[Music] the Indian voice is a quiet one almost a
the Indian voice is a quiet one almost a
the Indian voice is a quiet one almost a whisper sometimes it even stutters as if
whisper sometimes it even stutters as if
whisper sometimes it even stutters as if it is unsure of its place in the world
it is unsure of its place in the world
it is unsure of its place in the world we are arguably the largest diaspora as
we are arguably the largest diaspora as
we are arguably the largest diaspora as our footprints are embedded in the soil
our footprints are embedded in the soil
our footprints are embedded in the soil of 206 nations across the planet and yet
of 206 nations across the planet and yet
of 206 nations across the planet and yet when it comes to speaking up our voice
when it comes to speaking up our voice
when it comes to speaking up our voice is hushed by migration and generation
is hushed by migration and generation
is hushed by migration and generation gaps we’ve moved so far away from the
gaps we’ve moved so far away from the
gaps we’ve moved so far away from the homeland in search of bigger houses and
homeland in search of bigger houses and
homeland in search of bigger houses and greener grass that we forgot what home
greener grass that we forgot what home
greener grass that we forgot what home actually feels like we built little
actually feels like we built little
actually feels like we built little India’s wherever we go and demand for
India’s wherever we go and demand for
India’s wherever we go and demand for more temples just to be in touch with
more temples just to be in touch with
more temples just to be in touch with our roots to give us a sense of being
our roots to give us a sense of being
our roots to give us a sense of being Indian in a place that is not India but
Indian in a place that is not India but
Indian in a place that is not India but the identity of the Indian person is a
the identity of the Indian person is a
the identity of the Indian person is a continuous tug-of-war between belonging
continuous tug-of-war between belonging
continuous tug-of-war between belonging to its own community and the world
to its own community and the world
to its own community and the world larger than itself I am a fourth
larger than itself I am a fourth
larger than itself I am a fourth generation Indian person born and raised
generation Indian person born and raised
generation Indian person born and raised in Malaysia which makes me a tiny dot in
in Malaysia which makes me a tiny dot in
in Malaysia which makes me a tiny dot in the 8.9% of my country’s total 27
the 8.9% of my country’s total 27
the 8.9% of my country’s total 27 million population my roots come from
million population my roots come from
million population my roots come from Bangalore on one side and Tamil Nadu on
Bangalore on one side and Tamil Nadu on
Bangalore on one side and Tamil Nadu on the other yet my feets are firmly
the other yet my feets are firmly
the other yet my feets are firmly planted in a place called Malaysia a
planted in a place called Malaysia a
planted in a place called Malaysia a land that I share with the Malay and
land that I share with the Malay and
land that I share with the Malay and Chinese communities that are constantly
Chinese communities that are constantly
Chinese communities that are constantly trying to decide if it wants to be a
trying to decide if it wants to be a
trying to decide if it wants to be a potpourri of cultures or a melting pot
potpourri of cultures or a melting pot
potpourri of cultures or a melting pot in fact there is a debate as to whether
in fact there is a debate as to whether
in fact there is a debate as to whether I am Malaysian Indian or Indian
I am Malaysian Indian or Indian
I am Malaysian Indian or Indian Malaysian meaning am i indian first or
Malaysian meaning am i indian first or
Malaysian meaning am i indian first or am i Indian at all and then there are
am i Indian at all and then there are
am i Indian at all and then there are other different constructs
other different constructs
other different constructs that for the deconstruct my identity
that for the deconstruct my identity
that for the deconstruct my identity like for instance at my Hindu or a my
like for instance at my Hindu or a my
like for instance at my Hindu or a my Tamil or a my South Indian this dilemma
Tamil or a my South Indian this dilemma
Tamil or a my South Indian this dilemma became the call of my master’s thesis
became the call of my master’s thesis
became the call of my master’s thesis instead of relying on handouts of who we
instead of relying on handouts of who we
instead of relying on handouts of who we are I wanted to know
are I wanted to know
are I wanted to know I studied the representation of the
I studied the representation of the
I studied the representation of the Malaysian Indian community in local
Malaysian Indian community in local
Malaysian Indian community in local television advertisements during
television advertisements during
television advertisements during Deepavali I wanted to know how do we
Deepavali I wanted to know how do we
Deepavali I wanted to know how do we define ourselves as India for decades we
define ourselves as India for decades we
define ourselves as India for decades we have been depicted on screen as
have been depicted on screen as
have been depicted on screen as melodramatic people we are either too
melodramatic people we are either too
melodramatic people we are either too loud too rough too pitiful or sometimes
loud too rough too pitiful or sometimes
loud too rough too pitiful or sometimes the reverse just plain comic relief’s
the reverse just plain comic relief’s
the reverse just plain comic relief’s this notion comes from the Indian
this notion comes from the Indian
this notion comes from the Indian immigrant impression that is embedded in
immigrant impression that is embedded in
immigrant impression that is embedded in Malaysian history needless to say it’s
Malaysian history needless to say it’s
Malaysian history needless to say it’s as though all the Indian minority
as though all the Indian minority
as though all the Indian minority communities are fresh off the boats such
communities are fresh off the boats such
communities are fresh off the boats such negative and outdated perceptions of the
negative and outdated perceptions of the
negative and outdated perceptions of the Indian community is the reason why
Indian community is the reason why
Indian community is the reason why stereotypes are built and brand our
stereotypes are built and brand our
stereotypes are built and brand our community and this as a result new
community and this as a result new
community and this as a result new generation of Indian people choose not
generation of Indian people choose not
generation of Indian people choose not to rejuvenate their identity instead
to rejuvenate their identity instead
to rejuvenate their identity instead they cast it aside or they cut corners
they cast it aside or they cut corners
they cast it aside or they cut corners to fit to belong because you see it’s
to fit to belong because you see it’s
to fit to belong because you see it’s not valuable to be Indian when you are a
not valuable to be Indian when you are a
not valuable to be Indian when you are a minority twenty-five years ago my Tamil
minority twenty-five years ago my Tamil
minority twenty-five years ago my Tamil tongued grandmother decided to learn
tongued grandmother decided to learn
tongued grandmother decided to learn English for the sake of her
English for the sake of her
English for the sake of her grandchildren she knew that the only way
grandchildren she knew that the only way
grandchildren she knew that the only way she could pass down her recipe for
she could pass down her recipe for
she could pass down her recipe for mutton curry and all that advice is by
mutton curry and all that advice is by
mutton curry and all that advice is by being able to talk to her grandchildren
being able to talk to her grandchildren
being able to talk to her grandchildren who are trying to become global citizens
who are trying to become global citizens
who are trying to become global citizens deep down I think my party knew that if
deep down I think my party knew that if
deep down I think my party knew that if she did not let go of her language she
she did not let go of her language she
she did not let go of her language she would lose her voice today I am a spoken
would lose her voice today I am a spoken
would lose her voice today I am a spoken word poet who believes in carrying her
word poet who believes in carrying her
word poet who believes in carrying her heritage on stage
heritage on stage
heritage on stage even if it sometimes comes with a little
even if it sometimes comes with a little
even if it sometimes comes with a little baggage but hey if you ain’t got baggage
baggage but hey if you ain’t got baggage
baggage but hey if you ain’t got baggage you ain’t got story I believe that we
you ain’t got story I believe that we
you ain’t got story I believe that we can carry our identity across border
can carry our identity across border
can carry our identity across border lines in to our bloodlines by educating
lines in to our bloodlines by educating
lines in to our bloodlines by educating our children with the tales of our times
our children with the tales of our times
our children with the tales of our times for me
for me
for me poetry is that instrument poetry is
poetry is that instrument poetry is
poetry is that instrument poetry is ageless timeless and it also saves time
ageless timeless and it also saves time
ageless timeless and it also saves time like right now right now I could show
like right now right now I could show
like right now right now I could show you pictorial slides of my research
you pictorial slides of my research
you pictorial slides of my research findings but instead I will leave you
findings but instead I will leave you
findings but instead I will leave you with a poem a poem about my Indiana tee
with a poem a poem about my Indiana tee
with a poem a poem about my Indiana tee I struggle with my identity or should I
I struggle with my identity or should I
I struggle with my identity or should I say my indian tea tea though I probably
say my indian tea tea though I probably
say my indian tea tea though I probably take Indian on tiny check boxes of
take Indian on tiny check boxes of
take Indian on tiny check boxes of forums trying to fit me into a category
forums trying to fit me into a category
forums trying to fit me into a category yet I am nothing but a statistic if the
yet I am nothing but a statistic if the
yet I am nothing but a statistic if the category denies me denying my stubborn
category denies me denying my stubborn
category denies me denying my stubborn Tom taking after the tyrants to colonize
Tom taking after the tyrants to colonize
Tom taking after the tyrants to colonize my ancestors instead of my mother’s own
my ancestors instead of my mother’s own
my ancestors instead of my mother’s own tongue it’s not my fault that you’re
tongue it’s not my fault that you’re
tongue it’s not my fault that you’re sensitive and highly strung
sensitive and highly strung
sensitive and highly strung because I call my upper daddy because
because I call my upper daddy because
because I call my upper daddy because Melissa sounds so English before it ends
Melissa sounds so English before it ends
Melissa sounds so English before it ends with Ronnie do I need to eat on banana
with Ronnie do I need to eat on banana
with Ronnie do I need to eat on banana leaves with my hands to pledge
leaves with my hands to pledge
leaves with my hands to pledge allegiance to the UH next to me our life
allegiance to the UH next to me our life
allegiance to the UH next to me our life forever be condemned to be a minority of
forever be condemned to be a minority of
forever be condemned to be a minority of the minority who would rather order
the minority who would rather order
the minority who would rather order passe in Malay because she can barely
passe in Malay because she can barely
passe in Malay because she can barely count to three without getting cringes
count to three without getting cringes
count to three without getting cringes flinches and stairs wooden Linda and you
flinches and stairs wooden Linda and you
flinches and stairs wooden Linda and you laugh at me tease me to my face and
laugh at me tease me to my face and
laugh at me tease me to my face and curse my family who raised a girl who
curse my family who raised a girl who
curse my family who raised a girl who are dresses
are dresses
are dresses instead of saris at weddings where I
instead of saris at weddings where I
instead of saris at weddings where I should be paired to my husband-to-be
should be paired to my husband-to-be
should be paired to my husband-to-be alas it is my chastity that you question
alas it is my chastity that you question
alas it is my chastity that you question because no black for two decorates this
because no black for two decorates this
because no black for two decorates this forehead of ambition get straight A’s
forehead of ambition get straight A’s
forehead of ambition get straight A’s for the final exams for the community
for the final exams for the community
for the final exams for the community and the coda go to university be a
and the coda go to university be a
and the coda go to university be a doctor and make us proud karna we
doctor and make us proud karna we
doctor and make us proud karna we Indians must stick together and be there
Indians must stick together and be there
Indians must stick together and be there for each other but on my graduation day
for each other but on my graduation day
for each other but on my graduation day you tell me mass comm is not in favor
you tell me mass comm is not in favor
you tell me mass comm is not in favor my degree can’t make me an engineer but
my degree can’t make me an engineer but
my degree can’t make me an engineer but I can read your news Vanakkam say
I can read your news Vanakkam say
I can read your news Vanakkam say Vaseline on that so teach me so teach me
Vaseline on that so teach me so teach me
Vaseline on that so teach me so teach me and I will say more than the
and I will say more than the
and I will say more than the introduction give me a chance to make up
introduction give me a chance to make up
introduction give me a chance to make up for my a plus English tuition despising
for my a plus English tuition despising
for my a plus English tuition despising the language you so crudely mentioned
the language you so crudely mentioned
the language you so crudely mentioned the lack of my ability and questions my
the lack of my ability and questions my
the lack of my ability and questions my spirituality when you’re the one who
spirituality when you’re the one who
spirituality when you’re the one who taught the people a string of our native
taught the people a string of our native
taught the people a string of our native obscenities my bloodlines run deep along
obscenities my bloodlines run deep along
obscenities my bloodlines run deep along the rivers of the holy Ganga to Tamil
the rivers of the holy Ganga to Tamil
the rivers of the holy Ganga to Tamil Nadu Bangalore and Karnataka I may not
Nadu Bangalore and Karnataka I may not
Nadu Bangalore and Karnataka I may not kneel and pray like you but I believe in
kneel and pray like you but I believe in
kneel and pray like you but I believe in karma which I thought you did but you
karma which I thought you did but you
karma which I thought you did but you stuck to bar brawls and self-righteous
stuck to bar brawls and self-righteous
stuck to bar brawls and self-righteous gangsters yes I know you didn’t do it
gangsters yes I know you didn’t do it
gangsters yes I know you didn’t do it must you take to the streets to prove
must you take to the streets to prove
must you take to the streets to prove your innocence wave your picket slides
your innocence wave your picket slides
your innocence wave your picket slides and throw stones at the government
and throw stones at the government
and throw stones at the government representatives who you claimed know
representatives who you claimed know
representatives who you claimed know nothing of your plight and whoa because
nothing of your plight and whoa because
nothing of your plight and whoa because they build the tamil schools you refused
they build the tamil schools you refused
they build the tamil schools you refused to go sponsor your babies and businesses
to go sponsor your babies and businesses
to go sponsor your babies and businesses and for corrupt need to make a stand
and for corrupt need to make a stand
and for corrupt need to make a stand that we are significant as an 8% and
that we are significant as an 8% and
that we are significant as an 8% and they said and they said and they said
they said and they said and they said
they said and they said and they said numba gain trust that tomorrow will be a
numba gain trust that tomorrow will be a
numba gain trust that tomorrow will be a better day
better day
better day but Trust is blind when that is the only
but Trust is blind when that is the only
but Trust is blind when that is the only tamil word they can say to cover empty
tamil word they can say to cover empty
tamil word they can say to cover empty promises and get your board with free
promises and get your board with free
promises and get your board with free Brioni dinners there are no Saints
Brioni dinners there are no Saints
Brioni dinners there are no Saints because we’re all sinners while they’re
because we’re all sinners while they’re
because we’re all sinners while they’re greedy for power only greedier not
greedy for power only greedier not
greedy for power only greedier not enough Mahalo for more temples and
enough Mahalo for more temples and
enough Mahalo for more temples and festival holidays and discounts for my
festival holidays and discounts for my
festival holidays and discounts for my brother who chose the param 2 here
brother who chose the param 2 here
brother who chose the param 2 here drogyny and easy money because it paid
drogyny and easy money because it paid
drogyny and easy money because it paid the bills and he could have sit through
the bills and he could have sit through
the bills and he could have sit through a law degree forgive me but hell hath no
a law degree forgive me but hell hath no
a law degree forgive me but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned because she
fury like a woman scorned because she
fury like a woman scorned because she chose friends lighter than her shade of
chose friends lighter than her shade of
chose friends lighter than her shade of brown or darker on the color palette
brown or darker on the color palette
brown or darker on the color palette from white to black and you frown at me
from white to black and you frown at me
from white to black and you frown at me wondering why I didn’t stick to the clan
wondering why I didn’t stick to the clan
wondering why I didn’t stick to the clan the Indian boy was good enough but I
the Indian boy was good enough but I
the Indian boy was good enough but I wanted a man
and I watched you grinding your teeth
and I watched you grinding your teeth chewing at what is hard to swallow at
chewing at what is hard to swallow at
chewing at what is hard to swallow at principals and traditions you don’t
principals and traditions you don’t
principals and traditions you don’t understand but follow knowing that
understand but follow knowing that
understand but follow knowing that you’ll be frowned upon if you told me to
you’ll be frowned upon if you told me to
you’ll be frowned upon if you told me to stick to my own kind but you already are
stick to my own kind but you already are
stick to my own kind but you already are cuz when you’re my daddy daughter comes
cuz when you’re my daddy daughter comes
cuz when you’re my daddy daughter comes home with a punjabi it’s not fine but I
home with a punjabi it’s not fine but I
home with a punjabi it’s not fine but I hold out my hand with you seeking your
hold out my hand with you seeking your
hold out my hand with you seeking your acceptance beneath my frustration and
acceptance beneath my frustration and
acceptance beneath my frustration and expensive education to read our history
expensive education to read our history
expensive education to read our history locate our past and affirm the present
locate our past and affirm the present
locate our past and affirm the present shine the dim future and light the
shine the dim future and light the
shine the dim future and light the pathway for our descendants so look and
pathway for our descendants so look and
pathway for our descendants so look and what you have in the palm of your hands
what you have in the palm of your hands
what you have in the palm of your hands and look no further we’ve sat down too
and look no further we’ve sat down too
and look no further we’ve sat down too long at the buzz of earnest cafes
long at the buzz of earnest cafes
long at the buzz of earnest cafes blaming each other for what we can’t
blaming each other for what we can’t
blaming each other for what we can’t have don’t have should have when we
have don’t have should have when we
have don’t have should have when we already have the human ability to
already have the human ability to
already have the human ability to succeed in all that we choose to be
succeed in all that we choose to be
succeed in all that we choose to be remember that a community with problems
remember that a community with problems
remember that a community with problems is different from a problem community
[Applause]
[Applause] between Barton Adam spins and tabla
between Barton Adam spins and tabla
between Barton Adam spins and tabla beats you and I are no different so
beats you and I are no different so
beats you and I are no different so polish your culture armor and let all
polish your culture armor and let all
polish your culture armor and let all grudges go life may be rough but it need
grudges go life may be rough but it need
grudges go life may be rough but it need not be another Vijay TV episode though I
not be another Vijay TV episode though I
not be another Vijay TV episode though I didn’t climb Everest or started a line I
didn’t climb Everest or started a line I
didn’t climb Everest or started a line I can’t make that curry to save my life
can’t make that curry to save my life
can’t make that curry to save my life and I’m not defined but accept me as I
and I’m not defined but accept me as I
and I’m not defined but accept me as I accept you with arms open wide because I
accept you with arms open wide because I
accept you with arms open wide because I choose to take India as I am on the
choose to take India as I am on the
choose to take India as I am on the inside
inside
inside [Applause]
you
you [Applause]
”
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