I AM FROM ESTATE? WHERE ARE YOU FROM, NEW YORK CITY?

There is a general notion of high class Indians (so they call themselves) here, in Malaysia, that Indians from estates (rubber, coconut, cocoa, tea, sugar cane, etc plantations) behave ignominiously , thus the brand, "Estate" for those Indians who get derailed from a politically correct path, those who go to Tamil schools and those who dress gaudy. 

These so called high class Indians are quick to point their scornful finger at other Indians who are perhaps less fortunate, off the right track or can't speak much English as "Estate."

Other attributes befitting the "Estate" brand are as follows:

 

- Reacts adversely to anything foreign, especially language and knowledge contents.

- Does not have any acceptable social skills.

- Does not know what is common sense and decency.

- For many, for example, questions like how much is your salary, are you married, where is your thalli (a yellow string Indian Hindu married women wear around their neck, it tied by their respective husbands on their wedding day) to them are subjects of conversation.

My contention is, do only those Indians from or live in estates succumb to the thought patterns listed above? Doesn't individuality, upbringing and exposure play crucial roles in forming one's thought process? What right does one have to brand a loud, maybe obnoxious and swearing Indian "Estate"? Don't those Indians in cities swear and rock the boat and simply be wayward?

Indian workers in palm oil plantation taking a break

Many of us don't see this branding as offensive, perhaps even oblivious to it. But, this name calling is on par with the slur p*riah - if you are from an estate, then you are lowly and a shame. The shame actually lies with the name caller, for his or her lowly act.

                            Our forefathers, toiling in rubber plantations.

To those who like to call not so urban and trendy, not very hip and happening, not having English words on the tip of their lips fellow Indians "Estate", where were you born? New York City? On Fridays, you will still have saambar (Indian lentil curry) rice at home but you behave like you grew up eating pasta and grilled cheese sandwich.

Going by history, our great-great grandparents who were brought by the British to Malaya, worked on crops plantations during colonial times while some were professional builders, road layers, (we practically laid the foundation for modern Malaysia) teachers and money lenders. That makes the origination of most of us estates. Just because we moved to cities doesn't make us cool or classy. Our heritage and ancestry lie in the estates we forsook for better lives and to keep up with times.

I was born in an estate and I would go fishing, climb trees and just gallivant the estate greenery which nurtured me. Snakes, eagles, river otters and owls were common place and it was completely swell growing up where and the way I did. How many of us have seen a cocoa fruit, de-husk a coconut, drink milk straight from a cow's udder and know how to tap rubber trees? I do and I'm proud to say that I am from an estate. Never forget our roots and humble beginnings no matter how high we may climb in our lives!

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