"The Indian community in Malaysia has lost its direction and as a result will be left behind as the country moves towards achieving its Vision 2020 goals, said former MIC secretary-general DP Vijandran. He is of the view that Tamil schools should be scrapped to reverse this trend.
The community had very simple goals in life at one time. Most of us had estate backgrounds. We put in our labour and earned our rewards," he said in an interview with malaysiakini recently.
"The equation has changed now. We are bewildered by all forms of different forces and there is no longer any definitiveness about the Indian community," added the former Parliament deputy speaker.
Indian children are not making much headway and the education level of the community has come down, making them the least advanced society, he added.
Vijandran put this down to a loss of identity suffered by the community.
To overcome
"We must first clearly identify the Indian psyche. We must answer the question of what is the Indian now," he said. He added that the Malays have the new Malay concept and the Chinese have already started measures on improving their conditions.
"We have half of our student population in Tamil schools and we know that their progress is limited there. Statistics are clear that Tamil school students do not go very far," he said.
On the other hand, Indian students in the national type schools are a minority and due to lack of exposure, end up being the inferior lot, said Vijandran.
Vijandran suggested that Tamil schools should be abolished in phases if the community wanted to shed its inferior image.
"We should not have any fear of losing our language or culture with the closing down of Tamil schools. Mother tongue can be taught in national type schools," he said.
IT awareness
This is where the MIC plays an important role, he said, adding the party should establish pre- school centres in all estates to enable the students to be academically ready when the time comes for them to join the national type schools.
The other way to improve the community, he reckons, is through the information technology revolution.
"It is a good platform for the community to compete with the other races in this country. We just can't compete with them when it comes to other business ventures. Again, MIC must start exposing Indian kids to IT."
"We can start on a level playing field in this sector if done in a proper manner. For starters, MIC should first set up its own IT unit."
"I feel the IT movement and an early education process are two phases that could help elevate the community. We must start educating children at a young age to give them the competitive edge and follow this up with IT skills," he said.
Education and IT skills
Vijandran also said that during his political days, he had introduced pre-school centres in estates to allow education opportunities for youngsters.
"Similarly, I also had recognised from early on that IT was an area we can take advantage of. As a MIC youth leader and then later as the secretary, I organised some IT seminars for the community.
"Both the projects were hugely successful but after my political fall out, they were not continued," said Vijandran.
He said he had no intention to get back into politics now.
"When in politics, you are immersed in it almost to the exclusion of everything else. All politicians hang on because when you are inside it you cannot see any other world. You are enveloped in it. Fortunately or unfortunately, some of us are jettisoned out of it."
No to politics
"I am used to my way of life now. I am a lawyer now and there is no need to go back to politics. There are good leaders already there, nothing very much more I can do. I am now leading a happy life, my profession, my family and my golf," he said.
He said that he was now concentrating on recouping his savings that he had to sacrifice during his political days.
Vijandran, however, did not totally rule out the possibility of getting back onto the political bandwagon saying that if he felt that he could contribute something special and important to society, then he would make a comeback.
"But as I see it, there is nothing useful I could do now, " he added in laughter.
"I am not bitter about being out of the party. I am still a member and I have some good friends in MIC," he said.
Sex scandal
Vijandran also spoke of the reasons why he had decided give up his political career, particularly at a time when he was flying high and touted to be the next MIC president.
He said that the sex scandal involving him was a personal matter and he did not want to drag the party into it.
"The best thing to do was to take leave and let things die down. The party was going to be affected by the things that I did or did not do," he said.
"I led a very desolate sort of life. It was a very shallow life. I hadn't gotten married then and was fooling around. I was a happy bachelor and at that time, I actually enjoyed that image. It was very ego-pleasing," he said.
"When the matter was blown open (when DAP former MP Karpal Singh produced allegedly pornographic videotapes of Vijandran in Parliament), I went on pilgrimage to India and there got a clear perspective of what I wanted in life," he said.
Given up all vices
"I already did not drink, did not smoke and now I had to give up women," he said laughingly.
"But it was easy to give up when I realised that what I had been doing was an act of foolishness. It was a kind of thing you do when you are young and very vibrant. You do not see how much damage you are doing, not only to yourself but also to others," he said.
"I took all claims made against me then very calmly. I did not retaliate because I felt my lifestyle led me to this. So I had to face the music and come out like a man," he added.
He said that he was now happily married to his wife, Dr Lakshmi and they have been blessed with two children, four-year-old Vilasini and four-month-old Vishnu.
Vijandran stressed that he felt no bitterness at all on how things have turned out for him.
"I don't have any regrets. I am a happy man now," he said.
