Kauai, Hawaii will be gracing ``Donor Appreciation Event'', scheduled on 12th, January 2008 at Kalamandapam, Sri Kandaswamy Murugan Temple, Scotts Road, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. ( registration begins at 6.45pm).

Kindly, do let me know (mail, raviceyon@gmail.com, Mr. Mogan, rmogan@tceas.com, Mr Madhu, nmadhu72@gmail.com and Mr Arvind, aravindraj1@yahoo.com) if you would like to attend this function. This event is organised to appreciate and thank all well wishers and donors to build Iraivan Temple in the island of Kauai, Hawaii. For more information on the temple progress please log on : http://www.gurudeva.org/

Thank You Vimala Teacher !

Vimala teacher' (Mrs), a school teacher, TFA(JB)'s Indian classical vocal and dance teacher, is basically my second foundation tutor who had redirected my passion into beginning learning carnatic music properly after a lapse of 15 years. A joyous teacher who blends well with her students and renders her services devotedly on every weekends. Just imagine, to recap my rusted basic carnatic learning at the later part of my life is not an easy task for a teacher to reprograme( in technical sense) my ``sruti'' and ``svaras''. Vimala teacher' had managed to guide me wonderfuly all my basics back, at least to a certain standard before moving to next level, under Yogewari teacher'.

To her teachings and guidance, my appreciation and a Big Thank You! Vimala teacher' still continues her service, giving carnatic vocal lessons and teaching classical dance at TFA(JB).

Master Shankar's Magical Performace

Magical Celestial dance performance by Master Shankar KandasamyDBKL, KUALA LUMPUR
SUNDAY - 9th Dec. 2007
Heavenly celestial dancer transcends down from the `kingdom of Gods’ and swayed away every audience by his feet with a mesmerizing and magical Baratha Natyam performance.
I would rather forget and forgive our transport driver, who ferried us , a group of 12 people from TFA(JB) whom he had to detour into a small town, off Seremban in fear of being stranded in heavy traffic jam along the North - South highway heading to Kuala Lumpur.
Our worst fear of not being able to attend altogether were allayed with some deft `strategic’ last minute decisions. I heard sis’ Jyothi’s subtle cry calling `Swamiji’ for HH divine intervention. HH Swamiji responded in nick of time.
His effort (driver) rewards us a mere just half an hour late arrival for the special Baratha Natyam performance by renowned Malaysian Indian classical dancer, Master Shankar Kandasamy.We rushed into the hall and quickly settled into our seats and fixed our attention to Master Shankar who was just beginning his prelude narrative storyline explanation on Shanta Sivaarpanam: Adoring the Universe Through the Elements.

Combining with exquisite hand gestures (mudras), persuasive voice tones and charming contagious smile, Master Shankar simply elaborates each dance segments that he will perform with a `poetic heart felt touch’ that could really melt even the most stone-hearted person to love him and his superb Bharatha Natyam dance. Jai Master Shankar!

Awesome baratha natyam dance delivery by Master Shankar Kandasamy

There are no other words I could think off to describe about the superb performance by TFA’s dance Asst. Director/choreographer Master Shankar Kandasamy that in the end of his Baratha Natyam performance, he received a very well deserved standing ovation from fully packed audience in DBKL auditorium on 9th December 2007 - AWESOME
Shanta Sivaarpanam: Adoring the Universe Through the Elements, presents new and original works by the TFA’s Baratha Natyam senior choreographer, Master Shankar Kandasamy.
Thank You !!

Divine Teacher

Once in every life time, along our evolution of unending learning process(soul), there always seems `hidden hands' of God play magical wonders, who sends His `angels' to guide us to fullfill earthy positive desires and wishes. This was very true, evident in my own part of`innerself' transformation by an excellent `music catalyst' in the form of Carnatic and Veena teacher, Ms Yogeswari from TFA(Singapore).

She has been instrumental in teaching, coaching, guiding and training vocal(carnatic) and Veena students at TFA(JB) for the past 3 years. Of course, she had been with TFA(Singapore) for decades now and still actively teaching there. Yoges' teacher excudes a combination of ``strict'' and ``easy(jovial)'' teaching method. Notably, the senior students (TFA,JB) of carnatic music under her ``wings'' had tremendously improved their skills and performance. Rest assured, once you start learning from Yoges' teacher, with sincere and right effort , you could really see the progress so well that you will be somewhat impressed with yourself!

Those of you, out there, who still have the heart to pick up classical Indian musics, well, can enroll at TFA(JB), Jalan Dapat, Johor Bahru (behind Hyatt Hotel). You'll never know where'd your talent take you!! Besides, classical musics helps you to know your self, improve memory power and spent quality time with yourself. It's divine performing arts and also a `sadhana' of self discovery through music. For more information visit/mail : mailto:tfa_sg@templeoffinearts.org

To our beloved Yoges teacher, we solute and thank you from bottom of our hearts. We really appreciate your tireless effort and immense dedication, coming over to JB from Singapore for the past 3 years, twice weekly, as well as helped to improve our standards higher. We wanted you to be our teacher for many more years to come and see us through till `arangetram'. A BIG THANK YOU YOGES TEACHER ; FROM YOUR STUDENTS (TFA,JB)

First Veena Performance

Finally, this was my first-veena performance at TFA(JB) - Temple Of Fine Arts, last year during the Navarathiri festival. Yes! I must admit that being and `elder' in term of age (late beginner); amidst all those young students, does make a lot of difference in term of learning, needed tremendous effort. The heart is so willing, but the physical is so straining! Haha! But, I felt blessed with having and excellent Carnatic music and veena teacher, Ms Yogeswari, who traverses back and forth from Singapore and JB every Thursday and Friday. Being a working adult, learning Veena and Carnatic Sangeetham is `challenging,' however, the yearning to learn and least master them as much as possible, no matter how long it takes, indeed a pleasure and wish-fulfilling that money cannot buy!

Segamat High School

Rekindle my school days.This is STS (Sekolah Tinggi Segamat) or famously known as Segamat High School. Studied in this wonderful school from 1978-1982. An old English school, established in 1927. It was the only school in Segamat offering form 6 classes (preU) at that time. During her heydays, she was famous in producing excellent hockey teams and excel in education , sports and extra curicular activities. The school field is one of the best grass fields in the country. I do take a down trip on a memory lane whenever I drop by Segamat.

Kaizen

`Kaizen' all the way....

Back from a day off yesterday. Naturally coming with many years of experience from a Japanese based manufacturing company, I am very much imbiued and indoctrinated into `Kaizen' concepts and ideas. You may be wondering what is the hell `kaizen' is all about? Good, thats normal. I too, had similar thoughts, during my first introduction to this Japanese word some 10 years ago.

`Kaizen' simply means :

Kai - change (small improvements)
Zen - for better (continualy)

In practical sense, this is governed by the principle of that, we are not perfect, but incalculating the attitude of continual improvement in all our activities, does makes us gradually and incrementaly able to see the differences as well positve progress. Logicaly too, its easier to do small task and improve gradualy as we progress in our expertise rather than doing that which is difficult that tend to overwhelm and can lead us to disappoinment when met with failure.

Simple example could be, keep waking up late from bed every day. Kaizen resolution would be waking up at the specified time that you wanted to wake up by affirming to yourself that you will get up at that set time. In the coming days, you would have conquered your mental stand to follow your `inner command', thus coming to a small `victory' in achieving your goal. Small but it's gradual as well as achievable.

Next, we move on to other area of work. Improving process timing of certain manufacturing activity that could reduce the said cycle timing. Your may look with your team members on how to cut/reduce activity of the person who does the task assigned by performing `motion study' and asess overall action Vs time taken to complete the task. Brainstorming ideas for ways to improve or introduce new methodology or relayout work bench or place to get the best possible better results. Any result that gives some degree of small improvements will be considered `Kaizen' ..

What you are waiting for? Go for Kaizen...yo will be amzed to see yourself keep moving up in your self progress as well as the positve change happenigs while adopting this concept.


KAIZEN FOR LIFE

My First Blog !!

Vanakkam / Greetings / Hello To Everyone!

Well, it's a great new year start - 2008 - created my first blog. Amused as well as amazed of how the advancement of IT had impacted on our lives! Amused still at this age, crawling(?), fast reaching 43 young on Jan 16th, finding the world of information technology spins at dizzing speed and those people in my age class need to keep abreast, slide along the wireless,`fibre optic revolution', the pace and the momentum as well.

I must admit though , it's well worth to keep abreast with this `nool' ( knowledge), provided serves the purpose right and with well meant intention. Thus, responsibility comes with this kind of free way of outpouring of one's idea or thoughts to be shared with all out there. Hope, with this blog, I can share my ideas, thoughts and experience to everyone that I know far and near, receive what others think and do that could be shared by them as well to readers.

Happy New Year and have a wonderful year !

God bless!!