From Ashwinder to just Ash

Petronas, Malaysian oil company, advertisement:

"The world is changing but we should always be proud of who we are."

Afterthought:

1. When I first landed in England in 1999, I was intrigued by how Asians there had a penchant for shortening their names to biteable English-sounding words. For example, Ashwinder Singh Gill would simply be called Ash or, similar to the case of the video above, Samyveloo Reddy would be just Sam.

2. Coming back to Asia about 5 years ago, I noticed this trend had caught on here. My Chinese peers, in particular, have adopted English names. My friend Sian Teck is now Jason or Kinn Oei is now Jervis.

3. When I asked my friends about this, they said it helped them in the course of their work. They shared it made it easier for people to remember their names.

4. Today, there are various short versions of my name circulating among my friend. To some, I am Dee. To others, I am Dom. To many, I am Dharm. To a few, I am Dharam or Endra.

5. Nevertheless, I am happy to remain Dharmendra Yadav. The world may be changing but it doesn't change who I am or where I came from.

6. Finally, I wish to thank my friend, Michael Chua, for kindly showing me how to embed a Youtube video into a blog posting.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Support Yellow Ribbon

My community legal clinics from time to time bring me face to face with persons, who have just been released from our prisons.

These persons are often eager to start their lives on a new page, and to make a difference for themselves and their families. In pursuing this, they are willing to look into the many opportunities that are available to them.

Quite often, these opportunities are limited and society attaches a negative stereotype to such persons. Over time, these persons lose that passion they once had to turn a new leaf, and risk re-offending only to have face our criminal legal system.

This is really unfortunate because there is something we can do about it. It is also sad because a lot of these person have dependants, such as spouses, children and even old parents, who will all have to suffer. Most will lose the capacity to pay their household bills, others will not be able to go to school, and a few such families may end up having to go hungry.

For this reason, the Yellow Ribbon Project is something I value. The purpose of this project is to check this trend of re-offending and to combat stereotypes attached to ex-offenders. And every year, I do something to show my support for this cause. This year is no different.

September is Yellow Ribbon month. Visit the Yellow Ribbon website to find out more about how you can make a difference!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Prominently Politically Pink

Ho Kwon Ping, Chairman of Singapore Management University, Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Chairman of MediaCorp writing in Today Weekend on 6 September 2008:

"Optimists hope that the decriminalisation of gay sex — a yawn to anyone except the homophobic and the gays themselves — will eventually occur. In reality, rather than in law, gays in Singapore today have never had it so good, and should within a short time, become fully-accepted — not just tolerated — members of an increasingly diverse, and therefore vibrant, Singapore community. But if we pat ourselves on the back for being so “bold” as to accept casinos and Formula 1 events into staid Singapore, why can’t the boldness extend to a simple act to enable gays to realise their dream — indeed, their simple right — to be normal Singaporeans like anyone else, no more and no less."

Afterthought:

1. A blogger hopes that more such "alternative views" about how Singapore should go forward will be expressed by other prominent persons in Singapore.

2. Pink is now a colour associated with the homosexual community. For example, there is the Pink Paper, "Britain’s only national lesbian, gay and bisexual newspaper and the biggest circulating gay publication of any kind in the country". This association to pink has its roots in the Pink Triangle, which "was used by the Nazis in concentration camps to identify and shame homosexuals" and "has been embraced by the gay community as a symbol of pride".

3. Yesterday, about three days after Ho's views were published, the Prime Minister of Singapore speaking at the Forbes Global CEO Conference showed why pink is in.

4. Ho noted in his article that "gays are seen to be at the leading edge of the “creative class” — which Singapore is trying to develop as part of its new knowledge-based, creativity-oriented economy".

5. Perhaps, the creative minds, if any, behind PM Lee Hsien Loong's image are indeed sending a message out to Singapore and the world. What more pragmatic way to have it expressed than at the Forbes Global CEO Conference.

6. For reasons I have made known in the past, it is time for Section 377A of the Penal Code to go.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Foreign Bodies In Singapore

DEDICATED TO SIVA GOVINDASAMY ON THE SOFT LAUNCH OF GEE SIVA!

Former Straits Times journalist, Siva Govindasamy, reacting on Gee Siva! to objections expressed by Singaporeans living in Serangoon Gardens about having a dormitory for foreign workers located there, 7 September 2008:

"Stereotypes are well and truly alive in this modern multi-ethnic metropolis. We want our own space and are selective about which foreigners will be allowed into it, making a serious dent in the attempts to evolve into a tolerant multi-cultural society."

Afterthought:

1. I have observed from time to time that Singaporeans are becoming increasingly intolerant in some ways. The angst that some Singaporeans express when foreigners move into their respective neighbourhoods, especially those issued work permits, is one example of this.

2. I have lived for the past decade in a neighbourhood with many foreigners, Taman Jurong in Singapore.

3. The presence of these foreigners has brought its own inherent opportunities and challenges. Efforts have been made to integrate both Singaporean and non-Singaporean communities. Community events that see the attendance of both these groups are a norm. The joint numbers have also helped some shops in the neighbourhood stay in the black. To allay residents' concerns about crime, there is also a visible police presence.

4. On balance, I would say it has made a neighbourhood that was once ignored as the appendix of Jurong a more vibrant and diverse place to live in.

5. Looking at the objections raised by the residents of Serangoon Gardens, which Siva has rebutted point-by-point, I would submit that the residents are just being selfish. It only reflects a Singaporean mentality that has become too used in looking to the Government for solutions to the extent of being pragmatically insensitive. We can be more accepting of differences in our society.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Donate Refund to Charity

I recently dined at a restaurant and had a less than positive experience.

I sent the relevant restaurant some feedback. The restaurant very kindly offered to waive the cost of lunch and refund me the amount spent.

As I was not comfortable accepting the refund for various reasons, I requested that the refund be donated to charity.

I think it is more important for the service provider to learn from the incident and put in place a system to better manage its customers, which the restaurant has assured that it will do.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Lunch at Supreme Court & Service Recovery

LETTER SENT TO SINGAPORE ACADEMY OF LAW ON 3 SEPTEMBER 2008

I had lunch this week with a friend at the Academy Bistro at the Supreme Court.

I had ordered chicken as the main course. About five minutes into the main course, I realised the meat was uncooked and bloody.

I sought the waiter's assistance and requested that the problem be rectified. The waiter said he will have the chef look into the matter. The same piece of chicken merely came back reheated.

I was then asked a second time if the food was okay. Unfortunately, the meat remained bloody. I made this known to the waiter but proceeded to complete the rest of the main course without eating the bloody parts.

Following the incident, the waiter on duty made it a point to apologise three times. This is commendable. First, when I first complained that the chicken was bloody. Second, when the main course was re-served and the waiter checked if everything was okay. Third, when I left the restaurant.

Saying sorry is only one aspect of service recovery. The overall service recovery attempt leaves much room for improvement.

Prices at the Academy Bistro are relatively high, if compared to restaurants of similar standing. At such a restaurant, the food would not have been reheated. A new dish would have been duly served.

If the new dish had still been unsatisfactory, an offer could have been made to either waive the charge for the particular course or the whole bill.

I hope corrective and preventive actions can be taken to address such situations.

The Academy Bistro feeds the legal fraternity. It is also host to many guests of the legal fraternity. Above all, it enjoys a privileged space in the iconic Supreme Court building.

It must therefore observe the high standards that one would expect from a valued member of the legal fraternity.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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