12 February 2015 (Thursday), 7.00 – 10.00pm, The Star, Pitt Street
Penang Institute together with Areca Books is proud to jointly organize the upcoming book launch and forum on “Tragic Orphans: Indians in Malaysia” by Dr Carl Vadivella Belle.
Date: 12 February 2015
Time: 7-10pm (Registration starts at 6.30pm)
Venue: The Star, Pitt Street
Activist K.A. Neelakanda Ayer forecast that the fate of Indians in Malaya would be to become “Tragic orphans – of whom India has forgotten and Malaya looks down upon with contempt.” Ayer’s words continues to resonate; as a minority group in a nation dominated politically by colonially derived narratives of “race” and fragmented by the imperatives of religion, the general trajectory of the economically and politically impotent Indian community has been one of increasing irrelevance.
Come join us to explore the history of the modern Indian presence in Malaysia and trace the vital role played by the Indian community in the construction of contemporary Malaysia at the book launch and forum of Dr Carl Vadivella Belle’s latest book, Tragic Orphans: Indians in Malaysia. Belle offers fresh insights on the Indian experience spanning from the colonial period to post-Merdeka political, economic and social marginalization of Indians.
About The Author
Carl Vadivella Belle served in the Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, between 1976 and 1979. He has maintained a long term interest in Malaysian social, political, religious and political issues, especially Hinduism in Malaysia and the histories and traditions of Malaysia’s Indian community. He has lectured extensively on both Malaysian politics and society, and on South Indian Hindu traditions, as well as wider religious issues, and has published numerous papers on these topics. His most recent work, Tragic Orphans: Indians in Malaysia, published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, constitutes a comprehensive general history of the modern Indian presence in Malaysia. He has recently completed a companion volume, Thaipusam in Malaysia: A Hindu Festival in the Tamil Diaspora.
With only 50 seats, register early to join the discussion with author Belle, YB Steven Sim and Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, YB Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy.
Register your interest below.
Programme
6.30-7.00 pm -Registration
7.00-7.05 pm -Welcoming speech by YB Steven Sim, Director of Penang Institute
7.05-7.15 pm -Speech by YB Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy.
7.15-7.30 pm -Speech by author & book launch
7.30-8.30 pm -Forum
8.30-9.00 pm -Q & A