All About the Maniam

Subramianiam Krishnan is a Diasporic Writer who champions the plague faced by the self-professed diplaced and marginalised 2 million Indians birthed in Malaysia. Popularly known as K.S. Maniam on the international and local scene, probably due to Hindu numerology, he is rectified as one of the seven founding fathers (or mothers) of Anglophone Literature in Malaysia. His works like many Malaysian writers writing in English are either sold out, ran out of publication or not that easy to attain. ( Check out your nearest library, they probably have a copy of local talents' works). 

Having a yearning to be educated in the English Medium, this son of immigrants from India relentlessly pestered his father to place him into an English school, a far upgrade from his selective memory of a hall used as a Tamil school in his first year of schooling. He has since been writing from his early teens and have appeared in numerous journals around the world.

His life is the epitome of how one oppressed child  triumph over poverty through the British Education System. (Parallel to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, where a not so bright but vain French ward is placed into the British Education System to give her sound and proper knowledge.)

Like the William Faulkner of the East, he uses a familiar setting in his writings.  He has been lecturer (1980–85) and associate professor (1986–97) in the English Department, University of Malaya, in Kuala Lumpur. Born in Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia in 1942, this academician and novelists now resides in Subang with his nucleus family.

AWARDS

2000, Raja Rao Award (India)for Outstanding Contribution to the Literature of the South Asian Diaspora.

The Loved Flaw: Stories from Malaysia in The New Straits Times–McDonald short-story contest (1987) 
Haunting the Tiger: Contemporary Stories from Malaysia in The New Straits Times– Shell contest (1990). 

EDUCATION

PUBLICATIONS BY K.S. MANIAM

NOVELS

The Return 1981

                   This summary is taken from http://micsobrien.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-return-k-s-maniam/;
(It)deals almost exclusively with a Hindu family (specifically, it focuses on the childhood and youth of a young boy named Ravi whose grandmother moved her family to Malaysia). This narrative also takes place between the Japanese Occupation and Independence, and so I read it as following in suit with the other novels I’d read that deal with a similar issue — the of growing up during this period — but focusing on a Hindu boy instead of an ethnically Chinese or Malay boy. Indeed, I think it wouldn’t be inaccurate to see The Return in participating in the Malayan Maledungsroman I’ve discussed previously (I will coin a better name by the end of this process to describe a male-centric Malayan bildungsroman, I promise).

I don’t want to imply here that the novel just reiterates the same storyline that appears in the other texts I’ve written about. Ravi must deal with his postmemorial response to his family’s history, as he is part of the first generation of Hindus born in Malaysia, yet still feels the effects of his grandparents’ generation’s trauma and struggle. At the same time, Ravi’s family lives in a Hindu enclave in Malaysia, governed by an Ayah, and his education in English threatens the Ayah’s dominance. In short, while the general framework of The Return might resemble some of the other texts dealing with this period, the tension between personal ethnic allegiances (even in the face of not knowing one’s familial or cultural history) and the desire to belong to the formation of a new nation and a new national identity makes this text stand out.

Interestingly enough, one palpable absence in this text is a lack of discussion about the relationship between the Malays, Chinese, and Hindus at this time (I’m using Hindus here vs. Indians to allow for the inclusion of the Hindu Sri Lankans who were also migrating to Malaya at the time). While Ravi’s English teacher, Miss Nancy, seems to target the Hindu boys in her class, these instances are contrasted against how the boys belonging to other races are treated. Does Ravi not notice racial/ethnic difference or the marginalization of Hindus? Why the glaring absence of an actual discussion of the relations between what would become the dominant groups in Malaysia? Is this a method of envisioning a type of idealized multicultural society?

Despite the Ayah’s feelings that Ravi should be denied an education in English, Ravi continues his studies (or becomes a “white monkey,” as his friends call him), and leaves to teach English in England. When he returns, however, there’s been a distinct shift in the social place of the Hindu community. While Mainam doesn’t address this shift directly, the Hindus no longer live in a type of indeterminate space in their enclave — they’re actively attempting to participate in the work of nation-building, and finding that rules have to (rather haphazardly) be put into place to ensure that the Malays retain dominance. Ravi’s father is slowly going insane as he attempts to keep up with the Joneses (keep up with the Tuahs?) and add an expansion to their house: state restrictions have prevented Ravi’s father from adding onto their house, yet his father desperately wants to lay claim to their new homeland. So while the text may not explicitly deal with the tension between the different ethnic groups at this time, I think we can infer that this period was marked by the need for the (soon to be independent) government to quickly put legislation into place that would manage and limit the lives of Hindus, even as they were attempting to influence the development of the nation.

1.The Return. (Kuala Lumpur: Heinemann Asia, 1981; republished by Skoob 

Pacifica Publishing, London, 1993).

In A Far Country

In A Far Country is a remarkable novel for its experiment. It moves beyond early Malayan writing in English which sought to establish a local literary imagination in opposition to an imposed colonial one. In A Far Country seeks to free itself from this literary ghetto by addressing national issues and departing from realism to do so. (Taken from http://www.amazon.com/Far-Country-Skoob-Pacifica/dp/1871438144)

                     

2. In A Far Country. (London: Skoob Pacifica Publishing,

1993). (RM 50.29)

3. Between Lives. (Petaling Jaya: Maya Press, 2003).

Right in the middle of a buzzing Malaysian city is a magnificent forest, now a piece of prime real estate and the perfect setting for a swanky theme park. The trouble, however, is Sellamma, the old woman who owns the forest land, and refuses to budge. Sumitra, who works for the Social Reconstruction Department, is given the challenging task of convincing the old lady to move into a welfare home. A great believer in her people skills and a focused professional, Sumitra is used to tackling all kind of cases. But, somehow, Sellamma eludes her manoeuvres. 

Instead, Sumitra finds herself falling under the spell of the lazy afternoons she spends with the old woman and her dog, listening to stories by the gushing river. Bewitched by the hidden sounds of the forest that punctuate the ageless woman's narrative, she begins to reflect on her life and choices. On her death, Sellamma leaves Sumitra with yet another choice by bequeathing the land to her. 

Set in a mesmerizing landscape, and illuminating the eternal struggle between the old and the new, Between Lives reveals to us a journey of self-reflection and the hope of recovering what is lost forever to humanity.  (credit to http://www.bookadda.com)

SHORT STORIES

1. “Ratnamuni,” “The Third Child,” “The Dream of Vasantha,” and “Removal

in Pasir Panjang”. Malaysian Short Stories, ed. L. Fernando. (Kuala

Lumpur: Heinemann Asia, 1981).

2.“Mala.” Southeast Asian Review of English, 10 (June, 1985), pp. 1-26. & in Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

3. "The Eagles" in Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

4. "Plot" in Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

5. "Encounters" in Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

6. "We make it to the Capital" in Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

“Mani the Goat.” Southeast Asian Review of English, 24 (1992), pp. 1-14.

 ”The Rock Melon”. Skoob Pacifica Anthology No. 2: The Pen is Mightier

than the Sword, ed. C.Y. Loh and I.K. Ong. (London: Skoob Books P/L,

1994), pp. 51-61.

Arriving – and other stories. (Singapore: Times Books International, 1995).

Haunting the Tiger: Contemporary stories from Malaysia. (London: Skoob

Pacifica, 1996).

Sensuous Horizons. (London: Skoob Pacifica Publishing, 1996).

“All I Had.” Manoa, 11, 1 (1999), pp. 138-145. (Special Focus: New

Writing from Malaysia)

“A Distracting Glow.” Kunapipi. 22, 1 (2000), pp. 43-60.

“Another Awakening.” World Literature Today, 74, 2 (Spring, 2000), pp.

283-284.

The Loved Flaw – Stories from Malaysia. (New Delhi: Indialogue, 2001).

Faced Out: Six Stories. (Petaling Jaya: Maya Press, 2004).

DRAMA

The Cord. Kuala Lumpur: Aspatra Quest Publishers, 1983.

“The Sandpit: A Monologue.” Southeast Asian Review of English, 14 (June,

1987), pp. 37-57.

“The Sandpit: Monologue 2.” Southeast Asian Review of English, 19 (1989),

pp. 28-47.

“The Sandpit: Womensis.” Southeast Asian Review of English, 25

(December, 1992), pp. 62-114.

BOOKS

Plot, the Aborting, Parablames and Other Stories. (Kuala Lumpur: AMK

Interaksi Sdn Bhd, 1989).

SUMMARIES OF CREATIVE WORKS AND NON-FICTION WORKS

1. The Eagles 

 This short story tells us about the lives of the lower caste people in the Malaya/Malaysian Indian society. Although the caste system has been made illegal in India, it still prevails here. K.S. Maniam creates characters who make special appearances and there, he is the William Faulkner of the East where he creates a community with solid characters of his own. For example, Muniandy the sore beggar here had a a few pages written about his earlier life in A Far Country, how he came to Malaya with his traditional Hindu wife, her death, his life as a devotee to his employer, his dismiss and how he ended up as a beggar. Metafiction is no stranger here. Coming back to the essence of the story, Ganesan is brought up by an evil step-father while his father gambles away what money he has. He educates his younger siblings with the cane and the family is in debt in living their daily existence. Ganesan is sent as the dhobby child after the 'big house' has called for his service. They treat him like the pariah they think he is. However, his intelligence shines through and he has a few stints as an amateur teacher teaching the spoilt kids of the house. He earns a few morsels of left overs and refuses them. His life at home is far from wonderland. However at the end of the story, his step-mother or little mother pleads him to be the Raja for the family. He cycles to the big house, teaches the kids and is called by the Amah. He goes to her and sees her in destitute, wrapping her with tender care, she asks him what he wants. He wants RM20, and she tells him to get the money from her drawer. When his works is done, he exchanges the RM20 into RM5 pieces. 

He returns to his shelter and his is greeted with the usual insults from Little Mother. Ganesan then gives her RM5 for "teaching those (the big house's) stupid children

RM5 for "eating their rotten food!"

RM5 for "washing blood and shit" and

RM5 for "not being an eagle."

The money he had earned was given to the woman and she was left in tears streaming down her face.

2. Plot

I didn't manage to comprehend this story much. All I understood was how the second wife (Karupi) was a cruel wretch to the first wife (Arthi), after all of her sacrifice made for Karupi and child. Arthi's life was never pleasant but she had a good heart, however she died a tragic death of durian and samsu. On the other hand, Periasamy is a hard-working boy who troughs and toils a plot of land belonging to Arthi. His green fingers transformed rock filled land into fertile soil producing  juicy and delicious fruits and vegetables, highly demanded by Chinese traders from Sungai Petani.

THE MANIAM ADVOCATES / CRITICS

1. Peter Wicks,

PUBLICATIONS ON K S MANIAM BY PETER WICKS

“Malaysia as Myth in K S Maniam’s In a Far Country,” Asian Culture

Quarterly. 26, 4 (Winter, 1998), pp. 59-64.

Malaysian Literature in English: A Critical Reader (edited with Mohammad

A Quayum) Kuala Lumpur: Longman/ Pearson Education Malaysia, 2001.

(xiv and 338 pp.) ISBN: 9837419563

“Another Malaysia: Maniam’s Short Stories”, Malaysian Literature in

English: a Critical Reader, ed. M A Quayum & P C Wicks. (Kuala Lumpur:

Longman/Pearson Education Malaysia, 2001), pp. 290-297.

“Parameters of Malaysian Identity in the Novels of Lloyd Fernando and K S

Maniam”, Asian Profile. 30, 1 (February, 2002), pp. 27-36.

“Malaysian Landscapes in the Fiction of K S Maniam”, Special issue of

Journal of Commonwealth and Post-Colonial Literature. 7, 2 (Spring,

2000), pp. 73-87. (published in Georgia, USA, July, 2002).

“Diaspora and Identity in the Fiction of K S Maniam.” The Atlantic Literary

Review. 3, 4 (October-December, 2002), pp. 115-127.

“Feminine Perspective on Malaysian Identity in K.S. Maniam’s Between

Lives.” Asian Profile. 33, 2 (April, 2005), pp. 135-138.

INTERVIEWS WITH K.S. MANIAM

http://penangmonthly.com/having-to-belong-everywhere/ 

PAPERS

“The New Diaspora” (1996)

“The Life of Writers in Malaysia” (2006)

(http://www.nouhachjournal.net/?p=561)

Edited;
An Anthology of Malaysian Poetry @ Antologi Puisi Pelbagai kaum
(Dual Language, Bahasa Melayu and English Language)

Compiled by;
K.S. Maniam & M. Shanmughalingam

Translated by Shamsuddin Jaafar
 Published by DBP, Kuala Lumpur 1988

WORKS ON K.S. MANIAM'S WORK/LIFE

Works Cited

Wicks, Peter (2007). K S Maniam (1942-). The Literary
Encyclopedia, 16 April 2007. ISSN 1747-678X.

Siew , Zedeck . “Having to Belong Everywhere.” Penang Monthly. 20 May 2012: n. page. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://penangmonthly.com/having-to-belong-everywhere/&gt;.

http://www.amazon.com/Far-Country-Skoob-Pacifica/dp/1871438144

http://micsobrien.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-return-k-s-maniam/;