Where are our kids / siblings now?

Ithu oru pothunala arivipu!

Off late we have seen many reports and news about school going children have been found involved in many illegal/criminal activities. Gangsterism, extortion, drugs, booze, sex, smoking habits have been steadily increasing among our youth, particularly in our community.

(Girls are not afraid of ponteng anymore)

All these is happening everyday, mostly when the parents are away at work. The delinquent children often leave home, in the pretext of going to school, then the divert to some area where they are away from home, change their clothes and start their 'extra curricular' activities. The rest is, up to your imagination.

(Patthaleh patthaleh soodu patthaleh?)

As our community blinks, the youths seems to drift away in their own world, which often leads to have bad company, probably leading them to bigger criminal activities in the future.

So friends, watch your kids/siblings and their company/activities.

Vittil oru kutravali uruvagum mun kaapom!

Beaten in detention? Beat the detention!

There have been many blog articles, news reports, police reports, coffee talks, kovil kathai, whatapps chats on death of (Malaysian) Indians while in police detention. There are also, mega numbers of theories, accusations, condemnations and finger pointing by various quarters on this matter. I’m not going to post pictures of dead Indians in this article, you can find them on other sites a lot.

We can’t deny the fact that, statistics shows at least one death in detention is recorded every month in Malaysia.  This statistic is alarming, more so when it involves so many of our Indian community. In this piece, I’m not going to write about who is right or wrong, who is better off dead or alive, who is the victim or perpetrators. I’m going to say something that is beyond all the distortion about one particular community is targeted and ending up dead in detention.

The question is again answered by statistics: how many criminals or suspects are arrested every month by the police, from that total how many of them are Indians? From that list of Indians how many are dead in detention, and how many are actually INNOCENTS (as claimed by their family)? Very unlikely (however, not impossible), we find an innocent Indian is picked-up by police for questioning and he/she returns home in a coffin. There must be some preconditions that allowed these ‘suspects’ to be detained, right? So why are there so many Indians having suspicious track records? The enticement of crime, ‘gang fame’ and easy money?

Just look around us, part of our community is engrossed with gang related activities. They can be from school kids to matured adults; everyone wants to be part of these gangs. Proudly drawing graffiti of their gang symbols and numbers all over town, like animals marking its territories. Kids proudly positing their gang/crime related affiliations on social network, picked up and exposed by pages like Comedy Machas & Machis almost everyday. Finishing schools with lower grades and lesser advancement opportunities, they are elevated to higher, more brutal gang activities, flocking together like horny hyenas, wrecking havoc in neighborhood. Well, we can’t see them getting together, doing community service or charitable causes, however they are quick to ‘turun’ and show off the ‘might’ of teaming up against rival gangs.

Let’s see, aren’t these contributes to the large number of Indians ending up in lock-up every month? And 1 or 2 of the face the unlucky ending, coming out in a body bag. Yes, yes, yes, we can keep giving the archaic (some what valid) reasons for all these Indians turning into criminals because: 

• Lack of proper parenting;
• Lack of guidance at schools;
• Lack of equal education opportunities post-school;
• Lack of equal, proper employment chances;
• Lack of quality life; and
• Bla bla bla …

But, it have been many years that our community been shown or told : WE ARE ALL BY OURSELVES! We have to work harder to improve the socio-economic status of the community. We have to be more independent. We have to be more connected with each other. We have support our own community, without the help of politicians. We have to use whatever education (tertiary or vocational) opportunities to improve our earnings. We have to spend more time doing good deeds instead of getting involved in bad sides.

But, honestly do you see our community’s socio-economic, education and perception going uphill? Nope, the very Indians who are arrested for various brutal crimes are being used to benchmark the rest of us. A  large part of our community is working the butts off to reach higher grounds, while another part is working hard to pull them down! Everyday our media is highlighting the unimaginable crimes executed by these people against our own community! They are not helping themselves by getting into these criminal gangs and getting drifted away in crimes, and they are further degrading our community’s aspirations to become a better society.

My point is, if we are an Indian and don’t want to be dead in detention, don’t get detained in the first place. If we die in the hands of authorities (while in detention or not), we’re partly responsible for being sought by the authorities. We are the result of our own actions.

The number of Indians dying in detention will only go down, if the number of Indians getting arrested for their crimes reduces. Thick hope, at the current rate.

TRUE MALAYSIANS REJECTS ULTRA-RACIST .. THANK YOU!

Briyani Kadei Kathai - Terthal iSpesel!!

Oru oorleh, oreh oru briyani kadai irunthucham. anthe briyani kadeh owner-u anthe oorleh athigama irukureh aalungeh odeh leader-am. Arambathuleh, briyani vilei rombe kuraiva, service top-takkara, sutthama, suvaiya irunthucham. Vereh entha oru kadaikum poga tevei illehnu, oor makkal ellam amogama valavetchikitu irunthangalaam.

Konja naal anathum, briyani vilei konjam konjama erunucham, service flop-takkara anucham, avulo sutthama ileyaam idam. Athodeh, vereh kadei etachum vantha, athai tomsam akiruvaraam owner-u. Oor makkalum, vereh vali illamaal, rombeeeeeeh naaaaaaala ithuthan sirappana briyaninu vaangi saputangalaam. Innum konja naal anathum, owner-u, gummunu peruthu poyi, oorleh ulleh koli aadu ellam vaangeh plan pannaraam. Aana, anthe koli aadu pannei ownerku, rombe sorpa vilei than offer pannaraam, vereh yarum vaangeh vantha etachum ulta-gulta velei senji deal-eh no deal-ah akuvaram. Avuru kudeh neraya gundar gumbals and the gang leaders sernthukittangalaam.

Appo-appo, tevei pattaal, neram irunthaal, oorleh ulle i-skool, kovil kolam inthe mathiri bangsen-ku briyani konjam kuduparaam. Oor makkalum, ithuthaan valkainu ohtti kittu irunthanglaam ... appo than!

Anthe briyani kadeh owner kudeh romba naala velei senja oruthar, kaduppa ayitaraam. Kaduppa anathai kandu pudiche owner-u, avarukku tiruttu pattam katti, oor marathule katti vetchi, saattai eduthu pitchi eduthutaangalaam. Oor vittu talli vetchi, kudumbathey keveleh paduthitaraam owner-u. Anthe pava patta velei karar, avurode kudumbam kutti, konjam sontha karangeh, athodeh avurukku atharava iruntha sila per-odeh sernthu oor vittu blah pannitaraam.

Konja varusham kalichi, marupadiyum oorleh innoru briyani kadei arambitchanglaam inthe othukka patta gumbal. Arambitca odeneh, avulo viyabaram odeleyaam, yena palaya briyaniku palaghi pona oor makkal, ethuku puthusai inthe briyaniyai sapudunomnu irunthutangalaam. Innum konja naal ponah, visayam damalnu vedichicham ... palaya briyani kadeh owner, nereyah oor sotthai avuru kudumbam, kutti, koothiyaal, kootaliku valechi potutaraam. Ithu mattum illamaal, briyani vilei yeri ponucham, nalla sarakku illamal, kalla sarakku athigam potu briyani senja visayam methuva veliyeh vanthuchaam.

Puthusa vantha briyani kadeh, nalla sarakku, service super athodeh koranja veleiyil briyani potangalaam. Athodeh, innum nereya briyani flavor tarom, vilai ettha maatom, taramana sarakkutaan pavipomnu uruthi alitchangalaam puthu kadei owner-u. Athey parthu konjam oor makkal, methuva puthu kadeiku mareh arambitchanglaam. Ithai paartha mattha oor peruchali-periyavarum, anthe oorleh puthu kadeiyeh poda solli, biznes-u pitchikittu odunuchaam.

Palaya kadeiyil, business konjam konjama oothikkitchaam, owner kaduppa ayitaraam. Oru kattathuleh, palaya briyani kadeh motthama muttai kattureh nelemai vareh poguthunu terinji, oorleh ulle elathukum free briyani, free tanni, free kovil tiruvilavikku aadu, koli, neruppu koli-nu sponsor, free cycle, free ullsuluar-nu kuduthu, oor makkalai marupadiyum ilutharaam. Sila oor makkal, free-a kedaicha pinayil kudipomnu solli, manthai-manthaiya odi poyi palaya kadeyil kudiya irunthangalaam. Athu mattum illamal, inimel avungeh pulle kutti yellam inthe palaya briyaniku adimainu eluthi kuduthangalaam.

Aana, innum paleh peru, puthu briyani kadeiku atharava irunthangalaam. Palaya kadei owner senja settei, attuliyam, vanmurai, sulchi ellam oor makkaluku eduthu sonanggalaam. Nereya makkal puthu briyani kadeiku varehthey partha palaya kadei owner-u, avunge sothuleh mannu irukunu poraliyei kelapi uttharaam, aana unmaiyil palaya kadei briyani verum kallu taan irukunu oor makkaluku teriya vanthucham. 50 varushama tinne briyani odeh arumai teriyileyanu owner kehka, makkal sonnangalaam, innum 50 varushathuku yen oreh kadei briyani sapudunom? puthu kadeiku atharavu kuduthu parpom, briyani seri illehna marupadiyum palaya kadeikeh varuvom sonnangalaam.

Avasarama, palaya owner-u inimel kallu illamal briyani poduren, pipe-leh payasam vareh veikiren, sottai mandeiyil sedi valakiren, mottai mandeiyil mudi valakiren-nu dabal-dibil-nu smoke-less sudam mele satthiyam panni, oru NILA kaler perperleh eluthiyum kudutharaam. Ippo oor makkaluku oru kolapam ... palaya kadei briyani-leh oori ponehvangaluku, inthe vaakuruthi vetchi anthe owner-ai nambalama? illei puthusa, olungga senjikkitu irukireh kadeiku maralamanu.

Iniki palaya kadei owner-ku atharava iruntha, nalaiki anthe NILA kaler peperleh ulle ethuvum seilena? Ille, athigama atharavu koduthu, puthu kadeiyeh alikka sattam-thittam etachum vanthuchina? Yosichikitte irunthangalaam oor makkal ...

Dashboard-il Dheivam, Car-kul Kumbaabhishegam

Note: If you are keeping any image(s) / statue(s) of Hindu deity in your car and will somehow say : "that's my car, and its my wish", I suggest you don't read any further. But if you care about the Hinduism and its sacred practices, enjoy the article and spread the word. This is a personal opinion, accept or reject at your own will. Thanks.

Many of our Hindu friends and family members are fond of keeping various images / statues of deities in their personal vehicles. Yeah, nothing really wrong about it, as many will say it gives them sense of security, confidence and feel closer to God. However, do we take care of the idols placed in vehicles as what we do in our prayer rooms or temples? Do we keep the place clean and free of any items/acts that can be deemed unholy? Think ...

What are the things we don't do / prohibited in prayer room / temples?

• we don't wear shoes inside
• we don't dress scantily
• we don't go inside if we are dirty, or have not washed our feet / hands
• ladies don't access if they are menstruating
• we don't consume any food items, particularly non-vegetarian food
• we don't drink any drinks, particularly alcoholic beverages
• we don't keep any items like shoes, dirty clothes etc. inside
• we don't speak loudly, chat away or make jokes
• we don't play / listen to songs other than religious ones
• we don't use vulgar / swear words
• we don't smoke or allow anyone else to smoke
• we don't use mobile phones

When we have Hindu deity images / statues in our vehicle, can we ensure all of the above is not done in our vehicles? Its impossible for us to assure that none of the above is violated by the owner / driver or the passengers.  Can we keep our vehicle as clean, holy or sacred as our prayer room or temple?

In addition to these, we also usually perform proper pooja and offerings for deity images / idols at home or temple. This cannot be properly done in vehicles. Some people go further by 'erecting' mini temples / shrines in their car, most are done with elaborate decorations and lighting, which can rival your local temple. We frown upon people who simply build shrines everywhere, not taking care of the sacred practices, but we close an eye when its done in private vehicles. Why?

As I've stated in the beginning of this article, some of the reader may say ... "its not your car!", but I want to say "its our religion, and I care about it". Whatever the responses are, I don't condone the act of keeping any religious images / idols at a place where its not suitable, without proper care. What say you?

In case someone asks : No, I don't have any such items in my car.

United against insults - stand up for our religion!! (UPDATED)

LATEST VIDEO SHOWING HIS TRUE COLOR. YOU THINK HE REPENTED AFTER HIS 'APOLOGY'?? WATCH AND JUDGE YOURSELF!! HOW MANY TIME SHOULD WE BE  'TOLERANT'?

Surat Al-'An`ām (The Cattle) - سورة الأنعام

And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah , lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do. (http://quran.com/6/108)

Very rarely I write against individuals, as I focus to write only on matters affecting my community in general. I've written about the controversial Riduan Tee before, because its not right for him comment on something that he's not expert in. After viewing the clip again, I'm prepared to rebut this genius called Zulkifli Noordin.

I took the trouble to find the text of his speech (made 10 years ago?) and analysed his 'expert opinion' on a religion that he's not expert in. Here is his speech, and my responses:

Kalau tuan2 tanya orang hindu.. eh ane.. betul2 cerita you sembah sapa.. [2x] ini tuhan kepala gajah ka.. ini murugan tongkat sampai 14 tingkat punya .. betul2 cerita you sembah sapa..  dia akan kata apa..?

To what a Hindu prays to, is absolutely non of your freaking business.

Baru ni berlaku banjir besar di kolumpo.. baru ni..  di pertengahan jalan antara wisma yakin dengan maideen ada kawasan jual bunga malai hindu punya bunga yang hari jumaat dia nak beli nak pakai sembahyang tu. Di situ ada kedai2 yang menjual peralatan peribadatan hindu. Antaranya kedai jual tuhan hindu. Tuhan gajah tuhan murugan pegang tongkat macam batu caves tu. Tuhan kepala kudanya. Lembu saktinya. 8 tangannya. Ada yang dibuat dari kayu. Ada yang dibuat dari batu. Dari marmar. Dibuat dari marble. Dibuat dari tembaga pun ada. 

I can prove that, there are more, bigger shops selling all sort of Muslim prayer items, books and other holy texts in Masjid India. You're talking like ONLY Hindu shops are there.

Yang canggih yang tinggi sikit tu.. yang ada lampu tu. Mata. Benda tu ada lampu. Hah macam lampu kamera ni. Merah lip lip lip lip. Yang tu sampai rm900 ringgit pun ada. Mahal.

Nak jadi cerita banjir baru ni. Teruk. Air naik sampai 4 kaki. 4 kaki bukan kat bawah basement wisma yakin. 4 kaki dekat Selangor Mansion tu. Selangor Mansion tu lif dia tenggelam. Cuba bayangkan. Selangor Mansion tu lif tenggelam. Orang yang meniaga kat depan bazaar tu. Masjid India yang air selalu cecah kat tangga nu tempat wudhu dia pun tenggelam. Wisma Yakin tempat orang yang jual baju melayu yang tinggi tu air naik satu kaki. Lif Wisma Yakin pun tenggelam. So bayang punya tinggi air.

Tambahla kedai hindu ni lagila tenggelam pasal dia dekat bawah. Jadi dah lama lepas banjir tu pun saya tanya. Kan dorang tengah jual longgok2 semua. Kita pun tanya.

"Ane.. apa macam itu ari banjir ? You punya kedai ane.. ?" Habis semua .. "
" Habis semua? "
" Habisssss "
" Semua habis hancur patah habis semua habis.. "
Saya kata semua ka?
" Semua "
Sama tuhan pun kena ka?
Tuhan pun kena dia kata.

How can flood be selective in damaging? You're either really dumb or retard.

Tuhan pun kena. Hah tuhan pun kena.. apa macam tuhan boleh kena. Eh ane itu tuhan patut dia tuhan tau. Apa pasal ane takde atur ane punya tuhan depan kedai kata ohh woooww air stop. Pergi itu amna kedai mamak sana kasi banjir. Ini tuhan punya kedai. Apa pasal takde bikin itu macam. Suruh itu tuhan. Tuhan patut mau tolong kita. Kalau tuhan air pun tak boleh tahan. Apa lagi dia boleh buat.. air pun tak boleh tahan ka.. suruh dia tahan la itu air. Dia kata apa kat saya?

Using the same logic, people can ask you: How come you didn't ask your God to "ohh woooww stop the killings of Muslims by Muslims in mid-east? in Pakistan? in Afghanistan"?

Hey dei tambi.. mana boleh. Itu batu la.

Dia pun tahu. Dia marah kita pula. Hey dei tambi. Itu batu la. MARAH. Sampai terpaksa jual longgok tuan2. Tuhan dia tu yang patah2, yang pecah2 kena jual longgok. Yang mahal rm900 ada lampu tu jadi rm60. Jadi RM90. Tanya la dia..

I'm a Hindu, and I can vouch that no one will ever sell broken/damaged images/idols. So stop spinning you kampung story.

Hey ane apa pasal ini. Banyak mahal ada lampu punya. Jadi RM90 saja?

Dia bateri sudah habis. Dia punya wayar sudah shot. Tuhan punya wayar pun shot. Berebut hindu beli tuhan. Yang gajah tu. Yang ada belalai. Dia patah kan. Berebut beli. Murah. Kita punya tanya.

" Aci apa pasal beli ini tuhan? Ini tuhan gajah dia punya belalai sudah patah. "'' Takpa. Balik kita taruk plaster. "

Tuhan dia boh plaster. Last2 dia pun. Dia pun tahudia pun tahu bodoh ye tak. Last2 kita tanya dia. Ane aci betul2 cerita. You sembah apa tuhan? You betul2 cerita you sembah apa tuhan? Ini tuhan sudah patah pecah banjir air pun tak boleh tahan. 

Hindu don't keep any broken/damaged idols at home. Where did you concoct this story? While having wet dreams in your sleep?

" Kita sebenarnya ada besar punya tuhan. Kita ada besar punya tuhan. " " Apa pasal takda sembah itu besar punya tuhan? Apa pasal pakai ini kicik2 gajah kuda ular semua? "

Ohh dia kata kita takda suci. Hindu kepercayaan central mereka dia, kita manusia tak suci. Sebab tu semua kepercayaan hindu mesti kepada kesucian. Dia nak mandi, dia mandi sungai ganga. Sungai ganga kat india tu. Tuan2 pernah pergi sungai ganga? Saya pernah pergi sungai ganga. Nak kata suci macam mana. Bangkai ayam dok berjalan. Dengan kayu balak kecik2 tu pun timbul. Dia macam mana kata suci. Dia kata suci lantak ko la. 

What's sacred for you can be not for others. Accept the fact. The Hindus believe Ganges is sacred, but they didn't say its sacred for other religions too. So keep your twisted argument about sacred to your clan. Don't tell me there's no rubbish at all in your holy sites.

Sebab itu Hindu bila dia Thaipussam... vel vel vel tu kan. Awal2 dah minta neraka wel. Dia minta neraka wel. Wel wel wel wel wel wel.. Bila dia buat tu kenapa dia pecahkan kelapa? Kenapa hindu tak pecahkan buah betik ke? Buah tembikai ke. Ni musim durian kan. Awat tak pecahkan buah durian pap pap.. rasa melayu pun rebut pergi. 

I'd like to explain about the coconut breaking ritual, but then again, it won't get into your thick skull. Let me just say, you also sacrifice millions of animals every year for religious purposes, which is also similar to our coconut offerings. Nothing less nothing more. No one questions about your rituals, so just shut the F up and mind your language.

________________________________________________________

Now that you can read the text, you may question our reactions. How come there's no large scale, united condemnation like we did against Sri Lankan president visit? We responded, in pockets of demonstrations and statements by MHS, political parties and NGOs. If the non-Hindus can unite against a movie and cause it to be delayed for weeks and censored according to their wishes, why we didn't raise our voice against this insults, together?

Anyway, it seems he has 'apologized' and blaming his previous party's teaching for his rambling about Hinduism. Are we letting him off the hook just because he apologized? If a non-Muslim insults the religion, can he/she be let without punishment just by apologizing?

Let there be strong message to anyone who find it amusing to insult or ridicule any religion for that matter.

Come out of the shell ...

Following the recent 'unity' ponggal celebration in KL ... wait, all the while ponggal is a unity event among the Tamils, right? Suddenly, we are bombarded with messages of being united via ponggal or such. Well, why not? Let's unite the already united 'unitees' and move on. I almost missed the point here, but I'll catch up soon.

One Tamil daily, published some facts and figures about this MEGA, GIGA, TERA event. Some of the facts 'incited' me to write this piece. It seems after the event, the journalist observed that, contracts for cleaning, sweeping, washing the venue wass NOT given to an Indian contractor, nor there were any local Indians working as the sweepers. Adoi!

I put the paper down, turned to my politically & historically savvy father and asked, why are we (Indians) still whining about not getting road building, road sweeping, sewerage cleaning contracts? Why not talk or explore possibilities of other business that we can earn equal or more income? Something that not many Indians do? He said, there are still some portion of our people stuck in the paradigm of 'coolie workers' (pardon the term), I understand he meant ‘salaried workers’. He added, we can be proud of very FEW individuals, who've over the year shown that, wealth can be earned in many other businesses, which may or may not be our heritage businesses. I blurted out names like EverSendai, Puteri, Babas, Maxis, Astro, Lotus, Maduras, IJM, Rakyat Group, Lourdes ... some of them are still traditional business, but done in big scale.

Well, we can go on and whine about not getting contracts for the usual works we are familiar with, but with unity (I caught up, you see?) we can pool our resources and venture into business. The ‘pooling without poramai’ is particularly tough among us, but not impossible. There are many funding facilities available for small to medium size business nowadays. Coupled with micro loans, special funding for single mothers and disables, the potential is vast.

For example, why can't idiappam (not putumayam) makers & sellers join forces and develop proper facilities to produce their products. Since its food item, they should strive to get Halal certification (no matter how tough it is), before 'someone' else does it and stamp their trademark over OUR idiappam. Same goes to many other traditional business that can be modernized, before its completely overwhelmed by other people.

Bangladeshi selling vadai, without kodai at Masjid India

How many time have you seen foreigners learning to make our delicacies and selling it to our people in places like Masjid India. Why can't our (jobless, mystical gang-fanatic) youths do it? Oh pride matter huh, then don't complain Indon making athirasam, Nepal making toseh or Bangla making idiappam, earning good income here.

There are few businesses that we see good potential, but not attempted (much) by our community: 

• Motorcycle workshops / dealers
• Mobilephone sales / repair shops
• Laundry
• Bakery / Baking supplies
• IT shops
• 2nd hand vehicle dealers
• Florists

Perhaps our complacence with salaried jobs and our parent’s perception on own businesses is stopping us from venturing into own business? Many times, the resistance and naysayers for budding businessmen are within their own family. Families should encourage their kids to venture into business, no matter how small the idea is. Find more information, plan properly and talk to people who’ve experience.

“Oruthan veleiyei vittutu business panna porennu sonna, avanai yesathingeh! Avan patthu peruku velei kodukureh alavirku tairiyam irukum, atharku ookam kodungal … sontha ulaipaal uyarvom!”

Have some tea, Mr. Tee.

I was reading his rantings on a local daily after being alerted by my good friend Mr. Kannan. While reading his 'masterpiece' about some patience excreta, I'd like to express my feeling about his complains. My views posted here are purely personal, intentional and with care not to generalize my views on his religious beliefs. Now, let's see what he said and what I have to say about it ..

Bayangkan jika orang India Muslim tidak tampil ke hadapan, sudah tentu ultra kiasu ini bersorak gembira. Jika ikhlas, sepatutnya merekalah yang tampil ke hadapan memaklumkan perkara ini kepada KDN.

Difahamkan sebanyak 16 penyuntingan akan dibuat sebelum tayangan semula dilakukan. Siapakah yang menyunting filem ini sebelum ditayangkan? Orang Islam atau orang bukan Islam? Apakah patut mereka dilepaskan begitu sahaja? 

Dear Mr. Tee,  the film was viewed and censored by the government officials, who are mostly Muslims. You are naive to ask if non-Muslims alone are the sitting on the censor board. Have you spoken to FINAS team yet?

Pengikut Taliban dikaitkan dengan penyembelihan manusia dan keenam, agama Islam digambarkan sebagai agama yang tidak berperikemanusiaan.

Dear Mr. Tee, enlighten me please. Which group have filmed and showed the world that, terrorists can slaughter a living human being without mercy and proudly played it on the net? I clearly remember watching the 1st ever video of an innocent Asian worker being killed in such a gory manner. What verse were they screaming while placing the sword on the victim's neck? I'm pretty sure it wasn't some English pop song.

Begitu juga dengan anak muda Melayu yang masih meringkuk di dalam penjara akibat cubaan membakar gereja. Malangnya, apabila anak muda bukan Islam mencampak kepala babi ke dalam surau, maka tidak dikenakan tindakan.

Again Mr. Tee, you are fantasizing. Until today, no young non-Muslims were ever seen or caught throwing pig's head into a holy place of worship. If they were caught, as a non-Muslim, I'll recommend the harshest punishment possible. However, in 2010 there was a case of 3 youth who tried to burn a Surau in Melaka and make a false report about it. Do you know if they are from which faith? I guess, you conveniently ignored the fact. Read this here sir, and tell me if you've ever called for any action against these culprits.

Pernahkah kita bersungut ketika perayaan Thaipusam? Seminggu sebelum perayaan, seluruh kawasan sekitar Batu Caves sesak. Kenderaan diparkir sesuka hati. Lautan manusia satu warna berhimpun, seolah-olah tidak ada warna lain lagi di negara ini.

Even before you're born Mr. Tee, Thaipusam have been celebrated in grandeur scale in Batu Caves. So if you have an issue, you shouldn't buy a home there, drive through the roads or even be in KL/Selangor during that period. Go help your folks in Syria. No, I'm not going to complain on any religious festivals in Malaysia, as its everybody's country who are entitled for their own celebration.

Saya cadangkan agar PRU 13, jika kita mahukan sangat orang India bertanding di kawasan majoriti Melayu, carilah kalangan India Muslim seperti KIMMA dan MIM, tetapi bukan mereka yang tidak Islam.

Make up your mind Mr. Tee, are you a religious scholar or a racist. Because as far as I know, unlike you the non-Muslims have not demanded only for a non-Muslim representative. And, please don't fan the fire too hard, as it can spread anywhere, anyway. 

I'd like to offer you some tea (with halal symbol), whenever you're not occupied spewing your brand of hatred. Peace & cheers ...

HINDUISM IS SHAN MATHAM (by L.Kannan)

Lately we have been hearing on radio and reading on news about one individual who have been actively professing his brand of Hinduism. I've heard his 'speech' where he collectively labeled all Hindus as Saivites, all pujas must be only conducted in Tamil. In response to this, my good friend Mr. Kannan Loganathan penned down this piece.

HINDUISM IS SHAN MATHAM

By Hinduism I am referring to what the scriptures (and some people) call Sanathana Dharma. Shan  Matham  refers to the worship of   the 6 main deities in Hinduism :

Shaiva (Lord Shiva) , Vaishnava (Lord Vishnu), Shakta ( Shakti) Kaumara (Lord Muruga),  Ganapthyam ( Lord Ganesha) and finally Soura (Sun). Emmathamum sammatham sonatthu  ithey thaan.

  

I am a Tamil ( I can read and  write Tamil of course) , I  sing the Thevaram and I hold in high esteem the great poet seer Thiruvalluvar. But does being a Tamil impose  an obligation that one must know Thevaram and should only worship in Tamil ?  Does Thevaram give sufficient information on what Hindus should know ? How did the Universe came into being ?  Who was the first man and woman in Hinduism  ?  What are  our Holy  books?  Is there a doomsday for Hindus?  What are the do’s and don’ts  of  Hindus. ?  At least 85 %  Hindus do not know  the answer to the above.   But you can’t blame them because they have not been taught all these ; and the ones who have learnt are not too keen to share.  Athai vida kevalam  ennavenna intha shanmatha followergal sandai. En saami thaan perusu  , un saami sariyalla .  

There are now quite a number of people  running around proclaiming that Thevaram is a must and only means to worship if you are a Tamil native. Thevaram  (Devotional hyms ) is a sacred product of intense devotion  (Bhakti ). But preaching about Bhakti without teaching the basics of religion is akin to climbing a tree to catch a fish.  It smacks of extreme foolishness and ignorance to speak of  God being North Indian and South Indian . It is equally mischievous to label the Vedas and other Scriptures as being in North Indian  or Aryan  lingo. While it is always convenient to pray in a language that we understand  it does not mean  you can’t worship God using any other languages . More importantly it DOES NOT mean that a Tamil native MUST worship in Tamil. God transcends all languages. Is He  not the Creator ?  If language is so important how would a mute  pray ?

In this country Hinduism classes (samaya vaghupu) is synonymous with Shaivism . We hear only of Thevaram and Thrikural competition. That is wrong.  What is needed  is a comprehensive guide on the fundamentals of Hinduism and it cannot ignore the exposure of  the Vedas ,  Upanishads ,  Puranas and and Itihasas.

Children must be taught the existence and importance of all these before they move on to the Shan matha worship. Lord Shiva is an embodiment of love (Anbe Sivam) . He did not instruct us  to alienate other deities or devotees. It is due to the lack of proper study and understanding of the religion the Hindus in this country have become “cultish”. The situation is so severe that I think it is high  time the Malaysian Hindu Sangam takes a couple shots of Viagra.

The Tamil Shaivites here should embrace others in their family of ShanMatha with love not suspicion. Fanatical attachment to  language is a hindrance to spiritual development. Shower the love of Lord Shiva on all ; regardless of who they are , as true Shaivites will always live by the prayers  Inbamey Soolgha ELLORUM Valgha.

Hindu 'temples' demolished? But why?

Note: This posting is not supporting demolishing exercise of any Hindu places of worships. I'm not siding the party that builds or party that demolishes, nor I'm aligned to any party in case you're wondering. However, I'm writing with questions running in mind, hoping to find sensible answers, if any. Views expressed here are personal, accept and reject at your own will. Thanks.

Before we get into the 'matter', let's analyse some basic terms used for places of worship in Hinduism. 

Temples

A Mandir, Kovil , Devalayam, Deul or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism. A characteristic of most temples is the presence of murtis (statues) of the Hindu deity to whom the temple is dedicated. They are usually dedicated to one primary deity, the presiding deity, and other deities associated with the main deity. (click to read further)

Altar/Shrine 

Hinduism is notable for its emphasis on home worship. Most Hindus have a shrine at home, which is also called altar. (click to read further)

Now matter-ku varuvom. "Sepang-il Hindu kovil idikkapatathu, ellorum atthiramaga tirandu varungel!!". You would have already heard about this and seen how simple matter can be blown out of proportion and made into a political issue between parties involved.

I know the matter is still simmering and many are harping on the issue to get some media mileage. While this was going on, yesterday I saw another 'news' of 100 years old temple to be demolished. Quick search revealed this 'ancient temple'.

My curiosity made me to write this piece with few questions on the above.

1. Was there any permission/approval sought from the neighbors, authorities like local council / fire department? If yes, where's proof of application?
2. Why build illegal structure outside the home and term it temple? If its a temple, who is the moolavar and are pujas done according to proper Hindu customs & rites?
3. When even a small renovation to kitchen or balcony at private property must be properly planned and approval sought from local authorities, why went ahead and build the structure first?
4. What if his neighbors builds a bigger structure on both sides of his house and start to do things that may disturb his life at home? Will he complain to the authorities?
5. Why the need for a 'temple' in every home? A shrine or altar can do the same, inside the house.
6. If we Hindus regard temple as sacred, why must everyone to simply erect any structure and call it a temple without respect to the design, construction and rules of a proper temple?
7. In the event of a fire in the house, if the structure hampers firefighters from helping him, who will he blame then?

More questions:

1. More than 100 years old temple is not even registered, why?
2. Were there any application for land made during all those years? Proof?
3. The ancient temple's 'committee' can only build a wooden & zinc structure over 100 years period? Seriously?
4. Why only now political party's are jumping on the issue, when over the years there were hundreds of shrines may have been cleared in many states? Where were they at that time?

Who's at fault? Who to blame? Who is the victim? Who is the opportunist? There are many other questions running in my mind on this issue. 

While reading more articles, I found this news which earned the guy massive brickbats, but his points makes sense to me : "Failure of the Malaysia Hindu Sanggam (MHS) to explain how and where the temples and shrines can be constructed was the reason why Hindus in the country are building such places of worship according to their whims and fancies." 

He said MHS, as an influential religious body, should not encourage construction of shrines or temples at houses. "Running religious classes alone is not enough. MHS must initiate a large-scale awareness campaign to tell Hindus about their own religion. It would be better if MHS comes out with a declaration stopping people from building places of worship in their house compound,” said Thiruvengadam.

A temple for me is a sacred place, it should not be build without proper care, in a private premise. Thanks for reading.

Nam Hindu mathatai naameh sirumai padutha vendam. Valipaadu talanggalai katti athai vazhinadattha sila poorvigha vazhimuraigal undu. Vittuku munpuram seruppu veikum idathilum, naai padukum idathillum, kusiniku pinnal kuppai kottum idathilum 'kovilgal' yena kuri kudaram katta tevei illei. Nam panpaadu, kalachaaram matrum aanmiga valarchiyai olukkathudan todarvom.