Abstract Thinker, Altruist, Artist of Life, Banker, Bon Vivant, Beacon, Boozer, Brother, Confidante, Connoisseur, Critic, Charming, Debater, Economist, Engineer, Fashion victim, Fillial Son, Friend, Generous, Genuine, Humourous, Intellectual, Jovial, Kind, Kindred Spirit, Laughing, Librarian, Mentor, Movie buff, Music lover, Old soul, Philosopher, Physicist, Poet, Political Scientist, Romantic, Samaritan, Smiling, Spiritualist, Tasteful, Warm, Witty? True Renaissance man.
ITHACA
As you set out for Ithaca, hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops, wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you're seeing for the first time;
May you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind, as many sensual perfumes as you can;
And may you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and go on learning from their scholars
Keep Ithaca always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But don't hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years, so you're old by the time you reach the island.
Wealthy with all you've gained on the way, not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.
Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then what those Ithacas mean.
I remember our first first visit to Alor Star in the late seventies,when
a host of nephews and nieces visited you.Your room was stacked with
magazines ranging from Science to Racing cars.The next time, I had the
pleasure of seeing you,was when you came to Singapore to apply for an ASEAN
scholarship.The short chat I had with you before the interview,made me
confident that you would be successful.We had the pleasure of having you
stay with us for a short while,before you embarked on your University
education.
In terms of your Education and professional approach to work,you will
always be a beacon for the many nehews and nieces you leave behind.Your star
will always be an inspiration for them.
We had the pleasure of seeing in 2 family gatherings-in Singapore and
Johore Bahru,in 2003/4.Many of your cousins and nieces had the pleasure of
meeting up with you.I distincly remember you bringing a special bottle of
whisky,when you came for dinner,while you were working in Singapore.At that
point,I knew that you knew how to unwind and enjoy what life had to offer.My
wife and your cousin,Usha,tells me that you and a host of other cousins
enjoyed the good times at your grand-father's home in Kuala Lumpur.Your
grand-mother was great cook.
For all these fond memories,we thank you Selva,and we are sure that God
will be with you always.
With love,
Usha and Maniam