True Greatness

Superb article on the politics of film, and the filming of politics -

"As the red light on the tv camera burned to indicate it was filming, Sivaji stood there, his chest heaving.

For a long moment he seemed unable to speak. Such was the depth of his grief. A tear disengaged from an eye and rolled down his right cheek, perched there glistening in the lights.

Finally, some words came.

"Amma, amma… Appa, Appa," he started sobbing, using the Tamil words for mother and father. "Anna is gone, big brother is gone." "

Read the full article.

Demo

I don't know if people will use the Speakers' Corner to hold demonstrations.

I think that our culture is one (or has been made one) that values internal consultation, discussion and "engaging of stakeholders". Not the type that burns effigies and flags, and holds up placards.

Culture takes many years, even generations, to change. By allowing demonstrations to be held at the Speakers' Corner might excite a small part of the country who are familiar with the "Western" style of vocal and physical opposition.

I'd rather write to my MP than join a demonstration!

But I remember in my Uni days, we were all so "on" about the right to demonstrate in public, and making political films and so on.

The PM has made some concessions on these rules - it's a "step in the right direction", and might have significant impact in the years to come.

Active Living!

I had the privilege to attend the second Active Ageing Carnival at Ngee Ann City last Saturday. An amazing array of old folks, doing everything from roller-blading to flying foxing to riding go-karts greeted me.

Minister Lim Boon Heng was the Guest-of-Honour, and my mother, whom I'd asked to attend (because I want her to age actively) ended up being the honoured one when the Minister shook her hand at random and spoke to her, in the middle of a huge crowd.

I also saw Wong Li-Lin (she looks amazing! But she's lost quite a bit of weight) and Jacelyn Tay (she's damn thin!) at the Carnival. Pictures here.

I believe the face of ageing will change in Singapore sooner, than later. The wheels have been set in motion. No more will it be an image of a senior citizen, picturized as a spitting, frail, non-English sprouting old man/lady, a ridiculous Liang Po Po. It will hopefully be of an upright, sturdy, confident, purposeful and wise senior.

Slowing down The Other

Everybody's in a frenzy that Usain Bolt of Jamaica bolted his way to breaking two world records at the Olympics. The fastest woman, Shelly-Ann Fraser, is also from Jamaica.

So the Jamaicans are doing really well in the runs. How come? It could be anything from good training to discipline to good infrastructure in Jamaica.

Today I came across an article by Rob Hughes which I felt unfortunately delved into things more than necessary. For example, the reasons quoted in the article for the Jamaicans doing so well included:

"1. Genes

Jamaican neurologist William Aiken theorises that the Africans who made it through the sea journey to the Caribbean were the fittest slaves, and those who went as far as Jamaica and the Bahamas must have been the fittest of the fit.

2. Testosterone

Dr Aiken also sees a link between Jamaicans being fast and the country's high rates of prostate cancer, crime and promiscuity. They all point to 'high testosterone or high responsiveness of testosterone receptors'.

3. Muscle

Some scientists say Jamaicans and others of West African descent have high levels of 'fast-twitch' muscle fibre which is responsible for short, explosive bursts of action.

4. Weather and facilities

The country's good weather makes running pleasant. The Jamaica University of Technology has produced the likes of Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt. The country has also invested in new tracks, better nutrition and better coaching techniques.

5. Discipline

Traditionally strict upbringing instils the required discipline, reports The Guardian.

'I couldn't miss one day in church. My mum and dad still call to see if I'm going to church,' Powell, former world-record sprinter, said of his parents, both pastors.

6. Attitude

'We genuinely believe that we'll conquer. It's a mindset. We're small and we're poor, but we believe in ourselves,' technical coach Fitz Coleman on Bolt's team was reported as saying in The Guardian.

7. Yam and reggae?

'The secret is reggae power,' joked Shelly-Ann Fraser, who led Jamaica's clean sweep in the women's 100m. 'It is definitely the Trelawny yam,' said Usain's father Wellesley Bolt."

(The Sunday Times, Jamaica Bolts ahead, 24 Aug 08)

When I read the article, immediately, the thought of cultural theorist Stuart Hall's (also a Jamaican) concept of "the Other" came to mind - the racial prejudice in focusing in on certain aspects of a non-mainstream object, and exoticizing that object. The first 3 factors of the 7 factors pertain to the genetic and ancestral lineage of the runners, and nothing of the runners' own merit.

How sad. I'm sure the runners trained put in their heart and soul in their training and did not have to rely on their swimming ancestors or amazing testosterone to win the Olympic medal for them. Please lah. Give the runners some recognition.

I also find it bizzare that a Jamaican academic points to genetic qualities for the success of the runners...

I wonder if such an article would have been published if the fastest man and woman were white caucasians.

The Message is Simple

Shaykh Hisham Kabbani is a man of simple words. But powerful words.

At his talk last Friday at the Singapore Power auditorium, there was more power than usual.

The title of his speech was "Conversations with God" - indeed, a heavy title for even a Shaykh. But he navigated through the session with his wisdom and simplicity.

To speak with God, there is no "I" or "me" - the ego must disappear completely, and all humility must be before God.

Show love and compassion to all - because it is with the love that you give to others that you serve Him and serving the role as His vicegerent on earth. And so, He will come nearer to you.

Time is something defined by mankind. For truly, the only time is now - the present. The future is known to God only, while the past is unalterable.

All this he said in very simple language, using parables and contemporary examples.

Alhamdulillah - the experience of listening to a Shaykh in person is a magical experience... there is a certain calmness and "spirituality" (for want of a better word) about them.

If you're interested, you can attend a session on Sunday morning.

Online

Finally, Internet access at home is back! For three days, there was no access. Until they reset the Singtel line from their end...

Qiraati

My tarannum training had taught me that form was nothing without substance – tajwid was more important than the soulful tunes to which the Qur’an is recited. Tajwid determines the proper pronunciation and even the meaning of the Holy Book.

So I had tried my best to learn from a variety of Ustazes on tajwid rules. Unfortunately, I only managed to learn bits and pieces – the major rules. The “exceptions” or ghaarib I did not know, let alone think it was important. The same applied to my wife, who also strove to perfect her tajwid more than her tarannum. However, we both wanted to learn and teach tajwid, and in this certification-crazed milieu that we reside in, we wanted some certification to gain some credibility in the community.

By chance, my wife began to attend this new intermediate-level tajwid class at Al-Falah mosque, taught by an experienced and recognized Ustaz in the field of tajwid. He saw that she had as much or more knowledge than the rest in the class, and so invited her to his special training programme for teachers wishing to teach tajwid to others. It so happened that the training programme included a tajwid certification test that was conducted by an Ustaz from Malaysia, and this happened only once every 2 or 3 years.

My wife (bless her heart) asked if her husband could join, whose credentials included a few failed attempts at “musabakahs”. The Ustaz agreed, and very soon, my wife and I found ourselves learning more intricacies and nuances of tajwid in 2 sessions than we had ever learned in the past few years! We also found ourselves preparing hurriedly for a test we would probably not pass.

The day came, and the test happened. I made a major mistake on one of the rules (although I knew the essence of it). The tester explained the folly of my ways, and asked me to recite a few more verses. After we finished, as I told myself to try harder to pass at the next attempt, the tester shocked me with a soft whisper: “pass”. I praised God, thanked him and left the room. My wife too passed, much to our relief.

Now the challenge has been put to us – to spread the knowledge we’ve gained, to the rest of my community. Acceptance, willingness to change, and credibility are issues I have to grapple with. But we will try our best.

Tea with Muslim Professionals

Every year a Graduates Tea is organised for Muslim folks who graduate from our local polys and Universities. We had tried various formats – speech by the Minister followed by tea and networking, or speech followed by job fair, and – the list goes on.

Yesterday, we tried something different and we think we struck gold. We had the speech of course. But we also brought in successful Muslim people from the people sector, public sector and private sector and made them share their experiences, dreams and “how they made it” with the graduates. The result was powerful – regardless whether the participants gained or not, the organizers sure did.

There were so many learning points that I wished someone had shared with me when I was a fresh graduate – what kind of jobs to look out for, how to not simply get promoted but “leapfrog” by many levels, how to network and behave in a business setting, and how to view your working career in a holistic perspective... such things are priceless when you embark on the new and at times scary world of Working Life.

For me, what made the discussions even more exciting and penetrating were the frequent and rightful references to working in a fast-paced world and balancing our religious obligations.

Example 1 – You’re working in a French MNC, whose senior management socialize and network though social drinking. There’s no way to get into their good books (and get promoted) if you don’t “do as the Romans do”. A Malay-Muslim MD of a French MNC shared with us how he worked up the ladder in just over 10 years – he stuck to Islamic principles. He didn’t drink and worked hard. In fact, the clincher for his promotions was not only his phenomenal working attitude, but his principles in not drinking. The Frenchmen were impressed that a man could say no to a fine wine.

Example 2 – How does one stick to prayer times when there’s a constant stream of work coming at you? The experienced ones shared that firstly, work must not be an excuse to skip prayers – there’s always time to do them. After all, a fard prayer takes about 10 minutes, including time to wudhu. Lunch time is great for zuhr, while just before knocking off is good for asr and/or maghrib.

The discussion of such real issues that we as Muslims have to face daily, really made the event a joy to host and be a part of. The crux of the matter is that being Muslims, we are given the tools to see the world as a vast playing field of opportunities which are defined by the intentions we have of them. As Singaporeans, we are given the knowledge of two languages, and the spirit of hard work and good work ethics.

These qualities are invaluable to propel us to success as professionals in this world, if we work hard for it, and if we have the right intention for it.

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Friday

Yesterday was eventful. In the wee hours of the morning, The Hoopoe flew off, about to start an exciting journey in the world of journal papers, philosophising about variants of law/jurisprudence , and the Rocky Mountains. Rock on bro!

In the evening, we had a chance to meet up and have dinner with a group of friends. It had been so long since we actually met friends for dinner outside of our house, so it felt quite liberating. One of them had gotten married recently, another was flying off to Zurich for further studies and another wanted to lose weight after a hedonistic trip to KL. It was a madcap evening of laughter, lambs2, and lollu.

We made some new friends too. We thought we were happening parents - until we realised that this girl who joined us for dinner, who was all dressed up to party at St James and looking about our age, actually had 2 kids, one of whom was aged 14! We were impressed to the point of speechlessness and concluded we needed to work harder on being happening.

Tiger!

It was supposed to be a straightforward evening - go home, change, and climb 30 floors twice to get my dosage of physical activity. But it was not to be.

After checking the mail, I headed to the lift, thinking that the weather was kinda unsure whether or not to rain. I looked at the dead or dying cockroaches near the lift and thought that the stuff they used to fumigate the rubbish chutes was pretty potent stuff.

10th floor. The lift door opened. I walked to my flat and the sight that welcomed me caused (to use a Pri. 6 compo term) the butterflies in my stomach to flutter. More like, flutter until they exploded and came back as caterpillars.

4 black, probably slimy cockroaches were swarming on my Weinbrenners and India slippers. Upon closer examination, I saw that another two were hiding inside the Weinbrenners.

Many things were running through my head:

• I knew the Weinbrenners were stinking quite badly - but not this bad
• There goes my exercise routine!
• Crap - the butterflies in my stomach are multiplying.
• My mom's chicken briyani yesterday was damn good sia...
• Multiplying some more.
• What's Zayed going to think of me?
• Multiplying some more...

[In case you haven't figured out, I have cockroachaphobia]

This was crazy - to be blocked from my own home because of a few ugly bozos. I summoned all the courage I had, walked up to the meanies and gave the Weinbrenner and India slippers one hard kick.

The footwear flew. The cockroaches flew in different directions. They were probably shocked. I kicked the Weinbrenner again and two more ran out of the shoes. They tried hiding under the tyre of my bicycle, but I managed to make them flee for their lives. One came straight at me and got killed under my trusty Bata. The other went "tata" to the neighbour's house. The rest... well, they went away.

I wiped my perspiration and went home, and declared myself a winner. Or as they say in corny Hindi movies, a Tiger yaar! I deserve a bloody Olympics medal for this you know.

Hard

Who said it's easier to get things done in the public sector?

The hardest thing is not writing the paper, it's not organising the meetings and it's not writing notes for the meetings. It's making what's written on the paper happen, and getting the people to make it happen.

People don't just move. They just love to do what they've been doing all their life. To make them do something new, they must either be terrorised into doing it (with fear of punishment) or sweet-talked into doing it (what's in it for them?). The first approach is fast, but you'll be hated for ages to come. The second one will maintain the human relation/emotions angle so it's better, but it takes a lot of time.

Whatever it is... it's hard to make things move.

Bloody Bolly

The only thing I cannot stand about the new Channel 5 show, Calefare, is Vadi's incredulous Indian accent. It's not his fault.

How long are you going to hang on to the stereotype lah dei?

Muzik Treet

Just before I went to Ananda Bhavan Tuesday night (yes, before the Ghee Overkill of 2008), I went on a music CD spree.

This last month, the best in Chennai had released their CDs – AR Rahman and Sakkarakatti, Harris Jayaraj and Sathyam, GV Prakash and Kuselan and Vidyasagar and Kuruvi.

These guys are a diverse bunch, each having a trademark style.

I heard Sakkarakati at a friend’s wedding, and I was shocked to hear two translated numbers (every now and then, ARR decides to just remake his old Hindi songs into Tamil). No harm in that – but it takes away the originality of the movie from him.

But he made the two songs enjoyable – by using the right singers. “Chinnamma” was one of my favourites from the classic but commercial flop “Meenakshi”, and a fabulous lady singer by the name of Chinmayi brought out the flavour of the song. “I miss you da” and “Taxi taxi” are really cool as well. This album is vintage ARR.

I was expecting Mr Jayaraj to throw up his classic tunes AGAIN. But amazingly, out of 5 songs, 3 sounded very new! I’m speechless. I’m also speechless that for this 25^th movie of his (Sathyam), Jayaraj made the extremely doofy Premji sing an entire bloody song! How’s that. My favourite is “En Anbe”, even though it smacks of a copy of another song. It’s something different and interesting.

GV Prakash has some good tunes in Kuselan. But the over-the-top praising of Rajni and the use of too many instruments mar this album. Seriously, the “ankat bola” to Rajni is excessive. No thanks to P. As in P. Vasu.

The best surprise is Kuruvi. Vidyasagar shows some real nifty creative work in “Happy New Year” feat. Yogi B, and “Palanathu”. This album far superior to Kuselan. It has the standard duets and peppy songs, and they're all enjoyable.

Limit

Dear Stomach,

With much regret and sorrow, I write this letter to you.

Let me just say it straight off: I'm sorry and I shouldn't have done it. I've been stuffing you with oily and coconut-laden stuff for the past few weeks, every time thinking "just this once". Then we went to Japan and I made you have all that raw fish and wasabe. But you survived Japan thanks to all the Coke that killed whatever germs could've lived in the raw fish.

But I guess the final straw was yesterday. You had a (1) nasi lemak at the SLF canteen, with mutton curry. Now, what was I thinking? Nasi lemak is bad enough, at the SLF canteen to make it worst, with mutton curry? I admit my mind was not right. I should've suspected something was wrong when they made me pay $6.50 for that.

Then you had (2) Mysore Masala Thosai and Onion Rava Thosai from Ananda Bhavan for dinner. By anyone's standards, that's too much ghee and masala for one thin person in one night. Then you had some bad mango lassi to wash it all down fat heaven.

Then the topping on the halwa came when you ate some stale goreng pisang just because your mom-in-law bought it. I mean - I'm not even a fan of goreng pisang, so it begs the question of why I subjected you to this torture.

So understandably, the "dam broke" at about midnight when you decided to give up. I had diarrhoea the whole night and couldn't go to work.

I have finally come to appreciate the words of the Prophet s.a.w. who said

"No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath."

It's also good that Ramadan is around the corner - a timely lesson for me to give you a much-needed break.


With best regards,
Your owner

Yaban

The trip to Japan was a good experience. It allowed me to see Japan, and know that there are good-hearted, simple men who are VIPs. These are the true VIPs. These are men who look beyond the form and pay close attention to the things that matter.

The trip also showed me that I was capable of pulling off a trip that had an 18-member delegation. No mean feat for someone who has never organized a delegation trip to anywhere before.

I also learnt that Japan is damn expensive. So bring extra cash. And I mean extra.

Accountability

Last Friday: the class which I had begun to attend 9 weeks ago had come to a close. It was, for me, a sample of the wealth of wisdom that the teacher had in his mind, and more importantly, in his heart. I confirmed my suspicion – this man is a different breed of man.

One key message that he puts out is this – communicate with God in the hours where no man sees you. That time and space is for God, and God alone.

The closer we get to God, the more we should leave our worldly passions behind, and arrive at the spiritual junction.

The other thing I get is that our outwardly actions can impact a number of persons, no matter how little that number may be, to no end. It’s a domino effect of da’wah. It results in the principle da’wah-ist collecting rewards continuously.

The major message, which was what made me turn back to Islam 7 years ago, and confirmed by this teacher, is that the message of Islam is really a message to mankind. It is a message from a Supreme Being to His Created Beings. That’s all. To put it further, the message of Islam is a piece of really, really good advice. You can choose to take it and benefit, and also choose not to take it and see how it goes. It’s really up to each and every one of us to think about this plan of action.

And lastly – a person of faith is not defined by the length of his beard, the expansive nature of her tudung/hijab, the circumference of his sarban or whether she brushes her teeth with the miswak five times a day.

A person of faith is defined and judged by God, and God alone.

Return

Last Friday, I carried and hugged my son. I helped to bathe him, dressed him, and gave him his milk. I brought him downstairs to buy prata for my wife and his mother. Later I played punch with him, and smothered him into defeat. He never looked happier. I never felt happier.

I’m back, son.