Well, I hope everyone enjoyed your summer holidays whether here or abroad. I don’t know about you, but feel like I need a vacation after my so-called ‘vacation’ at home in Kentucky! Though most of the Committee and Events Planning team were out of the country, everyone kept busy ensuring the rest of 2003 is one of the best seasons ever! Are you ready to participate in some (or all) of the wonderful events we have planned for you? We are continuing our ‘1st Wednesday in the month’ lecture series with something really special this month - A Journey through Tibet promises to be a fascinating morning.has also been decided to have our monthly lectures at the National Art Gallery (or NAG) due to its central location and best of all, its easy parking. We are also doing something for our bodies— inside and out. MCG member Parul Mehta will enlighten us on the subject of Yoga and we will visit a traditional Chinese medicine shop and learn of their age-old remedies. We want to see many new faces at our yearly Newcomer’s coffee morning, so if you know of any new arrivals to KL, tell them about the MCG. This is a great event not only for newcomers, but also for “oldstayers”. Just to whet your appetite, here are some of the upcoming events we are planning: learn about Ramadan and enjoy delicious homemade Arabic food or bring your partners (or not) to a celebratory Deepavali dinner. How about awith the village elders at Kampung Gurkha in Nilai? I hope that you will enjoy the events we are organising and if you have any suggestions for future events, please contact a committee member—we are always happy to receive new ideas! I look forward to seeing you soon!
- Cindy Zeier PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 1ST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH LECTURE SERIES:
FOR centuries, this mysterious Buddhist kingdom has piqued the imagination of outsiders eager to unravel its secrets. Driven by romantic visions of Shangri-La some overcame much hardship—the rarefied alpine climate, piercing winds and blinding sands—to make their way to the Roof of the World. Naturally isolated by the world’s highest mountains, Tibetans actively discouraged contact with the outside world. Then following the Chinese occupation in 1950 and a futile uprising in 1959, the country was hurled into the dark era of the Cultural Revolution. In the mid-1980s its doors briefly opened to international tourism, but was closed to all except tour groups in 1987. Finally, it reopened in 1992 with very strict permit requirements. Today, whether you wish to delve into Buddhism, trek the Himalayas or commune with nature, a trip to Tibet is both rewarding and unforgettable, provided you have physical endurance, careful preparation and a sense of humour. Roland Takashi, our speaker this morning, has all these qualities. His determination to meet the Dalai Lama in London later led him to undertake an unforgettable journey through Tibet, spending months travelling incognito with few means, fighting bandits and spreading the word of the Dalai Lama secretly. Join us for another fulfilling morning discovering Tibet through Roland’s eyes.
ATTENTION EXPLORERS & POTENTIAL EXPLORERS - 08 SeptemberThe MCG Explorers Group will be meeting this morning to share info & let you know what it involves. Here are a few details:
YOGA — An Introduction to the Many Levels of Being - 12 September YOGA is the beginning of many things. It has also become many things to different people: fitness training, a healing system, a purification programme, mind training, a philosophy or a spiritually-based lifestyle—from the physical, emotional, mental to the spiritual levels of being. Yoga’s revival is linked to the first stage, the physical, and hence the interest in Hatha yoga, be it Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Vinyasa, Sivananda or Kundalini. This morning we have Parul Mehta, who teaches yoga, to address the differences in these styles, their ultimate destination, and more pertinently, the question of what is yoga. Does modern yoga take away from the essence of Yoga? Discover the many sheaths of the self and the different levels of your existence. Discover your inclination to the different types of yoga, be it Raja, Bhakti, Jnana, or Karma yoga. Each type resonates with different personalities. Discover the relationship between the chakras and glands, and how certain postures activate these chakras to harness the cosmic energy for perfect health at all levels of being. Join us to fulfil the promise of inner peace—the Yoga way.
NEWCOMERS COFFEE MORNING - 17 September The Committee members of the MCG would like to invite all MCG newcomers to a coffee morning. It will be a great opportunity for you to meet the committee, other MCG members and find out more about our group.You can give our (in)famous Events Planning team feedback and ideas for future events, and find out about our monthly Lecture Series. Speak with Jean Wingfield about our popular Book Group. For the tech-savvy you can meet Noma Nainar, our ingenious webmaster and VP. Arlene Weatherdon, our treasurer can answer any questions about money matters and our newest Committee member, Olivia Tay will happily tell you about publishing our Newsletter. Renata will be most happy to show you the more than 600 books collected by the MCG over the past 20 years and explain how you can take advantage of our fabulous Library. So if you are ready to get more involved in KL and MCG life, we encourage you to join us! We look forward to seeing you there. “Oldstayers” are most welcome to come and share your knowledge of KL and the MCG with newcomers.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE:
With the rise of new, more virulent diseases around the world, there has been a corresponding increase of interest in herbal and other alternative medicines to complement Western medicines as preventive aids. Join us today to learn more about centuries-old Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Our presenter is TCM herbalist Lee Jok Keng, who holds a M.A. in Eastern Philosophy with years of experience operating a herbal clinic in the U.S. He will present a history of Eu Yan Sang, the large TCM retailer and manufacturer, as well as talk about some popular herbs and tonics, including birds nest and the lingzhi mushroom showing how these are harvested, processed and prescribed. He will also demonstrate TCM diagnostic methods, which is done without any instruments, relying purely on sensorial perceptivity. These and many other interesting topics will be covered at the talk. You will also get to see some common herbs and learn how to make your own tonics at home. So if you are interested in building up your immunity, learning how you can incorporate herbal remedies into a modern lifestyle or are just curious about traditional Chinese medicines, come along for an informative, nourishing morning!
REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS
SUFISM & THE WHIRLING DERVISHES – 04 June Our June lecture was an in-depth look into the world of Islamic mysticism or Tassawuf. The Western world knows this as Sufism, which is generally understood to be the inner, mystical or psycho-spiritual dimension of Islam. Prof. Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof helped us begin to understand Sufism, although it is a subject with many nuances. While all Muslims consider themselves to be on the path towards God, and long for the ‘meeting’ with God in Paradise, Sufis believe that it is possible to experience the closeness to God while still on earth through mystical knowledge and self-annihilation. This is Man’s goal and the purpose of this creation. This is also known as the Sufi Path of Love and is manifested in religious as well as romantic literature. This spiritual journey is not easy and there are countless obstacles, most coming from the ego. Ego is seen in terms of powerful emotions, desires and negative thoughts. This struggle, or jihad, is both internal and external. Sufi exercises are designed to overcome the ego and all its negative aspects. Such exercises include meditation, temporary seclusion, breathing exercises and most importantly, Zikir, literally “Remembrance of God”. Zikir is done by repeating God’s name, either aloud or silently. The history of Sufism is traced to the very beginning of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad and some of his practices. He in fact went into total seclusion every year for one month. However, some groups regard Sufism as an innovation and thus discourage it. Others believe that Sufis are anti-social or uninvolved in world affairs. None of this is true. Sufism is actually about tradition. No innovation is allowed. In Malaysia, Sufism has an underground following as it is considered a deviant movement here. Sufism has followings in many countries, both Islamic and non-Islamic. There are many sub-orders of Sufism and one of the most fascinating is the Mevlevi (the Order of the Whirling Dervishes), established by the Maulana (‘Our Master’) Jalal’uddin Rumi, the well-known poet. The Mevlevi is based in Konya, Turkey. The practices of the Mevleviya include the recitation of passages from Rumi’s Mathnawi and the dance of the dervishes. In very distinct attire, the Sufis whirl endlessly until they fall into a trance, with one palm facing up towards God, and the other turning down, towards earth. Sufism has been banned in Turkey since 1925, although the Konya Mevlâna Festival is held every year in December, when you can witness this mesmerising ceremony. Rumi said that “all religions are good, the paths may be different but all lead to truth.” Prof. Ghulam gave us an invaluable glimpse into Sufism, but it is a complex subject and we still have much to discover. Prof. Ghulam has agreed to speak to us again at a later date when we can delve deeper into Sufism, but until then, be sure to check out the web sites we listed in the July/August newsletter.
BEAUTY OF ANTIQUE NYONYA & MALAY JEWELLERY – 12 June Fifteen ladies spent a wonderful morning learning and admiring some beautiful Nyonya and Malay jewellery pieces. A big thanks to Yue Yee of Heirloom for hosting and giving us a very insightful talk. Yue Yee had specially brought out some rare pieces for us to view from the bank vault. The Chinese traders came to Southeast Asia as early as the 14th century and settled down along its coastal areas—Melaka, Penang and Singapore, giving rise to the Straits Settlements. They married local women and adopted many of the native customs. Their descendants became known as the Peranakans, Malay for local-born. The women, or nyonyas, maintained their Malay-Indonesian-style dress and habits such as betel chewing, but adopted from their Chinese husbands customs such as ancestral worship and elaborate wedding and funeral rites. Meanwhile, the men, or babas, retained their Chinese costume, but acquired a Malay patois. The period from 1900 through 1930 saw Peranakans at their height. They enjoyed lavish lifestyles, and jewellery was much in demand. Elaborate pieces were commissioned, incorporating Chinese, Malay, Indian and European influences. The styles and forms used were both the result of the distinctive historical circumstances in turn of the century Southeast Asia and the hybrid origins of these people. The earliest jewellery was undoubtedly of Malay design and workmanship. These designs were simple and geometric with influences from nature and Islam. These were adopted into Straits Chinese society along with the Malay dress for which they were essential. The Malay tunic (baju panjang or kebaya) has no buttons and is fastened by a group of brooches known as kerosang. The sarong also requires a belt whose buckle is often a major item of display. Both the kerosang and the belt buckle forms were unknown in the Chinese repertoire, and required local craftsmen for their initial fabrication. By the late 19th century, a distinctively Straits Chinese-Malay jewellery appeared using Chinese workmanship. Designs became more elaborate with a lot of symbolism. Semiprecious and precious stones such as jade, sapphire, ruby and intan were used extensively. Intan are the shavings from cut diamonds. They are always flat at the back. Good quality intan have facets and are more valuable. The yellow coloured variety was the most popular and highly regarded. Usually of repoussé (beaten metal) and filigree, they were often the work of a number of famous ateliers, based largely in Shanghai and Singapore. The patronage of the Straits Chinese allowed them to execute the most elaborate flights of fantasy and their work is always typified by the highest technical standards and quality of invention. From the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese influence began to wane and Indian, or more specifically Singhalese-made, jewellery began to gain popularity. This coincided, and was partially the result of, the increased demand for diamonds, the setting of which the Indians best understood. Maximising the qualities of the irregular, locally-cut berlian (diamonds) available at the time, they devised a floral style of jewellery, which incorporated animal motifs with foliage of Mogul inspiration. Western influences on the jewellery came about in the late 1920’s. Ribbons, florals and Jubilees were all used in the designs. Here too western design elements were fused with Malay forms, and amusing mixtures of monograms and coats of arms are often seen on the kerosangs and belt buckles of the day. In conclusion Yue Yee informed us that today, peranakan jewellery is very collectable. It is auctioned at Christies and commands a huge premium, but it is hard to find for a layperson and it is easy to be fooled with knockoffs. However, not so long ago the younger generation of Peranakans, not realising the importance of these pieces, smelted them for the metal or stones. Hopefully, growing awareness will bring the realisation that we need to preserve a form of art that is a unique Malaysian heritage.
GOD’S LITTLE ACRE, BATU GAJAH – 14 June Eleven of us from the MCG went to Gods Little Acre, Batu Gajah, for the annual commemoration service of those who fell during the communist insurgency, the period known as The Emergency. While only 116 repose in this cemetery, the ceremony symbolically commemorates all who died for the same cause wherever they may lie. During this period the communists attempted to disrupt the economy (already in difficulty from the recent World War) and assume control, by driving the European planters and miners from the countryside and isolating the civil administration and police. This was never achieved despite a long bloody attempt, which led to the death of 4,425 security forces from Malaya, Britain and the Commonwealth, together with 3,283 civilians listed as dead or missing. More than 150 people attended this ceremony with some 80 from UK and 10 or so from Australia. Among those present were representatives from the Commonwealth armed forces as well as Planters Associations, Veterans Associations and many individuals and local organisations. The accompanying picture is of Joseva Vunisa, warrior and rugby player, representing Fiji in a manner befitting his people and tradition.He is dressed in Masi fabric beaten out of the bark of the mulberry tree and his necklace of boar tusks indicates the many victories of a warrior and his tribe.Joseva also represents his grandfather, a notable rugby player and warrior, who was part of the contingent of over 500 Commonwealth troops deployed in the Emergency campaign. In former times Scotsmen outnumbered other nationalities as planters, quarry engineers and surveyors.The presence of Scottish societies and individual Scots at the Commemoration, somekilted, testify to their disproportionate numbers lying here. Batu Gajah was the seat of the Perak Administration during colonial times, so the town retains many historic though decaying buildings compacted into a small area.Today, the General Hospital prominently catches the eye, with the small town jail nestling adjacent.To its left and right are two interesting old churches in very good condition:the Anglican Church built in 1895, and the Catholic Church with its own small cemetery. This was closed so I have no further information about it. The refreshments afterwards was at the Kinta Golf Club which has its own story.Its golf course is the result of a very Malaysian solution—it was formerly the Batu Gajah Race Course.A former Chief Surveying Officer for Perak bought land in the Kinta Valley and built his wonderful house (still extant, but now sadly declining in its old age) on a prime spot to overlook the race course.You can easily see this house on the left of the main road just after the Golf Course on the right.
VISIT TO MONEY MUSEUM OF BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA – 17 June What could have been a dry event turned out to be a worthwhile morning for our 10 members. Two Bank Negara officers, Mr Baloo and Puan Idarina, came to show and explain to us the vast collection of coins and notes which the Central Bank had issued over the four decades of its existence, as well as the inherited notes and coins issued by previous authorities. The Money Museum was opened in 1989 in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Bank and has two beautifully designed floors. At the main doorway we were very taken by the carved entrance (apparently once a part of a palace and about 100 years old) with arched pillars and lavishly adorned with intricate floral and leaf motifs. Wooden bamboo panels and timber display cabinets gives a very local flavour to the museum. As for the collection, we started with the early times when money was not what we know it to be today. Since tin was found in abundance locally, tin ingots in various shapes and designs came to be used as money. Chinese traders brought copper coins into the country and these were widely used by the traders as well as the locals. Early money in Sarawak and North Borneo came in the form of brass kettles or beads made of glass or onyx. An interesting piece was a miniature brass cannon. The early Malay states also had wonderful designs of coins and the first truly Malay coins were issued in 1445 by the Melaka Sultanate. The tin coin tree of Kelantan used in the 16th century would make an interesting story about how money does actually grow on trees! Another interesting aspect of the old coins was that private organisations could also produce their own coins, and some of the prettier coins were the gambling ones made of porcelain and lead. As a result of foreign Western influence, there came an influx of coins, such as Portuguese and Dutch coins, and also coins issued during the reign of Queen Victoria and the English Kings. Intriguingly, there were coins produced (but never used) by the Osaka Mint during WWII with the word “Malaysia” on the obverse and the year “1942”. Why was this done? Some members were curious to know why the British Pound and coins were not introduced in the colonies. One answer was that the British wanted to differentiate between the two—home and colonies. As for paper currency, the Chinese were of course the first people to produce paper money in 650 AD, with Europe following suit only in 1661. The early colonial notes were really significant in terms of size and design, and many elements were included in the design. Malaysian notes were first issued by Bank Negara in 1967. We may not have noticed it but the Malaysian dollar notes do have different designs from time to time. They usually contain traditional elements like the keris, songket, hibiscus, but what remains constant is the portrait of the First King of the country. Contemporary issues were discussed like forgery and what is being done with defaced or soiled notes (it was nice to know you can replace torn notes at the Bank). We were also told of limited edition coins that could fetch a handsome price. Typical of Malaysian hospitality we were hosted to some much-needed refreshments, and even tried our hand at minting coins. Those interested in visiting the Museum can do so on weekdays (9 am-4.30 pm) and working Saturdays (9 am-12 noon). We were told that there is also a modest collection of art works in the Art Gallery.
TIGER RUGS FROM TIBET – 08 July I could totally relate to our charming hostess, Susanna Goho-Quek as she told us the story of her very first purchase of a Tiger Rug and the family history of her very strong Tiger daughter that inspired what became a lifetime passion for the unique knotted beauties. We were invited into the back room of the House of Suzie Wong, Susanna’s wonderful shop, to find a room strewn with an incredible collection of Tiger carpets. Some new, some very old and some very rare, but all worth more than the casual glance. Susanna explained the different classical forms of the Tiger rugs—her personal favourite is the “crossed paw”. She also explained the special meanings of other forms such as “Tiger eating the moon” or that most show the Tigers coming down the mountain to hunt. She also went into the various areas of production. I felt it was very refreshing to hear her say that she doesn’t get into the technical aspects of carpets. For her it is more about the artistic impression the carpet gives and a type of understanding of what makes a carpet special that can only be gained by years of study and being around a great number of rugs. Susanna recognised that the very good old rugs are beyond the standard buyer’s reach as they can be sold for incredible amounts, but a good new one is a good investment. With time and use it will grow in charm and character. I couldn’t agree with her more and have said this myself about other rugs from other areas. Study the antique piece to understand what gave it such value to be cherished and saved. You will then begin to know what to look for in a new piece that too will be cherished. Just as interesting were the wonderful stories Susanna told of the relationships, interesting people and the adventures that her collecting has taken her on. If you haven’t been to her shop before, go. Her son Kenneth is also a breath of fresh air and was a charming host too.
PRANIC HEALING: AN INTRODUCTION – 23 July We gathered this Wednesday morning to learn about Pranic Healing by visiting the authority: The Pranic Healing Society of Malaysia. Prana is an Indian word describing energy, also known to the Chinese as “chi”, “ki” to the Japanese and “pneuma” to the Greeks. In essence they are all talking about the Vital Life Energy. That so many languages have a word defining this energy highlights the universality of this concept. The application of this energy to heal can be found in the ancient teachings of the Indian rishis, Tibetan monks and Chinese Taoists. These various disciplines have been studied and researched for 20 years by Choa Kok Sui, a Filippino scientist and chemical engineer. Choa, from his studies, has developed a theory of Pranic Healing and continues further research at the Institute for Inner Studies in Manila. In 1990 the World Pranic Healing Foundation was established to promote this healing system. It now has centres in 45 countries worldwide. Pranic Healing is a holistic method that, we were assured by the knowledgeable instructor and healer Ng Aik Chern, we could all learn. It works on the principle that the life force around us can aid regeneration and so enhance recovery for ourselves and for others. Ng described to us the inner and outer auras of our bodies and our chakra points. Healers are taught to scan a person’s aura and to recognise imbalances. A skilled healer will often see these in a range of colours. The healer as a channel of energy will first cleanse these imbalances before directing the energy to assist with recovery. Some healers also use crystals. No healing is done without a bowl of salt water nearby, which is a conduit for the unhealthy energy cleansed from the body. Ng invited us to experience the energy force that we can all harness by rubbing our hands together and then with closed eyes feel the sensation of the energy as we individually drew our hands together and apart. A practitioner can draw energy from the complete environment of air, sun and earth—one of the fundamental elements taught in the four levels of healing courses offered by the society. A brief comparison between Pranic and other healing systems concluded the talk. Reiki is the most comparable, but a major distinction is that Pranic Healing is non-invasive as there is no physical contact between the healer and the individual. It also does not replace allopathic medicine but aims to work in tandem with it. Another important factor is that it is non-denominational, although meditation does play a part. There was a lively question and answer session after the presentation so we all went away from the morning with a broader understanding of the meaning of “Energy”!
BITS AND PIECES TALK - Forum for Increase of Knowledge (FIK) Guest Speaker: Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister; Topic To Be Announced Date & Time: 13 Sep, 10 am-12 pm Venue: International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100, KL Tel: 03 2094 4444 F I K seeks to augment informed and beneficial knowledge. It provides food-for-thought for thinking Muslims and professionals, offering a venue for creatively engaging with significant issues facing the Ummah today. The Forum hopes to raise the quality of thinking and standards of discourse for defining the relevance of the Islamic intellectual legacy for today. For more information, please visit http://www.iiu.edu.my/
THEATRE - Asia Pacific Indigenous Plays Festival 2003 Date & Time: 1-4 Sep Tickets: Free admission Venue: International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100, KL Tel: 013 821 6816 (Azery) The International Islamic University Malaysia's English Language Club in collaboration with the uni’s Theatre Club presents a theatre festival featuring performances by students from Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Philippines and Malaysia. For more information, please visit http://www.iiu.edu.my/
DANCE - Diversity in Motion: MyDance Festival 2003 Date & Time: 22-28 Sep Tel: 03-7877 8706 Venue: The Actors Studio Bangsar Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof, 59000, Bangsar, KL MyDance Alliance presents its 2nd dance festival, following the success of the first in 2001. This year’s festival sees the addition of workshops and seminars as well as performances by the who’s who of dance in Malaysia. The theme this year celebrates the diversity within Malaysia and includes different genres from contemporary to ballet, from traditional to jazz. The festival also aims to reflect the country’s multicultural heritage in richly different ethnic forms, as well as the many influences that are now part of the local dance vocabulary, whether Japanese, New Yorker or Latin-American. Performances will be at The Actors Studio Bangsar in KL, seminars will be held at Universiti Malaya, and workshops will be held at Akademi Seni Kebangsaan. For more information, please visit http://www.mydancealliance.org, http://www.theactorsstudio.com.my The Shanghai Ballet - The Butterfly Lovers Date & Time: 17-20 Sep (Time to be confirmed) Venue: National Theatre (Istana Budaya), Jalan Tun Razak, KL Tel: 03 4025 5932 The world-renowned Shanghai Ballet makes its debut in Kuala Lumpur with a performance of the popular Butterfly Lovers. Principal dancers include Fan Xiaofen, Ji Pingping, Chen Zhenrong, Sun Shenyi, Zhang Weiying and Fu Shu, among others. For more information, please visit http://www.istanabudaya.gov.my/
FILM/ VIDEO - 8th Malaysian Video Awards (MVA) Festival Date & Time: 5-11 Sep, 10.30am - 10.30pm; 12 Sept, 7pm Tickets: Free admission Venue: National Art Gallery, Jalan Temerloh, off Jalan Tun Razak, KL Tel : 03 4025 4989, 03 4025 4990 The eight-day MVA Festival strives to create a conducive meeting place for industry professionals and budding film makers from Malaysia, ASEAN and other countries to meet and exchange ideas with one another. It will also be a great chance to view the works of local and overseas directors. For more information, please visit http://www.mva.com.my/
MCG NEWS BOOK CLUB REPORTS
Plain Tales from the Raj by Charles Allen ISBN: 0 349 10497 2, Reviewed edition published by Abacus, 2000 Oral historian Charles Allen rips off Kipling for his book title, but while this collection of real-life reminiscences from Raj survivors are often revelatory and interesting, it is oddly not as emotionally resonant as Kipling’s fictional stories. The book suffers perhaps from Allen’s treatment. Anecdotes are grouped according to subject matter making it difficult for readers to trace the chronology of events or to follow the fortunes of any specific person. Instead, Allen slices up various aspects into chapters—domestic arrangements with servants, the annual pilgrimage to the hill stations, life in army camps, the integral role of the European Club, etc. However, to his credit, Allen tries and succeeds in parts, to bring to life key issues in a typical Raj tour of duty as experienced by representative types of participants—army officers, common soldiers, Anglo-Indians, memsahibs, elite civil servants, and businessmen—each from a specific strata in the rigid social hierarchy. We were alternately amused and appalled by their recollections. The lot of the common soldier elicited sympathy, as well as that of the mixed-race, the Anglo-Indians, who live in social purgatory. Closer to home, we found parallels between the bored existence of the memsahibs and some of today’s expat wives. Furthermore, despite a different political and economic climate today, racist and elitist attitudes still thrive in expat communities, both in India and around the world. Allen does not impose his own interpretations or commentaries, which is both a pro and a con. His uncritical approach is useful in baring the prejudices and attitudes of the day, but it does not provide us with much of their political and social consequences. Although this book illuminates unique aspects of Raj life, we would also suggest reading complementary works for a more holistic understanding of the era. What is certainly wanting in this edition is a good map or two, which could have helped us better locate the peripatetic sahibs and memsahibs. This is the first of Allen’s trilogy on Britain’s last colonials. The other two books are Tales from the South China Seas (set in Asia) and Tales from the Dark Continent (Africa). His other works on the Raj include Soldier Sahibs and The Buddha & The Sahib. Finally, thanks to Pallavi for hosting in the midst of packing, and to Taya for sharing her own experiences of the Raj.
There was no book report from Chapter II this month
Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki, translated by Randi Brown In writing this book, Mineko Iwasaki became the first geisha to publicly tell her story. She tells us that she was the best, the most successful. Certainly she was driven to be Number One. At the age of three, she was chosen by the proprietress of the okiya, Madam Oima, to ultimately be her successor. At age five, she left her family to enter the Iwasaki geisha house and begin the rigorous training that would develop her career for the next two decades, after which she would abruptly leave. Mineko’s life seemed to be a dichotomy. She was the darling of the okiya—a beautiful child, surrounded by the beauty of traditional clothing and fashion, music, art and her passion, dancing. Whatever was expected of her, she appeared to achieve easily, quickly and exceptionally well. On the other hand she had to deal with jealousy, rigorous timetables, and constant demands. Everything had to be exact. She had lessons on details from how to open a door to how to walk in a pigeon-toed shuffle so her kimono would not open and expose her leg. At one time she worked for five years without a day off. She would be booked for a year and a half in advance. Eventually she became ill. She lost weight. Weighing 79 pounds, she wore kimonos that weighed up to 44 pounds. She experienced pressures and tensions from a young age. From childhood when she was upset she would take refuge in a cupboard and for the first ten years of her life suckled the breast of her older sister, Kuniko, or her Auntie Oima until she fell asleep at night. Mineko lived at the okiya during the 1950s and 1960s when Japan was still undergoing post war change and entering the modern world. She tried, without success, to bring changes to her profession, such as by increasing educational opportunities and financial independence for those who worked there. She was discouraged and decided to resign at the height of her career when she was thirty years old. It would appear that the days of the traditional culture of Gion Kobu and other karyukai will have little place in modern Japan. The members of our group were divided in the rating of the book. A couple really liked it, a couple disliked it intensely and the rest were critical of the writing style, the inconsistencies or disliked Mineko herself. We compared the book to Memoirs of a Geisha, a novel written by Arthur Golden in 1997. Both give an amazing insight into the mystery and glamour of the world of the geisha, although they were written from different perspectives. In spite of the fact that the Geisha of Gion was autobiographical, our members found many issues to be unbelievable. This led to a lively discussion of today’s Japanese culture, contrasting it with our own. Thank you, Bridget for hosting the meeting and Beverley for facilitating our book review.
LIBRARY REPORT Hello everyone, Welcome back from your holidays! I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the MCG library. As the subject of this month’s lecture is Tibet, I’ve decided to buy a book on this topic.The book ‘Tibetan Civilisation’ by R.A. Stein gives an overview of this unique country and people, and relates development in Tibet to those in the rest of Asia. The account is rich in detail and covers both ancient and modern Tibet.The book is written for the ‘non-specialist’ educated reader as well as the scholar and is highly recommended to all! Please call me if you are interested in visiting our unique library.
Library Hours are only by appointment. To make an appointment, please call (Mon-Fri) Tel: 03-4256 0408, HP: 012-214 2704
BOOKING POLICY FOR EVENTS Reservations - When making email reservations for events, please send one email for each event and place the event title on the subject line. Telephone reservations can be made Monday to Friday Wait List - Events Planning follows a policy of booking places for events on a first come first served basis. If an event becomes full then a wait list is created and participants will be informed as soon as possible if a place becomes available. Vouchers - For events requiring pre-payment with a voucher, please book by email or phone before sending the voucher. Cancellations - If for some reason you cannot attend a programme when you have reserved a place please let the Events Planning Team know as soon as you can. Cancellations received within less than 48 hours are only eligible for a refund if the vacancy can be filled from the wait list or if the person can find another member to take their place. Refunds - Refunds can only be given if EP has 48 hours notice of a cancellation. Please note that some events have a cancellation time of longer than 48 hours, this will be indicated in the description of the event. Eligibility - Please note that all events, apart from the monthly lecture are for Members only, unless otherwise stated. The co-operation of Members with the Booking Policy would be much appreciated by the Events Planning Team. PLEASE NOTE that the information in this website has been gathered informally within the group and reproduced privately for members' enjoyment only. There may be inaccuracies and these publications are not designed for commercial use. Anyone intending to make formal or outside use of MCG material is requested to contact the President 
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