MALAYSIA - 1957

MALAYSIA - TODAY

HEIR CONDITIONING

The Poet - Dato' M. SHANmughalingam

Poet, novelist.
Studied at
University of
Malaya, Harvard
and Oxford
University.

The Meaning
In Stanza 1, the grandchild
asks questions to his/her
grandfather and grandmother

Grand dad did you

breathe
before air cons were
invented

Meaning:
The grandchild asks his grandfather if he
was able to breathe before air conditioners
were made.

was it hard staying

alive without modern
inventions?

Meaning:
The grandchild asks whether his/her
grandfather found it difficult to live without
modern gadgets.

Grandma weren't you

flustered
as you fluttered with paper
fans?

Meaning:
The grandchild asks his grandmother
whether she was angry when she had to
cool herself with paper fans.

Could you communicate

before
faxes and long distance
calls
became basic necessities?

Meaning:
The grandchild wonders how his/her
grandparents communicated before there were
no facsimile machines and telephones. These are
considered basic needs in our lives.

In Stanza 2, the
grandfather/grandmother responds
to the questions posed by his
grandchild in Stanza 1.

Grand child we lived

before your age. Because
of our ignorance,
we did not know
pollution, stress, traffic jams
destruction of forests, streams
and hills

Meaning:
The grandparent says that they lived at an
earlier time than the grandchild.
However, since they were not educated, they
didnt have to deal with pollution, stress, traffic
jams and the damage of the natural
environment.

We feared God and nature

Meaning:
We were afraid of God and respected
nature.

Now nature fears you and

Money is your new God

Meaning:
Now, nature is being threatened by you
and money has become your main focus.

Moral Values

Take care and appreciate the nature

Use technology wisely
Do not be blinded by money
Appreciate Gods creation
Be religious. Do not forget your
responsibilities.