KS Maniam Removal In Pasir Panjang Essay

As the first-generation descendant of indentured Indian labourers brought in to service the rubber plantations of British colonial Malaya, Maniam knows too well the combat injury and losses attendant on that position of cultural, linguistic, geographic and temporal dis tellment. other(a) stories such as Ratnamuni, and The Third Child and Removal in Pasir Panjang take h nonagenarian of the nuances and particular texture of diasporic Indian life, replete with its fears, failures and feelings of betrayal as its constituents cling desperately to familiar, long-ago rituals that are fast losing their currency in the young cultural location.ThemesTradition vs Changes perspectives on striking changes which have taken place in modern Malaysia and Singapore societies. Power relation human blood in different strata and racial aspects.ConflictsSettingPhysicalPenang in house independence timeSmall township Pasir Panjang (refer to the text how the writer describes the town the make, the coach, the structures etc) The road its significance impact to the town peopleSocial contextMulti-racial communityNathan, Ramasamy representing the Indian, Ah Seng and CRC the Chinese community, the students etc The housing organic evolution on the other billet of the river representing changes The CRC (Chinese Recreation Club) representing the impostPlots (themes)A subtly paced contrast of this life with the much rapid changes brought about by urban development. There is a mirthful strand running through and throughout the story, the better because it is played by seriousness, concerning Nathan (protagonist) the school t distributivelyers resignation from CRC. Nathan sent in his resignation from the CRCThe reception of CRC concerning his decisionCRC bent their rules to admit him, and send successive deputations to urge him to rejoin. The building of the road Leng Lengs death and other children who were also killed on the similar road after its completion brings i n the irony of the story (changes eff with a price) This highway/road causes upheaval in the slow-paced townIronically yet tragic is the case of Leng Leng the orphan boy which in turn a comic in the case of Ah Seng the shop keeper, who fears he will lose his customers (being superstitious) Nathans impatience with Li Hwa ( one(a) of his students) show his longing to be out of the small town and join the development on the other typeface of town Nathan made his frequent visit to the bulwark, ceremonial occasion the development on the other side of the river. As readers, we see from his observation, how the development springing but again development is partly shown in the darker side of rise (e.g. prostitution, gangster elements etc)Nathan met Yahaya a stranger on the jetty, who warned him about interfering with the crossways river development. They both became friends and together contemplate the invasion of the new with a preposterous mixture of interest and dismay. There is the case alienation when Nathan who s beat up by newer gangster elements who came with development. Cheng the school clerk came to nurse his outrageThen a visit by Hock Guan, a CRC member together with Li Hwa, lightens up his misery. Li Hwa showed her charitable and respect for Nathan by giving him fruits The story ends with both Li Hwa and Nathan said sorry to one a nonher a pang of irony as they both did not like each other initially.Important points to look at quarrel and style3rd person narrative but we see the tune and environment through the main protagonist, Nathan It indirectly brings us to dive into his emotion and conflict with the surrounding and himself. Irony and comic elements implanted the portrayal of the old laterite road in contrast o the new road, the old slow-paced pathological town and the rapid development of the other side of town (across the jetty where Nathan stood almost every evening), Ah Seng fear of losing business when the new road claimed i ts dupe mostly children. The use of multi racial background accentuates the theme of power relation, how each character deals with their conflicts.CharactersTheir role and characteristicsNathanThe protagonistA school teacher he showed lack of patience at times but committed himself to his written report He bit of a loner and indifferent especially with his students He desired changes and wanted to be transferred out of the town to a larger town An ex member of CRC (he was admitted to the club on special civilise on the basis of a kind Catch 22 clause) He mixed well with other races though his efforts in mixing almost looks superficial (except with Yahaya)Leng LengAn orphan mute boy who got his name from his frenzied occupation Street boys, not a pest etc (read pg 154 for vivid description of him) really fond of Nathan an d he will try to impress others through his comical antics He was killed at the opening of the new road by a speeding car. His short-lived character represe nt innocence and naivety (nave) who was caught between tradition and changes)Ah SengA member of CRCHe owns a shop in townSuperstitiousFriendly to NathanA symbol of tradition he showed mix-feeling about the progression of the road Always trying to pop the question NathanLi HwaCuriousSensitiveStrong willForgiven selfNaveYahayaA stranger that Nathan metA mysterious personProbably a gardenerLike Nathan, he went to the jetty to see the other side of the world Friendly and smoking companion with NathanHe knew about the garish underworld where he constantly reminded Nathan to stay away from the development at the other side of townRamasamyHe bought lands the developerBig mouth RamasamyHe brought changes into town