EVEN as a child growing up in the late 1950s and through my teenage years in the early 1970s, I noticed a barrier that shaped the lives of everyone in my village. It wasn’t a wall you could see or touch, but it was there, dividing us. On one side
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela, a prominent South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 IMAGINE telling your parents that you never asked to
THERE are times it feels as though language itself is sprinting to catch up with our phones. Once upon a time, communication meant solemnly laying ink to paper or carefully crafting emails. Now it might mean firing off a stream of yellow faces, aubergines and fireballs before you have even
The pros and cons of social welfare benefits often stir up strong emotions, but it’s hard to deny that they play a crucial role in helping those in need. Are they beneficial in the long run? They certainly provide immediate relief, but there’s concern they might foster dependency. It’s important
BENEATH the weathered awning of a provision shop in our village, a sombre voice broke the late afternoon stillness. “I’m going to be a father, and I’m absolutely terrified,” declared Sutap, his words as heavy as the humid air. He was sitting cross-legged beside a friend, sharing a bottle of
IN our eyes, as children in the early 1960s, our fellow villager, Lunas, was an enigma wrapped in solitude. While other farmers returned to the village after each farming cycle, joining in the laughter and camaraderie of off-season life, Lunas chose the quiet company of the wetlands over the bustle
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir (1838-1914), a Scottish American naturalist, author, and environmentalist, often referred to as the ‘Father of the National Parks’. He was instrumental in the establishment of several national parks in the United States, including Yosemite National
The Crackling ‘Keropok’ Symphony “YOU know you’re old when your body wakes up five minutes before you do, just to remind you that you’re no longer in charge,” Buja quipped, his tone tinged with mockery at his own expense. He grimaced as he lowered himself gingerly onto the rattan mat
IN the sprawling wetlands several miles from our village – where lush paddy fields stood tall for half the year in each farming cycle – there lived Beh Bijon: a farmer, a prankster, and, by his boastful accounts, a man who had cheated death so many times that even he
“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible – and achieve it, generation after generation.” – Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), an American author and Nobel Prize laureate known for her novels depicting life in China, where she spent much of her early life.