I want the past to continue, says Rajeswary Veerappan, with a firm nod of her head as a chapter from the Quran is gently recited in the background.
We are in the cool area in the compound of the Sri Maha Kaliaman temple, for which Rajeswary’s family has been caretakers since it was built 45 years ago in the historic Malay Muslim enclave of Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
The Quran’s recital fills the temple compound in soft waves and to Rajeswary, it is the sound from a familiar past that soothes the pains of the present.
“I want us all to be just like this,” she says of her current situation and of what future she wants for Malaysia.
“At peace and together,” she says, clasping both hands together to make a ball, each finger intertwined with the opposite other, like a group hug.
“I have read about every religion. I believe in everything and respect every God,” the 61-year-old said in a strong, matronly voice. The Quran recital continues as if underlining everything she says.
The recital comes from literally next door, as someone in the Baikhatu Solihat surau reads selected chapters just before the Azan for the noon prayer.
The surau and the temple share the same rear wall and all of their prayers can be heard clearly by the other. They are situated side by side on a small road off Lorong Raja Muda Abdul Aziz.
It has been that way for the past four decades, ever since both were founded.
And as Malaysia turns 50, Rajeswary wants it to be that way for decades to come.
Together since its founding
When Rajeswary was 12, she was struck by a fever that doctors at the nearby General Hospital (now Hospital Kuala Lumpur), where her father worked in admissions, could not cure.
Then suddenly she went into a series of trances that cured her. The family also discovered that her trances enabled her to cure the ailments of others.
As a gesture of thanks, Rajeswary’s father M. Veerappan A. Kannan built a shrine beside their house in 1968.
Over the years, as word of her abilities gained more attention, Rajeswary’s father slowly expanded the shrine with materials donated from visitors who gave thanks for her aid in their recovery.
After her father died and she got married, her husband Christy Santhanaraj, moved in and also helped expand the shrine into a temple with earnings from his logistics company.
Today, Rajeswary’s house, which she shares with her two sons Christy Vicknesraj and Christy Sharviraj, 12, is enclosed in the temple compound.
Most who come to see her are women with problems during pregnancy or couples who have trouble conceiving. She is also sought after for leaves from a “mambu” tree the family grows, which she blessed and is reportedly good for treating chicken pox.
“People from all communities and religions come to see me. I treat everyone the same. I do this only for charity and we take no money,” Rajeswary stressed.
According to surau committee leader Amir Mon, the bond between the temple and the surau was formed by Rajeswary’s father and the builders of the surau almost from the very beginning.
“We have a very understanding relationship,” says Amir, 62, an Imam who took over running the surau committee in the early 80s.
It was this relationship that allowed both to flourish and expand, says Rajeswary’s son Christy Vicknesraj, 25.
“Back then there was no wall to separate us. Only a fence, so worshippers could literally see each other. We renovated and built up both our compounds at roughly the same time.”
To avoid clashing with each other’s prayers, the surau committee and the family worked out a timetable. The temple would hold prayers in between the five Muslim prayer times.
“Whenever they have big ceremonies, they inform us in advance. We also invite them to our kenduri,” says Amir. Rajeswary echoed this saying they were invited every year for the surau’s buka puasa.
“There has been nothing. Nothing!” Rajeswary stresses again and again, when asked whether at any time in their past the surau and temple have had a misunderstanding.
“We are happy. No problem. My neighbour is very understanding,” she said, when asked of the relationship.
Carrying on tradition
Like many truly spiritual people, Rajeswary believes in the essential goodness that every religion teaches. And reflecting on the saying, “its always the believers who are to blame”, Rajeswary is worried about the new generation of worshippers.
“I think its the same with all religions. You just don’t see young people praying anymore. They follow their parents to the temple but I worry that they are not sincere.”
She sees this perceived lack of religiosity among Malaysia’s youth in her temple’s worshippers. The core group is getting old and their numbers are not being replenished by younger worshippers.
“The young are becoming too materialistic and too Westernised,” she says, when asked about what makes her unhappy about the state of the country.
“I always tell my sons. Money is important, but not as important as respecting other people.”
But there is hope. Christy Vicknesraj, who has started his own burger franchise and still lives with her, has pledged to carry on looking after the temple and to continue the relationship with the surau.
“I want Malaysians to be together. I have never seen the past that my mother talks about. How different communities live and look out for each other. But I believe it is still there.”
But unlike his mother’s generation, Christy Vicknesraj believes that to nurture understanding and tolerance, people must be mature and free to engage others of a different background.
“We should be open about our problems to find solutions to them. But I believe there is still harmony even now. It’s still there.”
After all, it was the openness and tolerance of his grandfather and father, and the surau’s current Imam Amir, and his predecessor, that has allowed the temple and the surau to grow and flourish together to this day. – September 7, 2013.
Other Malaysia Day Package stories:
Sabahans say time to clear haze of fuzzy history
A Merdeka baby asks a new generation of Malaysians to be patient with change
For this Malaysian, “puisi is a lost art”
After all these years, Malaysia still held hostage
In an older Malaysia, a Chinese healer says Malaysians must mix more
As Malaysia turns 50, Nurul Izzah fights for inclusive politics
Can Malaysia’s third generation reinvent this country?
Malaysia at 50, my story and yours
