Is looking after a dog one dog too many? How about 40? There are some rules and habits you can stick to, though, to make it all work.

Aneeta, who manages this website, has often remarked, “I can’t think of taking another dog yet. It’s so much responsibility. And I only had one. You have 40. Die!”

One dog? That’s nothing.

Over the years, as our dog population increased, there are a few rules and habits that I’ve stuck to. I compiled them several years ago and I’d like to share them here by re-telling a story I wrote. Please comment on or add to this list.

I may get into trouble for writing this but I have 4 pooches at home. Yes, a 12-year old Labrador named Cleopatra, a 12-year old Maltese named Cuddles, a 3-year old mini-Shitzu named Carmelo and a newly adopted 4-month old mix breed named DeNiro (oddly I didn’t realise I gave my boys Italian names). They are the most loving, obedient, well-behaved dogs you will ever meet. Not to blow my own horn, but it’s all because of me. I am a responsible pet owner.

I used to take Cleo and Cuddles to the park near my house every Friday morning. Cleo and I would play catch with her favorite tennis ball and Cuddles would just roam the park wilderness until she exhausted herself. Dogs need to run. Then MPSJ (the municipal council) decided to put up a sign declaring ‘No Dogs Allowed.’ So where am I supposed to take these lively animals too? Am I not a tax-payer as well? Do I not clean up after them? Where is the Love?!?

You don’t need to buy books and watch education programs to know that being a responsible pet owner benefits not just you but everyone else. So, in my attempt to encourage good pet ownership habits amongst us Malaysians, I have compiled this list:

1) Animals are living, breathing things just like us. Adopting an animal is very much like having a baby. You have to feed them the right food, get them vaccinated regularly and house-train them. Just like babies need nutrition, so does your puppy. Just like your baby needs her jabs, so does your puppy. And just like your baby will need to eventually stop using diapers and learn how to do their business, so will your puppy. Animals aren’t born knowing these things, so take the time to educate them. They are fast learners and it makes your life easier. Uneducated animals are only a sign of an uneducated owner.

2) Please DO NOT adopt a canine if you intend to use it as a guard system. They aren’t meant to be tied up all day, outside the house under the elements. If you want a guard system, invest in an alarm company.

3) Clean up after them when you take them for walks. In my neighborhood, most of my neighbours are Malay. Because I have trained the pooches to behave well in public, my neighbours have never been concerned about me taking them for their walks without their leashes. And most importantly, I make it a point to carry a pooper scooper and plastic bag with me to clean up after them. Not only is it sanitary, but my neighbors have come to appreciate that with this simple gesture, I’m showing them respect for their home and the area where they live.

4) Get them vaccinated regularly. Most dog owners overlook this very simple but life-saving duty. It costs you less than RM100 to get your dog vaccinated for a year, and could prevent serious diseases. My once a year trip to the vet is quite a sight. 3 dogs and 3 cats sitting in the back seat of my car as we drive to the vet. If you can spare the change, put them on daily vitamins. Animals can’t voice out when they are sick and a good way to keep them healthy longer is with a daily dose of minerals.

5) Spend some time every day playing with them. Just like humans need attention from loved ones, your pooches need some from you too. To them, you are their whole world. Remember that whenever they get playful and you’re too busy watching TV or working on your laptop. 5 minutes of loving playtime from you goes a long way to giving your pet the love and security it needs.

6) I am a huge advocate of pets being indoors. I hate the idea that some pet owners leave their pets outside at night to sleep alone. Why don’t you try sleeping outside for one night curled up on your hard, cold cement porch? One of the reasons I made sure my pets were house trained was so that I can leave them indoors all day and know that they are kept safe, cool and comfortable. And at night, everyone sleeps in my room. Cuddles has her rattan basket, Cleo has her blue cotton mat, Carmelo and DeNiro rotate between my head and my feet.

7) We need to set up more dog-friendly parks for people like me who actually educate our pets, and are responsible when it comes to taking them out to public places. Until that happens, remember dogs, especially big ones, need their exercise, or they will put on weight and get ill. It only takes 15 minutes a day to take them for a walk around the block. You could lose a few kilos yourself in the process. Having a pet is not easy, but then again neither is getting married, working, or having your own children. Like any other life-changing decision, this too takes lots of time and consideration. Dogs aren’t here for our amusement; they are here to love and protect us just as much as we are here to do the same to them. They are incapable of understanding human cruelty and have no idea that you just had a bad day. So please, if you have pooches of your own, it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. Start being responsible to your community, and most of all, to your loyal four-legged friend. Trust me, and I speak from experience, the love of a dog will change your life forever.

Seema Subash

(14 August 2020)

[Please contact Seema by phone at +6016 2363197 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like to be involved in The ALIVE Project's sponsorship programme.]

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Buddha Statue - Cambodia (2018)[/caption]

I recently watched a movie on Netflix about the life of Gautama Buddha and it had a profound effect on me. I was eager to learn about the life of this prince born into privilege who gave up everything and everyone to search for the ultimate truth.

When he was born, Gautama Buddha was given the name Prince Siddhartha. During the celebrations to celebrate the prince’s birth, a sage came forward. He prophesied that Prince Siddhartha would become the greatest sage in history and would lead humanity to the path of salvation. His father, King Suddhodana, wanted his son to be a great warrior, not an ascetic. To this end, he made every conceivable effort to prevent the Prince from witnessing sickness, death and poverty and inadvertently brought Siddhartha face to face with the harsh realities of life. The Prince then embarked on the journey that would lead to him becoming the Buddha or Enlightened One.

When Buddha eventually returned home, King Suddhodana was shocked to see his son going from home to home with a small bowl seeking alms. But Buddha explained it so well: ‘Begging’ or seeking alms is an exercise in humility. It allows one to cast aside ego and pride and to practice patience and to bless everyone they meet no matter how they are treated.

Those who in turn provide alms are given the opportunity to do good, thus cultivating in them the values of generosity, kindness and love for their fellow man.

Indeed, on more than one occasion, Buddha was asked, “Why do you go around begging? Why don’t you get a job like everyone else?”

“I have a job,” he answered. “My job is to teach humanity the knowledge I have acquired and lead them to salvation.”

He may have turned in his princely garb for a saffron robe, but to many he will always be a king.

This story resonated with me. There was a time when I enjoyed many luxuries: a home of my own, a car and a comfortable life. I was financially secure enough to say, “I’m done working. I want to do what makes me happy.” The decision was made – I would work with animals, especially dogs.

In no time, all my plans began to unravel. My investments began to disappear. Projects I was supposed to be working on didn’t materialise. My car got ‘totalled’ in an accident. My savings were depleting.

Breaking in all ways from financially and mentally to emotionally, physically and spiritually.

How was I going to live?

What would people think?

What would they say?

How embarrassing. I can’t let anyone see me like this.

I have an image to uphold.

All these thoughts continued until one day, we ran out of kibbles, food and didn’t eat for three days. There was no choice left. Standing at the counter of the pawnbrokers, I handed over a gold pendant in the shape of the Cross and gold necklace. At that moment when the broker handed me the money, a thought occurred to me: Why the hell am I so obsessed with what people think? People think what they want. They will believe what they want. So what does it matter what they think of me? Who am I trying to impress?

This was just the start. For the next two years, we struggled daily. Still, I was resolute in my conviction that my furkids didn’t deserve this. No matter what, my dogs must eat. I grew a thicker skin and started ‘seeking alms’. Initially filled with embarrassment, I was sure everyone would start looking down on me, the ‘beggar’ who was once the social butterfly.

Although it hurt, I also felt liberated from a life of show-and-tell and keeping up appearances. As quickly as friends disappeared, acquaintances offered support by sending us kibbles, food and money. I’ve had strangers become regular donors.

What I learnt echoed Buddha’s teachings that the seeking of alms allows others to act accordingly. I had friends ‘Unfriend’ me, ignore me or just plain tell me to eff off.  Nights in the clubs, days on sunny beaches, all reduced to dust in the wind.

I’m not a bad person. I don’t steal. I don’t cheat. I’m not lazy. I had a bad turn of luck. I had to adapt. I had to make decisions, choices. I had to stay committed to what I believe in. I had to trust that there was a purpose in play. I had to be humble. I had to have faith. I had to keep my intent true at all times. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I just wanted to take care of dogs. These beings that had four legs and a tail. Times forty.

I let go of all expectations I had of others and turned inwards to find myself. On some days and nights when the hunger had become so unbearable, I held ChelseaBoo close to me and cried. I apologised to her for not having the means to feed her.

In the dead quiet of night, I also found God again. I found Him in the eyes of my dogs and in the hearts of those who continue to show me and my pack love and support no matter what. He was always there. I just needed to be stripped of every possible worldly distraction to see Him again. I learnt about gratitude.

I am grateful to ‘friends’ who showed me the real meaning of friendship by turning away, for you allowed me to see the shallowness of the company I keep.

I am grateful to acquaintances and strangers who showed me the real meaning of kindness and generosity, for you allowed me to practice humility and gratitude.

I am grateful to those who until this day continue to bless me and the kids with what we need when we need it. You have given me the gift of being able to continue doing what I do and I will never ever be able to be grateful enough. You know who you are. I hope you realise every day that other lives thrive all because of you.

Love, you are the reason I am strong. No one will ever believe what we’ve been through. Anyone else would have left. But not you. You saw Him in their eyes too. It isn’t me you stayed for; it was them. For that, I am eternally grateful and blessed to be on this adventure with you.

Just like Buddha, I too was asked, “Why don’t you get a job?” Now, I have the answer.

I am nowhere near enlightened. However, I do have a job. I’m the Keeper of the kids of The ‘ALIVE’ Project. To my furkids, I am their Queen.

Seema Subash

(17 September 2020)

[Please contact Seema by phone at +6016 2363197 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like to be involved in The ALIVE Project's sponsorship programme.]

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A few weeks ago, I received a message from a friend about the publication of a new book called The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human. I found this title intriguing and went about looking for more information about both the book and its author. Duly fascinated, I made a request via my friend about whether or not the author was open to being interviewed. She was. So, without further ado, I allow me to share, in her own words, the story of The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human and its author, Marguerite Richards.

Aneeta: Marguerite, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Marguerite: It’s a real pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Aneeta: Let’s start with something about you. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Where do you live now and what do you do for a living?

Marguerite: I was born in Downtown Los Angeles, and spent most of my childhood in LA apart from a 2-year adventure in the Netherlands with my father who bought a night club there. As an adult, I’ve lived for extended periods in New York, Chile, and France. I’m a writer and editor, living in Sri Lanka with my family.

Aneeta: Before we go talk about this newly published book, can you please share something about your writing history.

Marguerite: I’ve spent most of my life avoiding my secret longing to write books. I’ve done everything else but. I’ve taught English, written articles about food, ran the editorial for a travel magazine, and went so far as to get a masters in translation—which is basically writing other people’s words in another language (instead of writing my own). I’ve finally published my first book. It’s still not my own writing, but it’s brought me to the genre and medium that feels like home…It’s taken a long time to come to this realization, but I’m grateful for the circuitous path I’ve taken. I’m so glad I built this collection before focusing on own writing.

Aneeta: OK, let’s now focus on the new book, The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human. Please tell me what it’s about

Marguerite: The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human is the product of four years working with authors living all over the world, particularly writers living in “Muslim Worlds” with an emphasis on the “s”. Because there is not one Muslim world. There are as many different kinds of Muslim perspectives as there are people in the world. This book is a reflection of that diversity.

Aneeta: I’m curious. Why this topic of Islam, in particular?

Marguerite: Well, the book is not actually about Islam. It’s about being human. The intention behind this collection was to give voice to people from cultures that readers of mainstream works in English may know little about. It is my piece in the fight against growing xenophobia all over the world.

Aneeta: I understand that this is a collection of stories. So, hard as I can imagine it to be, let me ask you, which story is your favourite one

Marguerite: They are all my babies. I chose every story because it struck an emotional chord. Contexts may have been unfamiliar to me, but there was always something that resonated as universally human. While I did receive some fantastic stories from writers who required little to no guidance, I also worked with writers who were talented in their native languages but less confident with their English writing. We translated some stories, but some writers also wanted to try their hand at the English. It was incredibly rewarding for me to facilitate their expression. To help them find that one word that says what they mean it to say. It gives me goose bumps every time.

Impossible! It's impossible to choose juse one story. It's like comparing apples to oranges. But I asked this question of my most intimate editor colleague, Nancy Laforest, who worked extensively on the book with me. She told me, "It's hard to say. There's 'Caged Angel,' which is an exotic, fast-paced story, through which I explored the Yemeni countryside and went to the circus with a couple of feisty kids. And there's, 'Swimming with Orhan Pamuk' which is the complete opposite: it's a lyrical, intellectual account that takes us right into the home of a writer I've always admired. I also love 'The Art of Drawing a Shepherdess' for its dream-like setting and introspection. But if I had to pick only one, I'd choose 'Khaleh Mina.' This beautiful story honours the writer's fun, loving aunt, the kind we all wish we had. I learned a lot about Iran's revolution and history through this touching tale of Mina's love."

Aneeta: What has the response to this book been, thus far?

Marguerite: Everyone who gets their hands on it loves it. The only critical comment I received on the book so far was one that still celebrated the book’s intention. While she didn’t care for a couple of the stories, she felt that was the very point. She said it was like meeting a bunch of new people: Some might become your friends and some might not. I thought she hit the nail on the head with that comment. All of the stories are honest, unapologetic, and soul-bearing, even if they aren’t always beautiful. Always the intention was to allow people to be people, not pigeonholed into what people think it means to ‘be Muslim’.

Aneeta: Do you have any plans to add to the number of stories? Or a second edition?

Marguerite: There will certainly be future editions, particularly to reach different markets for this same book. I can also build the same title collection again with writers of a different background. Whether it’s Rohingyas in Myanmar, Tamils in Sri Lanka, Latino, Black and Indigenous Americans in the US, the Romas in Europe… the targets of xenophobia are endless and are ever changing through history and geography. At best, people of minority groups are misunderstood, and at worst—they are murdered. All of it is dangerous. I believe that reading stories by those who may seem “other” is the best way to appreciate our differences and learn to co-exist.

Aneeta: As you know, this website caters to storytellers. What advice would you give to those who would like to venture into storytelling?

Marguerite: Be human. Find your voice. Which is writer speak for: be yourself. If you pretend to be anyone else at all, the reader will notice, and won’t care about anything you’ve got to say.

Aneeta: Marguerite, this is all I have to ask. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Marguerite: Thanks for providing me the chance to tell the story about this book. I hope you’ll check out the endeavours of the 34 wonderful writers in my book, who you can find on Facebook @OrdinaryChaosBook. The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human is available for purchase in Malaysia at Kinokuniya, MPH, and Times bookstores.

This piece may NOT be freely reprinted. Please contact editor @ howtotellagreatstory.com for reprint rights. Click here to return to the index of interviews on 'Blow Your Own Trumpet!'

I want you to know that you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I have loved many of your kind my whole life, but you are something special. For you, I feel my heart grow bigger and beat louder. I love you with a love that I have never experienced before and I believe it is because you are different from anything that has ever entered my life. Even when I am not perfect you still look at me like I am. You are, without a doubt, the beat of my heart.

Dear ChelseaBoo,

Do you remember that afternoon when we went to collect some papers from PJ, then to the cold rooms to get your meat dust, after which we went to the supermarket to grab a bag of cat litter, and then a quick stop at the KFC drive-thru to grab some nuggets? Before we finally headed home? I do. I remember glancing at you and thinking, ‘I cannot believe how much I love her.’

You almost didn’t come to live with me. Apparently, you were such an aggressive puppy from not having any company all day at home that when your previous human was trying to find you a new home, you kept getting sent back to him. I can understand. You are such a loving little thing that you were upset at not getting any attention. I would be too.

After three or four homes couldn’t handle you, I took you in. At that time, if you can remember, I already had Cuddles, Cleopatra, Carmelo and DeNiro. I wasn’t sure if bringing another pooch into the home was a good thing. Luckily for us both, I agreed to give it a try for one week. And it became forever.

I remember the first time I saw you. You were this tiny looking thing with big brown eyes that expressed a mixture of curiosity and wariness. You had a perpetual scowl. You looked like a little old man. I stared back and a name popped into my head - ChelseaBoo. Don’t ask me where or how I got that name. But you are one smart puppy. By the end of the day, you responded to it. The first few weeks you were a very happy puppy. There was no sign of the aggression the other homes claimed you’d displayed. Then, something happened. You were not aggressive, my darling. What you did begin to display and still do until today is that dominant feisty behaviour that is a mini schnauzer’s primary characteristic. You became the boss. You also became my best friend, my companion, my cuddle buddy, my sun and moon, my heartbeat, and the love of my life.

Do you remember my birthday 2 years ago when we did our first Pawse For A Cause! At The Pound Bar? My favourite part of the night was when the DJ started playing all my favourite old skool tunes and I had too much to drink. I carried you in my arms onto the dance floor and for the next hour we danced together. You were so relaxed in my arms as I swayed and swirled away. You’re like the best dance partner ever! I still rather dance with you than anyone else.

I also love the way you like to sleep on my chest at night. I know you do it because you like to feel my heartbeat as you doze off. I, on the other hand, find great comfort in hearing you breathing softly as it lulls me to dreamland. And in the morning when we wake up, it’s usually with you by my side with my arms around you because somehow in the middle of the night, you will slowly ease your way down from the pillow and curl up close enough for me to instinctively pull you closer to cuddle.

I know you hate it when I go out without you. You’re always jumping up and down at my feet and running to the gate with me because you want to come with me. I hate it when I can’t take you, but I try my very best to these days. I especially enjoy our road trips to Ipoh. You are the best companion to travel with. You never say anything but I have the most fun just having you there. And whenever we go to The Pound Bar and someone wants to play with you or carry you, you allow them to but you never take your eyes off me. And if I disappear to go to the ladies for a few minutes, you start whining because you can’t see me. But you know I will never leave you.

You are always so polite whenever we go out, and you say “Hello” to everyone you meet with a series of cute little howls. We all know you are talking to us and we appreciate that you make the effort to speak with us on a closer human level.

It always fascinates me how you never get excited when you see other animals but go crazy when humans are around. But it would make sense though. In all the time I have spent with you, you have been more human than dog to me. It is so apparent in your behaviour when we are together. And you never ever cause trouble to me or anyone else by always being on your best behaviour. But the most special thing about you, ChelseaBoo, are your eyes…

They are so big, so brown, so beautiful. But that’s not the thing that catches my attention. It’s the way you look at me. You know me. You watch me with concern when I am worried, comfort when I am sad, excitement when I am happy. Those eyes are filled with so much love I think you must be an angel. I often just sit eye to eye in front of you just so I can absorb all that love you show. And you never move away. You just stay there and watch me back. And you give me love. I can feel it. And it is the best thing in the world.

I want you to know that you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I have loved many of your kind my whole life, but you are something special. For you, I feel my heart grow bigger and beat louder. I love you with a love that I have never experienced before and I believe it is because you are different from anything that has ever entered my life. Even when I am not perfect you still look at me like I am. When I am feeling heartbroken or sad all you do is look at me and I don’t feel sad anymore. You are the best friend I ever had, the best companion, the best of all that is good in my life. You must be an angel. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but it must have been something I did right.

You are, without a doubt, the beat of my heart.

Love, Mummy

Seema Subash

(15 June 2020)

[Please contact Seema by phone at +6016 2363197 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like to be involved in The ALIVE Project's sponsorship programme.]

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When I was still contributing feature articles to the New Straits Times, one of the most curious assignments I had was to work on a story about a quiz master. I never forgot this story for a few reasons. One, a quiz master? What on earth was that? Two, the gentleman in question had a unique name (although I suspect that like most Indian names, it's probably not unique in his hometown) - Phanindra. Three, Phanindra turned out to be one of the most enthusiastic people I've ever interviewed - you could practically feel the energy bouncing off him. Four - his general knowledge was vast. Since that first meeting, we've kept in touch. In these past few months, when world news was depressing because of the devastation of COVID-19, Phanindra provided a daily dose of light relief. He'd send out a question (I'd like to say trivia, but none of the questions are trivial) via Whatsapp and I'd attempt to answer it. I will admit (or rather confess) that my competitive nature soon emerged and I became envious of those who regularly answered correctly. Then, I became aware that instead of giving a fleeting glance at any news about COVID-19, I started reading the stories in earnest with the thought 'in case Phanindra asks about it'. When he suggested that I interview him again, I jumped at the chance. So, without further ado, I allow me to share this story about Phanindra Ivatury.

Aneeta: Phanindra, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Phanindra: Thank You Aneeta.  It gives me great pleasure to be doing another interview with you after so long.  I still fondly remember your splendid article on my Quizzing for the Malaysian daily New Strait Times way back in August 2013.

Aneeta: Let’s start with something about you. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Where do you live now and what do you do for a living?

Phanindra: Well, to cut a long story short,  I was born in Hyderabad, India and I grew up mostly in different cities of India and also briefly in Abadan, Iran during my schooling years, where my father was posted.   I currently live in a city called Utrecht in the Netherlands where my family is settled.  I have been working with the Government of India for the past 30 years till 2019.  I had recently opted for a VR from the Indian Government and currently, I am a freelance Auditor, Quiz Master, Motivational Speaker and Content Writer.

Aneeta: Before we speak about your quizzes, let me ask you about your travels. I assume you’ve travelled extensively. Please share 3 places (countries or cities) you’ll remember the most and why? What’s the story behind these places that make them special to you?

Phanindra:  God has been kind and has given me the opportunity to travel extensively around the world.  It is hard to pick just 3 places from so many.   But if I have to pick 3 countries which I remember the most, apart from my motherland, they would be

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for its fusion of three beautiful cultures, the rapid advancement you see there with every passing year, the warmth and affection of the people and media there towards me, my family and my Quizzing.
2. Pyongyang, North Korea – Not many people in the world, however rich and influential they are, will get even a rare opportunity to travel to North Korea. My official Indian embassy audit trip to Pyongyang, North Korea for a week, way back in 2011 is one of the most memorable ones, which let me explore life and dynamics of such a secluded nation.
3. Utrecht, Netherlands – I currently live in this picture-perfect postcard-like city in the Netherlands.  The living is safe, simple, close to nature, away from the noise, pollution and traffic involved with big cities but at the same time with all necessary modern amenities and infrastructure.  Even after living here for almost close to two and a half years, I am still in awe of the place, every time I go out.

Aneeta: Let’s turn to your passion for being a quiz master. How did this passion start and develop?

Phanindra: This question is probably, the most answered question of my life.  Ever since childhood, I had this tremendous enthusiasm and zeal towards Quiz Shows.  I used to regularly watch eminent Quiz Hosts like Siddhartha Basu and Derek O’ Brien perform on TV shows. But I became a Quiz Master myself, by accident and destiny.  My spouse, a long time ago in 2002 was employed with a commercial bank in India.  The Bank wanted someone to host a Quiz for their Annual Day.  I volunteered and the journey started from there.  Over the years, I wrote and hosted more than 270+ Quiz shows on various platforms across the globe.

Aneeta: What is the process of creating these quizzes? Indeed, is there a process?

Phanindra: I usually do “theme-based quizzing” based on the requirements of the organisers. We select a theme and I work on it for about two months to produce a Question set of 80 spread into 8 rounds of questioning including a Qualifying Round.  All the questions I ask in these quizzes, are my very own creations.  I never borrow questions from the internet, or books or from other Quiz Masters.

The process of framing an interesting question is most of the times “complex”.  I believe in absolute quality and there are multiple parameters to be taken into account while framing a good question.  The question should be first and foremost interesting, it should be relevant, have quality, there should not be any ambiguity concerning the answer, the answer should be established through a trustworthy source and most importantly it should appeal to the answerer and the audience in such a way that even if they do not know the answer, after knowing, they should be glad that they NOW know the answer.

Aneeta: In all your years of being a quiz master, which three events have been the most interesting of all and why?

Phanindra: It’s again hard to pick three events from 270+ I have hosted so far.  They have all been precious for different reasons.  But to list out three which gave me immense satisfaction –

1. The Axis Bank 2017 Quizzing event in India for 150 school teams.  There were 300 school children as participants alone, not to mention their fellow classmates, parents, relatives, Principals, VIPs.  A mammoth indoor stadium was booked to host the event for such a humongous gathering.
2. The Corporate Quiz I hosted for the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur in 2013.  Teams from some of the world’s biggest MNCs competed in that event for the top honours.
3. To commemorate the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, upon the request of the Indian Embassy, Netherlands,, I had the rare opportunity to host a “Quiz on Gandhi” at the Gandhi Cultural Centre at Hague.   I went through a lot of studying and detailing for two months, trying to gather a few gems from the life and times of the Mahatma, in order to convert them into Qs&As.  Preparing for this theme was a hugely emotional and life-changing journey for me.

Aneeta: I know that you’re running one based on COVID-19. How did this begin and why?

Phanindra: The “COVID times online Quiz series” of mine on various social platforms is very unique or one of a kind.  It’s virtual and a rare ‘non-live’ ongoing quiz show of mine.  The most important purpose behind this quiz theme is to spread valuable/related news and information on COVID times among people, in Question-Answer form, sourcing material from authentic and trustworthy agencies.   I post a question on my Whatsapp status every day for participants to answer.  The answer is revealed the next day.  The questions posed in this series are tricky in comparison with my live quizzes as the participants have the internet option to search for their answers.   It started in March, 2020 and so far I had asked around 85 questions on this topic. Period.

The COVID times online series which had humble beginnings has now turned into a massive quiz campaign with a huge following.  People are not just participating but are also sending me views, stories, media articles and inputs on COVID times which can be converted into potentially interesting Qs&As. This series has also been recently highlighted by the Malaysian National News Agency-Bernama.

Readers who are interested in knowing me can follow my Quizzing page "Quizdom" on Facebook which houses a collection of media articles, pictures and write ups on my quizzes.  I can also be reached through my mail id - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Enthusiasts who would like to join the COVID-19 Quiz series can join through my India Whatsapp Number : +919717359140.  They can also reach me by my Netherlands number : +310620666253.

Aneeta: What is the one benefit you’d treasure from running these quizzes?

Phanindra: This is my connection to the world, to people, to a mighty ocean called knowledge, to creative satisfaction.  Even after I am long gone, a certain portion of the world will always remember me as a Quiz Master.  A participant will never, ever forget the moment he gets applauded in a Quiz show, for a question he answers RIGHT, leave alone winning the competition.  Even now, participants from my quiz shows in the distant past, come up to me and say “I answered this particular question right, in a quiz show you hosted, a decade back”.  These kinds of moments give me the ultimate satisfaction and relieve me of all the stress and hard work I go through sometimes in framing a question.

Aneeta: Phanindra, this is all I have to ask. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Phanindra: With utmost sincerity, I would like to thank all of my quizzing enthusiasts, participants and followers who have provided me such admirable support in this long journey so far.

I would like to thank my wife Ratna Ivatury and daughter Poojya Ivatury who have been such a vital part of my quizzing journey.  A passion like quizzing, which entails enormous time, sometimes even eating away into your valuable family time, cannot be pursued without the support and patience of a loving family.

Last but not the least, I would like to sincerely thank you for showcasing me on your web interview series and for being a dear friend.  Thank You.

This piece may NOT be freely reprinted. Please contact editor @ howtotellagreatstory.com for reprint rights. Click here to return to the index of interviews on 'Blow Your Own Trumpet!'

Echo, as we came to name our sweet Dalmation, was born with his disability. Despite being deaf in both ears from birth, he is the calmest and happiest puppy I have ever met. He doesn’t know any differently and perhaps thinks that silence is just life. He will never know or hear his name being called or hear other dogs bark at him or be afraid of the sound of thunder.

Echo

[Watch a YouTube video of Echo here: https://youtu.be/rzQ-XQkPO7A ]

Did you know that 80 per cent of Dalmatians are born either deaf on one side or both?

Echo, as we came to name our sweet Dalmation, was born with his disability. Despite being deaf in both ears from birth, he is the calmest and happiest puppy I have ever met. He doesn’t know any differently and perhaps thinks that silence is just life. He will never know or hear his name being called or hear other dogs bark at him or be afraid of the sound of thunder.

Echo is a special needs dog, and special needs dogs cannot be trained like normal dogs, therefore making their assimilation into a family or pack challenging. A special needs dog requires just that, special needs.

Adopting Echo made me realise that however much I thought I knew about dogs, I still had so much more to learn. Here’s his story.

Echo was found tied to a pole in Kajang by a young girl who could not bear to leave him there. Apparently, his owner contacted her a few days later after seeing her post on Facebook asking for the dog back. She refused. Good girl! The owner told her that Echo was tied up because he wouldn’t stop barking. No matter what his owner did, he wouldn’t stop.

When Echo was rescued, he was immediately put up for adoption. At four months old, he was probably one of the cutest puppies you’ve ever seen, playful and hyperactive. There was no way anyone would have guessed that he was deaf until a visit to the vet confirmed it.

By that time, he had already been placed with two families and returned to the girl who rescued him. When she called me and asked if I was prepared to adopt him, I said yes. As it happened, David was in KL at the time. However, just when he was about to pick up Echo, she called to let us know that she was going to let a housewife from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur adopt him, instead. According to her, said housewife wanted to 'try him out for a few days’ before deciding.

I decided to have a chat with the girl who'd rescued the puppy. I inquired about Echo’s history. She told me about his rescue, re-homing, being returned, medical diagnosis and, all the while, taking note of how Echo behaved in each environment he was placed in. They ranged from insecurity and wild barking to frenzied whining, being aloof and deaf, and non-responsive.

Then it was my turn to speak. The questions I asked were: “Have you ever dealt with a deaf puppy before?” “Have you educated yourself on what a deaf puppy like Echo needs?” “Have you interviewed his potential adopters and asked them if they have educated themselves on his needs?” “Are they aware of the time and patience required to train him and are they prepared to commit to it?”

And, the final, but certainly the most important one: “What happens to Echo if this lady from Cheras returns him? I guarantee you she will.”

Her answer to this last question was a quick, “No, no, no.” Taking a deep breath, she confessed, “Actually, I don’t know, but I don’t think she will.

“Not good enough,” I replied, rather blunt.

Still, she insisted that all would be well. I wished her luck and hoped that Echo would reach his forever home.

Three days later when my phone rang and my screen displayed the rescuer's name, I knew Echo was being returned.

“Can you please take him?”

I couldn’t help but respond with, “I told you this would happen”

Defeated, she let out a heavy sigh. “Please,” she all but begged, “I don’t know what to do with him now or who will adopt him. I am so sorry.”

I told her that I’d think about it and get back to her as soon as possible. It didn’t take long because seconds after the call ended, I already knew that we would take him in. It was always about the dog. Always.

We met with his rescuers / fosterers back in KL four days later and brought ChelseaBoo along for the first meet. As his rescuer opened her car door and carried him toward us, we fell in love with Echo. He was a docile and timid puppy, curious and unperturbed by everything around him. He and Chels said hello and in that instant, he had a new friend. We were warned that he was uncomfortable in cars and sure enough he was a handful as we ran a few errands before heading back to Ipoh that evening.

By the time we reached the farm he had become visibly attached to David, never taking his eyes off him and sleeping right next to him wherever he was. At first, he barked when David left the house, but eventually didn’t even care as he had 12 other dogs to keep him company. (The number has since grown to 40).

He is this amazing ball of love and affection. As all puppies are, Echo is a bundle of high energy. But what amazes me the most is how he never ever flinches in his sleep no matter what is happening around him. In his head, there is nothing, but silence and peace. He could possibly be the calmest dog I have ever met in my life.

My ever-lasting memory of Echo will be something that we witnessed during his first week at the farm. It had rained heavily the night before and there were water puddles in the garden. Without a care in the world, he played in these puddles of water until there was no more playing left in him. There is nothing in this world quite like the joy and love a puppy has for life. He is our Echo of life and love.

Seema Subash

(15 April 2020)

Click here to read more stories about comPETability

"In my books, I try to bring my settings to life by giving minute descriptions of the buildings, the way of life of these ancient peoples, their food, their farming practices as described by the archaeologists and scholars who studied them. This is how it works sometimes in science fiction and most of the time in historical fiction. Writers create (or recreate) the universe in which their story is to unfold," - VJ Singam, author of 'Disorientation'.

I came across Uma's first published work in 1998. And this was in Alor Setar. At the time, I had completed university and was about to join a law firm. Still, I was more than happy to meet someone who had followed her dream and become a published author. More than the lovely story Uma told in that first book, I remember being fascinated by this idea of being a published author. What was it like? How do you tell a story? Is it possible, even, for someone from a small town to succeed as a writer? So many questions...

Except for a brief meeting when my first novel The Banana Leaf Men was published, I didn't know that more than 20 years would pass before Uma and I would meet again. Last year, at a meeting of the rather robust Paperback Bookclub in Kuala Lumpur, I was delighted to see Uma once again. Even more wonderful was to find out that she had a new book being published, under her penname, V J Singam. Here's Uma's story.

Aneeta: Uma, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Uma: Thanks, Aneeta. It’s a pleasure to be working with you.

Aneeta: Let’s start with something about you. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Where do you live now and what do you do for a living?

Uma: I was born in Kuala Lumpur and have lived here for most of my life, except for a ten-year stint in Alor Setar Kedah from the eighties till the nineties. My children were born there. I presently live in the Petaling Jaya area and I’m a writer, as well as a licensed mental health counsellor.

Aneeta: Before we talk about your newly published book, can you please share something about your writing history? I am particularly interested in the research that you carried out before you started to write.

Uma: Well, what got me started was my interest in ancient civilisations, especially the Harappan civilisation. In school, I was an avid reader of anything that dealt with Greek, Egyptian and Mesopotamian mythologies. There was not that much information about Harappa at the time, because it was a relatively unknown subject. When I first got the idea for my book, I began to do a lot of research, most of it in libraries. Incidentally, at the time the internet was not well-developed and therefore not everything was available at the touch of a key. Then in 1999 I even travelled to Pakistan to visit the archaeological sites of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro to get more material for my research. It turned out to be one of the most interesting trips I’ve ever had.

Aneeta: Why was this research necessary? Couldn’t you have written your book without going so far away? Meaning, how did going to these places help you when telling your story?

Uma: In fiction writing, the imagination works by visualising our settings and characters in our mind’s eye as our story unfolds. It’s not like writing non-fiction, which involves factual descriptions and explanations. In my books, I try to bring my settings to life by giving minute descriptions of the buildings, the way of life of these ancient peoples, their food, their farming practices as described by the archaeologists and scholars who studied them. This is how it works sometimes in science fiction and most of the time in historical fiction. Writers create (or recreate) the universe in which their story is to unfold. For me, this meant looking at the pots, pans, implements, toys and buildings from the Harappan civilisation that the archaeologists dug up to get an idea of what things were like, as well as reading the work of scholars who studied the Vedic culture from ancient poems, psalms and other writings. The universe which served as the setting for my story had to be as authentic as possible, therefore it meant careful and extended research. I travelled to Pakistan for the same reason: to make sure I had the geography, the culture and the ambience for my setting just right.

Aneeta: Let’s talk about this newly published novel, Disorientation (The Seer's Return - Book 1). What is it about?

Uma: It’s about a psychiatrist who gets a young patient on the autism spectrum with telepathic powers, and whose entrance into his life sets him on a time-travel journey through dreams. In these dreams, he goes back to his past life in the city of Harappa where he once lived as a mystic and a physician, and the patient his disciple. On the surface, it’s a novel about reincarnation and karma, but on a deeper level, it’s about modern psychology and the psyche. Or the other way around, depending on whether you are a metaphysical type or a psychological type. But enough said, you will have to read the book and see.

Aneeta: Naturally, all of us know you as Uma. How is the author of this book VJ Singam?

Uma: Let me just say that the initials VJ are based on my middle name and it’s a convenient way to keep my academic career separate from my writing.

Aneeta: Why did you choose to make the main character a psychiatrist?

Uma: The novel called for it. There are some questions in the novel about mental illness, psychological healing and even ‘spirituality’ which are explored from the perspective of cognitive science. Thus, it suited my story for the main protagonist to be a hard-nosed psychiatrist. It was the only way I could have Dr. Visvanathan doubt his own sanity because of his unusual experiences; he had to doubt what was happening to him while yet retaining his hold on reality. His character had to firmly hang on to his education and beliefs in order for the story to work.

Aneeta: As you know, this website is for storytellers. What advice would you give to those who would like to venture into storytelling?

Uma: I can’t give any more important advice to other writers, except to hold yourselves to a higher standard than anyone else. If you are writing a novel that needs research, then diligently do the research. If your novel is more about offering an aesthetic experience to readers, then make sure your writing style and grammar are sufficiently polished. A reader’s reading experience depends on so many factors, and it is our job to make sure we understand what those factors are and make sure our book offers it to the reader.

Aneeta: Uma, this is all I have to ask. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Uma: I think I’ve said it all. To everyone out there, do take the time to read the novel. I promise you a mind-boggling journey you will not forget. Until the next instalment in Dr. Visva’s story comes out. Goodbye, all!

This piece may NOT be freely reprinted. Please contact editor @ howtotellagreatstory.com for reprint rights. Click here to return to the index of interviews on 'Blow Your Own Trumpet!'

Aneeta Sundararaj is fascinated by the removal of celebrities' wedding photos because of venue. Is this likely to happen in Malaysia?

One of the things that caught my attention early last month was a story about the wedding photos of the Hollywood couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds being removed from websites. Why had those photos caused such offence? The answer was because the wedding had taken place at a US plantation which was ‘a site that holds deep traumatic historical meaning for the African American community’. (1)

I set about investigating this story a little more and found an online article about it in The Guardian where it was stated as follows: ‘In a letter, Color of Change wrote that “plantations are physical reminders of one of the most horrific human rights abuses the world has ever seen. The wedding industry routinely denies the violent conditions Black people faced under chattel slavery by promoting plantations as romantic places to marry…’ (2)

How fascinating!

Why? Because my immediate thought was that this can’t happen here in Malaysia. Off the top of my head, there are times we've gone on trips to an eco-resort built on an estate. Two years ago, I attended a traditional Indian dance recital in a state-of-the-art multi-purpose hall located on a hill in another estate. My cousin’s wedding was inside an estate temple because the bride used to worship there. If we cannot have our celebrations and holidays in places that were formerly estates, then where would we go?

Hmmm... Today, oil palm is cultivated in many of the estates in Malaysia. At one time, the main product exported from these estates was rubber. I allude to this ‘conversion’ from a full rubber estate to sectioning it into different parts to create an oil palm plantation and establish a resort in my novel, The Age of Smiling Secrets.

LIFE IN THE ESTATES

What fascinated me about how offensive it was to have a wedding at a former plantation was that, as a descendant of someone born and brought up in the estates, I don’t recall suffering from any sort of trauma when recounting the history of Foothills Estate. In fact, I was deeply amused by observing my often-subdued elderly uncle become excited after reading my novel because he recalled playing near the stream I wrote about.

Although I grew up in the sleepy town (now city) of Alor Setar, I know many people who knew well what life was like in the estates. My father was one such person. He told me fascinating stories of his life in Foothills Estates, Kulim. When it came time to craft my story, I chose to set it in the Foothills Estate that he spoke of. Of all the characters in the novel, the one that is closest to the kind of people my father described was Nagakanna. Made a ghost in the novel, Nagakanna features heavily in the edited version of Chapter 9 of the novel which was submitted for an anthology about indenture that was published in 2018 (please see below).

Still, I am aware that historical accounts state that life in the estates wasn’t rosy. In a story that was published in the papers in Singapore, which one of my cousins very kindly saved for me, there is an edited excerpt from the book called ‘Journeys: Tamils in Singapore, 1800 – Present’ by Nirmala Murugaian. (3) She wrote:

The system of indentured labour in Malaya was different from that in the other British colonies… [I]n Malaya, the employers carried out direct recruitment through private agencies in India. The Malayan government’s role was to ensure that the employers adhered to the terms of the contracts. But even this was not always done.

The method of recruitment and arrival for Tamils was also different from that of the workers from China….

…According to documents in the Government of Madras Proceedings in the Public Department 1870, the traffic [from India] was so profitable that recruiters kidnapped boys and women as well. …

Unlike the Chinese labourers, who could move around freely on the island, Indian workers were isolated from the rest of the local population, housed in barracks and severely punished for acts of disobedience or for not doing sufficient work. Toddy shops and cinemas were opened for them, and many became addicted to toddy, known as the poor man’s whisky, and sought escape through Tamil films with themes of romance, betrayal and violence.

This seems to echo every harrowing account of what happened to those who were taken as slaves from Africa to America.

HAPPY AND CONTENT LIVES

Scrolling through the rest of the article in The Guardian I came across this: ‘There’s also persistent trope that black people were happy slaves. But most African Americans don’t find much joy in seeing plantations glorified and their human histories deemed a niggling inconvenience.’

Suffering from the kind of insecurity that only another writer will understand, I wondered if I’d glorified life in the estates? Had I dismissed this version of the human history of Foothills Estate? Had I glossed over all this suffering in telling the tale? After a long and protracted time of reflection, I came to two conclusions.

The first was a reminder of something that came to mind during a discussion about indenture that took place in Kuala Lumpur last year. I was part of the panel and the event centred around the publication of an anthology called We Mark Your Memory: Stories from the Descendants of Indenture. (4)

One panellist had a simple point to make: if we were going to help the poor, their colour, creed or faith shouldn’t matter. Another panellist, however, vehemently disagreed and insisted that we should concentrate on helping the Indians of Malaysia. Past governments had done very little for them. Marginalised, they had neither food, education nor a means of living. They were poor and miserable.

Hopeless at public speaking, I said nothing. Had I the courage, I would have pointed out that if I were to guess, neither of them had what I’d call ‘personal history’ behind them. Their surnames gave me reason to believe that they were probably descendants of Indians born and brought up in the city. Their forefathers hadn't come to work in the estates, but the Malayan Civil Service. I, on the other hand, had forefathers who had spent their entire lives in estates. I should have said this: “My father once told me that the estate people didn’t know they were poor, marginalised and badly treated until those from the city came and told them this.”

If only I’d had the courage …

Second, I have never heard any descendant of indenture describe their forefathers as ‘happy slaves’ - in this case, ‘happy indentured labourers’. On the contrary, those who took the opportunities offered to them when Malaya gained its independence, prospered. They adapted to their new home and made happy and secure lives for their progeny.

As for wedding photos, those sepia-toned and black and white ones of my relatives, together with modern coloured ones from the progeny of said relatives, taken at the same venue almost 80 years apart, share this – everyone looks rather content.

Perhaps, it is wiser to continue to quietly contemplate this matter about abuses in a past era. For a start, I will choose to stick with the first-hand truth told to me by my father about his life when he was growing up. I will remember, always, how he half-scolded me when I told him that part of the story in my novel was set in the place where he once lived – “Don’t write bad things about Foothills Estate,” he said. “It was a very nice place to grow up.”

Aneeta Sundararaj

20 January 2020

References

1. Preston, S. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Problematic Wedding Photos Are Basically Banned Online — Here's Why. December 8, 2019. [Accessed January 2020]

2. Jabali, M. Plantation weddings are wrong. Why is it so hard for white Americans to admit that? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/11/plantation-weddings-are-wrong-why-is-it-so-hard-for-white-americans-to-admit-that [Accessed January 2020]

3.   How Malaya became a 'death trap' for early labourers from India. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/how-malaya-became-a-death-trap-for-early-labourers-from-india [Accessed January 2020]

4. The legacy of indenture in contemporary times.  https://commonwealthfoundation.com/events/the-legacy-of-indenture-in-contemporary-times/  [Accessed January 2020]

***

Aneeta Sundararaj is a freelance writer who contributes stories and articles to many publications, both online and offline. Read more stories like this on her website, ‘How to Tell a Great Story’. (http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com).

Click here to return to the index of Stories

Mbeke and I first met a year and a half ago during a celebration hosted by 7C Life RealiZation Centre. A few months later, during the full moon, we travelled together to a resort in Sepang to take part in a session called 'Gratitude of Life' where we immersed ourselves in seawater. The purpose of this session was to express our gratitude to Mother Ganga and set our intentions for a successful and happy life. It is said that during the full moon's heightened gravitational pull, the power of our intentions increases which allows them to be manifested quickly. During the journey back from Sepang, we discovered that we lived in the same area and from then on our friendship developed. She asked me to submit a story to an anthology she's working on (please see below for details) and I was deeply honoured. She shares her story with us in this interview.

Aneeta: Please share with me some of your history. Where were you born and where did you grow up? What do you do for a living? And where are you based now?

Mbeke: I was born in South London in Clapham North where I spent my early childhood living in a large house on Prideaux Road. My mother and father migrated to the UK in response to the call for help to rebuild the country after the Second World War was over.  Many people in the UK had refused to do what they saw as 'menial jobs' after having held positions like pilots during the world wars.

In response to the growing industrial changes that were taking place and the need for workers, representatives from the UK went to the colonies and asked for help to 'make Britain great again'. My parents and many others responded to the call to rebuild the 'motherland' and left everything and everyone they had known, moving 5000 miles from warm tropical spaces to cold, hostile ones in The UK.  Many of them had intended to stay for 3-5 years to make some money and return 'home'.

Once they began to have children, working, paying bills and forming their new communities, returning home became less straightforward. With children, and grandchildren in some cases, the UK became their new ‘home’. With the new financial demands, there was often little left to save and many people kept up an illusion of grandeur by sending back photographs taken at famous studios and monthly barrels filled with goods for the family members who they had left. I was one of the children born in the UK and so became a first-generation Caribbean (UK) child.

I grew up with feet in both worlds. Living a very Caribbean life at home eating plantain, yam, green banana, and Caribbean soup and with a strong sense of personal conduct and responsibility. I often heard 'You can't walk on the street dressed like that' and every weekend, I knew that I had set chores that had to be completed. Each evening after school, I had homework to complete before I could go out to play. We had to 'earn' our playtime!  On the other hand, I was in school with many white children who seemed to speak to their parents and some of the teachers, in a way that I would not even dream of! They ate food that seemed strange to us and everything seemed to go with chips!!! Their food was unseasoned and they had something called 'tea' after school!

Aneeta: What do you do for a living ... and for life?

Mbeke: I am a writer, performer, and Educational consultant. In 2019, I recorded two poems to music created by Xolo spkq who is a long-standing friend.

This was such an awesome experience and going forward, I plan to do more of the same! Between 2017-2019, I had a number of chapters, reviews, essays and poems published. I continue to write and to share my experiences knowing that someone, somewhere will be touched, motivated, moved or driven to change or to reflect. I am honored to be able to do this. I am currently working on an anthology of writing by women who have lived and worked abroad which will be published in 2020.

As an education consultant, I share my experiences with those who are developing their teachers, leaders, and students. Managing this world comes with no guarantees except for that of uncertainty! To manage uncertainty, many of us need new skills. I am a professional coach and trainer and know that these two areas support the development process in a totally wholistic manner. Contact me if you’d like to discuss these services. My contact details are:

Insta: m-diaspora
Twitter : Waseme1
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I have lived in the UK, Jamaica, Cameroun, Ghana, and Malaysia. I am currently in the UK where the universe has seen fit to position me for now

Aneeta: How interesting. Would you care to share more, please? Especially stories from your travels. Mbeke: Let's start with this...

1. Meeting a Muslim woman in Malaysia who sometimes wore her hair in braids which she had plaited by Nigerian women living in Sarawak!
2. Challenging the history teacher in Ghana who had been raised to believe that 'slavery was a good thing' and subsequently taught this message to his students.
3. In Cameroon, I asked young girls washing by a river if I could take their photographs.  They said I could and lowered their tops revealing their chest.  I was shocked and traumatized knowing that some tourists would have paid them or other young girls, $1 for this image!  30 years later in Bali, in an art shop, there is the image of a very young Asian girl in the rice fields with her chest revealed and her eyes averted. Women’s bodies (however young), available to everyone! My latest paper, entitled 'The Photographer's Responsibility' sets out the full story and will be published in Anastamos in February 2020.

Aneeta: What is your publishing history? Mbeke: My first poem was published when I was 11 years old. I came second place in the Black Penmanship Award with a poem called ‘What being black means to me’. My collection of poems Exploring all of me was first published in 1987 and republished in 2019. I am also the author of Make the Changes, Feel the joy and How to Work and Live abroad successfully (e-book). I have chapters in This is Us: Black, British, and Female(2019), Trusted Black Girl, Challenging Perceptions and Maximizing the Potential of Black Women in the UK workplace, edited by Roianne Nedd (2018).

My short stories and poems are in Fifth Estate Dovetails, Pure Slush, Home, The Writers Café. Flexiblepub, and my essays and academic articles have been published in Pambazuka and 72M. I am currently working on an anthology of writing by women who have lived and worked abroad.

My body of work includes a series of articles and interviews on health and business, which first appeared in the UK publications, African Business and Culture, 72M and The Alarm Magazine. I currently write for Diversity Business Magazine.

Aneeta: As you know, this website caters to storytellers. What advice, therefore, would you have for people who would like to start on this journey of storytelling?

Mbeke: Share your stories! Believe in the value of your life, your lived experiences!  Believe in the transformation which your story energy can have on those who read it. Send your stories to strangers who run journals, competitions and who ask kindly for 'contributions'. As you birth your magic, let others look at it, critique it, love it or discard it. All are ok. Love it whilst it is with you and gently let it go. Keep writing and enjoying the melody, the landscape, the warmth of the task. Here's a poem to share with you and your readers.

Magical I I am magical I dance! Watch me move Feel the trance. Walking magic I unfold Skin of beauty Spirit of gold Words of healing Light for your soul Energy rising Pure light is the goal Know your magic Light your way Step into your glory Breathe..then slay!

Aneeta: This is all I have to ask. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Mbeke:Thank you for this opportunity to share something so special to me.

This piece may NOT be freely reprinted. Please contact editor @ howtotellagreatstory.com for reprint rights. Click here to return to the index of interviews on 'Blow Your Own Trumpet!'

Although the concurrent legal jurisdictions of Syariah Law and the Civil Law is unique to Malaysia, they continue to cause problems and there is a growing air of pessimism all round.

In July 2018, soon after the manuscript for my novel, The Age of Smiling Secrets, went to print, I wrote a story about the prevailing position of the law in Malaysia where both parents must consent to the conversion of a child to Islam. It stemmed from newspaper articles about a high-profile case involving the unilateral conversion of a child to Islam and the jurisdiction of the courts in Malaysia. It is now commonly called the ‘Indira Gandhi decision’.

Why was this case such a big deal in the first place? Quite simply, under Malaysian law, once you embrace Islam, your identity changes forever. You retain the right to seek redress in the Civil Courts, but you’re subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts. This was confusing for the simplest of minds. To understand how it all worked, I set about studying this real-life case from the Indira Gandhi decision. The following is some of what I wrote.

***

Real Life

The story began in 2009 when a Hindu man, K. Pathmana­than, embraced Islam and took the name Muhammad Riduan Abdullah. Without the knowledge or consent of his now ex-wife, M. Indira Gandhi, he converted their three children under the age of twelve as well. A legal tussle ensued and culminated in the Indira Gandhi decision which was delivered by the apex court, the Federal Court of Malaya, on 29 January 2018.

The Federal Court’s decision questioned the method of conversion and said that, ‘the issue before the court wasn’t the conversion itself, but the process and legality thereof.’¹ The Registrar of Muallafs, who issued the conversion certificates, hadn’t complied with the mandatory requirements for conversion of the child.

What generated sensational headlines like Unilateral Conversion ‘Null and Void’² was that henceforth, in a civil marriage, the consent of both parents must be obtained before a Certificate of Conversion to Islam can be issued for a child. This wasn’t always the case

Parent or Parents?

In 2007, there was a similar case involving R Subashini, her ex-husband, T Saravanan, and their children. The apex court there stated that a unilateral conversion of a child to Islam did not violate the Federal Constitution because the word ‘parent’ in Article 12(4) of the said Constitution was meant to be read in its singular form. Effectively, this meant that the consent of both parents was not required. Invariably, the non-Muslim parent had no redress.  An attempt was made to address the issue when the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Act 2017 (LRA) was first drafted. The idea was to include a clause called ‘Clause 88A’ which stated that the religion of a child ‘shall remain as the religion of the parties to the marriage prior to the conversion’. After the child turns 18, he or she can, with the consent of both parents, convert to Islam. Clause 88A was subsequently withdrawn for contravening the Federal Constitution since, once again, the word ‘parent’ must be read in its singular form.

With the Indira Gandhi decision, there was a clear statement by the Federal Court that Article 12(4) requires the consent of both parents for the conversion of a child. Indeed, the Federal Court endorsed an extra-judicial comment by a former Lord President of the Federal Court made in 1982 who said: ‘In a multiracial and multi-religious society … we strive not to be too identified with any particular race or religion … so that the various communities especially minority communities are assured that we will not allow their rights to be trampled underfoot.’

There is now talk to reintroduce Clause 88A. Should this happen, the effect may be to ban unilateral conversion of a child altogether. Not everyone is happy. Some argue that even though the apex court is not bound by its previous decision, with the Indira Gandhi decision comes inconsistency. What shape or form such inconsistency takes remains unexplained.

Perhaps, a hypothetical situation will give some perspective. In the future, if my ex-husband converts my child to Islam in Malaysia without my consent or knowledge, the first question I should ask is, “Where should I go for help?"

“Where Should I Go for Help?”

For a start, as a non-Muslim, I cannot seek redress from the Syariah Court since ‘[i]t was trite that the Sya­riah courts did not have jurisdiction over non-Muslims and non-Muslim parties have no right to appear in the Syariah Courts.’⁴ However, as a Muslim, my ex-husband is subject to the rules and regulations under Syariah Law. Furthermore, Article 121 of the Federal Constitution stipulates the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court should not be disputed even though they are not constituted as superior courts. This means that I go to the Civil Courts and he goes to the Syariah Courts.

To solve such issues of jurisdiction, there is movement afoot to urge state governments to amend their state’s constitutional laws so that the Syariah Courts are on par with the Civil Courts. This is already the case in the eastern state of Terengganu, but only Muslims are allowed to seek redress there.

The problem is that even if we make both the courts equal and allow non-Muslims to seek redress in the Syariah Courts, what happens to the Civil Courts? Do they become superfluous? If both courts are equal, it is possible that I can seek redress in both courts and so can my ex-husband. We may have four different decisions. Which one prevails? And how on earth will we reconcile all this with our Federal Constitution?

Perhaps, it isn’t wise to be so pessimistic. Instead, let’s forget what may happen in the future and enjoy the present. Today, no longer will a child in Malaysia have something as monumental as his religion changed without the consent of both his parents. The Indira Gandhi decision has ended the unnecessary suffering of families torn apart prior to this. It is a triumph. For now.

***

An Added ‘Ingredient’

Fast-forward two years and, in February 2020, we have a new ‘ingredient’ to add to this mix. So far, all the children in question were born when the marriages were still registered under the Civil Law. What happens if the child is deemed illegitimate?

On Valentine’s Day in 2020, it was reported that the highest court in the land had ruled that a Muslim child conceived out of wedlock cannot bear his father’s name. Legalities, legalese, dissenting judgements and lawyers aside, I found the entire story interesting and alarming in equal measure. This was especially so when I read this sentence: The child was born less than six months after the parents’ marriage, which is seen as being illegitimate under Syariah Law.⁵

Once again, my imagination raced ahead to think of another area of confusion that could arise because of our concurrent legal jurisdictions. Take the following rather melodramatic scenario. Say a child is conceived out of wedlock to a non-Muslim couple. During the sixth month of pregnancy, they enter into a civil marriage. When the wife is seven months pregnant, the man leaves her and converts to Islam. When the child is born, what is his status?

Even if the wife converted together with her husband, under Syariah, the child will be illegitimate because it was conceived less than six months after the marriage. It is possible that this same child, under the Civil Law, will also be deemed illegitimate. This is because the parents’ marriage can be declared null and void upon the man’s conversion to Islam. It’s as though the civil marriage never existed. If the marriage didn’t exist in the first place and the child is born two months later, isn’t the child born out of wedlock and, therefore, illegitimate?

What are the problems with illegitimacy in Malaysia? Knee jerk reactions usually focus on the property the child may or may not inherit. There are more pressing problems, though. An illegitimate child may not have access to education, healthcare and, sometimes, child protection services. Circumventing these is easy in cities where there are private institutions and one doesn’t have to be born to parents who are legally married to gain admission. What of those in rural Malaysia, where private schools and hospitals are few and far between?

In light of this, the sense of triumph is waning from the Indira Gandhi decision. Is it time to become pessimistic?

References

1. Maizatul Nazlina. The grounds of judgment in the Indira Gandhi ruling. The Star Online. [https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/09/the-grounds-of-judgment-in-the-indira-gandhi-ruling/]
2. Khairah N. Karim. Federal Court rules unilateral conversion of M. Indira Ghandi's children to Islam null and void. NST Online. [https://www1.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2018/01/329867/federal-court-rules-unilateral-conversion-m-indira-ghandis-children]
3. Gurdial Singh Nijar. Review of the Indira Gandhi decision.my. [http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/02/12/review-indira-gandhi-decision]
4. Maizatul Nazlina. The grounds of judgment in the Indira Gandhi ruling. The Star Online.[https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/09/the-grounds-of-judgment-in-the-indira-gandhi-ruling/]
5. Federal Court also orders NRD to remove ‘bin Abdullah’ from birth certificate. [https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/14/federal-court-also-orders-nrd-to-remove-bin-abdullah-from-birth-certificate]

The Age of Smiling Secrets is the latest novel by Aneeta Sundararaj. Set in contemporary Malaysia, it is about a family torn apart when a man converts to Islam and, without the consent or knowledge of his wife, converts their child as well. One of the chapters from this novel, The Legend of Nagakanna, was accepted in an anthology called, We Mark Your Memory published by the School of Advanced Studies, University of London in 2018. Aneeta trained and practised as a lawyer before she decided to pursue her dream of writing. Read more stories like this on her website, ‘How to Tell a Great Story’. (http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com).

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