Sekolah Jenis KEBANGSAAN

 

Thaipusam Etiquette - be the difference

 

I'm not insulted when called a Keling. A scrutiny of the term.

(first published in 2013)

Happy Ponggal to all.

I'm writing this piece after reading through some articles that are found online, describing the origin, usage and sentiment of the supposedly sensitive word 'Keling'. I want to drive the message that, being called a Keling should not be accepted as insulting anymore, if we care to 'educate the idiots' (pun intended) on the history of the term. Whenever someone call me a Keling, I take the initiative to tell them a small story, which I've appended at the end of this article. Read on, find out when and who turned it into a sensitive term.

I'm called Keling? So what?

The word Keling in Malaysian context is seen as derogatory or insulting now. If any non-Indians call another Indian Keling, immediately there will be tense moments among them. I'm intrigued with the way Indians squirm when called Keling, as such I took particular interest to read some articles online to see what, why, where and how the term has evolved from referring to a great kingdom into a racial slur (only in Malaysia). Do click on the links in the article to read further.

The Origin ..

We need to turn our attention to historical and geographical facts to find the origin of the term Keling. Historically, the origin of the term is rooted in the former cultural and economic influence of the Kalinga kingdom over south east Asian kingdoms.Geographically, the area which is now Orrisa is called Kalinga in the ancient times. According to the historical source, Kalinga is mentioned in the Adiparva, Bhismaparva, Sabhaparva, Banaprava of Mahabharata. This place saw a great war between Mauryan empire's Great Ashoka, which resulted in casualty beyond 100,000 between 262-261 BC.

The Usage ..

According to the above sources, its stated that India was then referred to by the Malays as Benua Keling. Furthermore, in the Sejarah Melayu (the Annals of Malay history), written in the 15th century, the term Keling used to refer to India. Long past the end of the Kalinga Kingdom in 1842 CE, derivatives from its name continued to be used as the general name of India in what are now Malaysia and Indonesia. "Keling" was and still is in use in these countries as a word for "Indian", though since the 1960s Indians came to consider it offensive. A point to note is, in its early usage, the term was not considered offensive or derogatory by anyone.

The word Keling has long been used to name many items in Malaysia throughout the time. Here are few of them:

1. Sireh Keling (Piper betel Linn)
2. Ubi Keling (Ubi Kemili - Stemona tuberose) – Kelantan
3. Kampung Sungai Keling - Labuan
4. Kuih Telinga Keling - Johor
5. Masjid Tanjung Keling - Melaka
6. Pengkalan Ubi Keling - Terengganu
7. Cempaka Keling (Michelia Figo/Magnolia Figo/Magnolia fuschata)
8. Gelama Keling (Johnius amblycephalus)
9. Gendang Keling Ibu - Kedah
10. Jambu Keling (Eugenia malaccensis)
11. Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town - Pulau Pinang

According to the sources, its also noted that, the change of the word keling as an offensive term can be said started around 1960 / 1963. In the original Cerita Jenaka, which was a collection of stories was prepared for the Malay Literature Series, and first published in 1908. When a new edition of the book was published in the year 1963, the editors have in some instances adjusted the text to modern tastes, for example, by changing orang Keling to orang India. This is where we can see the transformation of the term, used in a derogatory or insulting manner.

The Addition, Definition & 'Misuse' ...

Then came the era of 1960s, where the word Keling is 'coupled' with other words and made into new terms with attached meanings, that skewed towards labeling the Indian community in an insulting manner. See the word being listed in DBP's 'dictionary', note the examples marked in red box:

This is where the word Keling in the so-called poem/puisi turns everything upside down, from being used as identification of a great kingdom or ethnicity, its now used to insult. I'll translate for better understanding.

Orang Keling sembahyang kusami, (Indians pray to God/Goddess)

Bawa dian sepuntung seorang; (bringing a lamp each)

Ibarat ambo rumput di bumi, (like the grass on land)

Pagi petang dipijak orang. (stepped upon every time)

Then there's a 'proverb', claims that workers who are lazy but only wants to eat are termed 'Golok Keling'. More 'proverb' like Keling mabuk todi indicates drunkards:

From here, we can see how a simple term derived from Kalinga kingdom, to word Keling used widely to (proudly) identify people from south east India in Malaysia & Indonesia before, is now 'corrupted' by those who feel its OK to insult others. An article in The Star denotes that, but at some point, the term keling degenerated into a racial slur and took on an offensive edge, with some people even claiming that the word now has an additional connotation – “coarse”, as in coarse in looks and character.

The story that I wanted to tell everyone is, whenever someone calls you a Keling, tell them that you're proud to be a descendant from the great kingdom from India. Well many (dunggus) wouldn't know or accept the history, so tell them this: 1 of the top 3 richest person in Malaysia, the man who funded 1st satellite enabling cellular communication and (quite expensive) cable TV is from Indian origin, another man who enabled everyone to 'balik kampung naik kapal terbang' is from Indian origin, there's another man who's behind world icons like Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, KLCC, KL Sentral etc. is from Indian origin, the list of successful and prosperous Indians in Malaysia goes on. All these so-called Kelings, have employed thousands of non-Kelings in this country, enabling them to have a career, feed their family and live a good life... thus I'm proud of them and all people from the same origin, Keling or not!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keling
http://www.mapsofindia.com/history/ancient-kalinga.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinga_(India)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinga_War
http://mcp.anu.edu.au/N/CJen_bib.html
http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/keling.htm
http://mahaguru58.blogspot.com/2006/07/malaysias-history-do-not-distort-past.html
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?sec=lifefocus&file=/2009/6/22/lifefocus/4092855

Sonna kelungeh pa

 

Rare piece con - works all the time

 

 

John punya barang

 

Yethuneh varusham ottuvingeh daa?

 

coke & heineken kudikireh kaingeh saabam saar

 

Vitturuvoma?

 

Romba perumaiyoh?

#justice4veppilai

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Covid-19 வழிமுறைகள்

stay at home

உங்கள் வீட்டில் இருங்கள்

Tinggal di rumah

maintain distance among people

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Jarakkan diri anda dengan orang lain

follow official instructions

அரசாங்க அறிவுறுத்தலைக் கடைப்பிடிக்கவும்

patuhi arahan pihak berkuasa

avoid believing or sharing rumors

வதந்திகளை நம்புவதை அல்லது பகிர்வதைத் தவிர்க்கவும்

Jangan percaya atau berkongsi berita tidak sahih

sashisez.in + Saravanan Sanmugom

Naatu Nadappu

Thaipusam Celebration - be the difference!

Don't park on MRR2 and areas around like it's your home. Usually only the emergency lanes can be used to park, with police permission. If you double or triple park, and they tow away your vehicle, don't create issue. Don't say once a year also cannot ah? You do every week what ... this is dumb. Imagine your mum is being transported to hospital in an ambulance and she dies because the traffic is blocked by other's cars, parked like idiot.

USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT! USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT! USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT! KTM Komuter / Bus. If you insist to drive, don't post on FB how expensive the parking places charging, manned by thugs. You chose to drive, you pay.

Its a chariot procession, carrying our Lord Murugan, don't think we own the whole city and can do anything. Keep your 'Naanum Rowdytaan' or 'Jagat' attitude at home. I do wish the police will use rubber bullets on these baboons.

Dress properly, this is a religious festival, not some parade to pick cheap models.

Throw rubbish INSIDE the bins. Throw rubbish INSIDE the bins. Throw rubbish INSIDE the bins. If you do 'puja' and carry kavadis from the riverside (aatangakarai), FOR GOD SAKE, clean up before you go! Tell your friends and relatives to clean up, since it will be difficult for you to do in 'trance', kan?

Thaipusam is on the day of Poosa nakshatiram on Thai month, if you carrying kavadi for Murugan, do it on that day. If you wish to carry at your convenient time, don't vow for Thaipusam, make vow for Chinese New Year or Labour day. You don't see Muslims go for Hajj during non-Hajj period, don't you?

If you are taking 'paal kudam' or 'kavadis', you don't have to dress like the God or Goddess, nobody believes your makeup makes you Godly. This is not a fancy dress competition. The more gory you look, the more people will think you are actually representing demons. Keep the kumkum on the forehead, not smear on face and make kids scared.

Your kavadi should be benchmarked on Idumban's ORIGINAL kavadi. Period

Alcohol, non-devotional music, funny 'alangaram', non-vegetarian food and other prohibited things are NOT allowed. Don't argue.

The whole world will be watching, don't make them think we don't respect our own religious festival.

Do you see Thaipusam-like aarpattams during Maal Hijrah? Easter? Nine Goddess Festival? Then why this kolaveri? Be the difference, show the example.

Thanks

http://sashisez.blogspot.com/

engge aunty ellam bayangaram!

Sudah biasa lah!

STOP BEGGING SINGAPORE NOT TO HANG

JANGAN CABAR SJK

Pilihan Rakyat

Bukan boikot SK pun.