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.