Happy Holidays: X'mas lunches

Subhas Anandan

The name Subhas Anandan should not be new to most Singaporeans, especially those who read the newspapers especially Wanbao and Shinmin. If you have not heard of his name, you will definitely recognise his face, thick beard and hair, looking almost fierce.

He is a well known criminal lawyer taking on the most infamous cases, of murders, rapes etc.

I used to have an unfavourable impression of him, that he is out for publicity.

But after reading his book and completing it over 2 nights, I only have admiration and respect for the man.

He was framed by some policemen in his younger days and it probably became a personal crusade for him that every accused person deserved a fair and proper trial. The first half of the book relates his life and what a life it was, of mischief, firm friendships, standing up to bullies, authority, personal defeat and standing up. It makes for engaging reading!

In the second part, he shares some personal thoughts on some of the sensational cases he has represented. He is very candid and forthright, offering comments where legal practices can be improved in Singapore.

Let me know if you wish to borrow the book. Better still, buy it!

Terrorists

While news on the Mumbai attacks flood the tv channels and newspapers, I can't help but think how on earth can one human being engage in such terroristic activity with such strong faith and determination? To achieve their own idealistic state, they threaten, hurt and kill the same kind, many of whom are defenceless and helpless. Total disregard of the law and humans, they bring blood and sorrows to the world. Frankly, I don't know how they (the terrorists) can sleep in peace. Maybe they don't, maybe they are not looking for that in their lives? But what do they really want? If taking Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to justify their inhumane acts, probably many of them don't have enough to eat and to live? Being a terrorist, they have the "power" to strike fear, the "authority" over the people and the sense they belong somewhere? Or is it purely for some psychotic reason which they get their pleasure from inflicting fear to the world.

In this Mumbai attack, if not for the loss of our people, I think many of us are still quite ignorant about the impact of terrorism. And somehow, it makes me more aware that this can really happen to anyone of us anywhere. As much as I do not wish to see this in Singapore, we cannot be complacent cos' we never will know when and will never know what they are thinking. The least we can do is to be more alert and observant.