by GK Ganesan Kasinathan, Advocate and Solicitor, Kuala Lumpur
Many and varied are the members of the Bar, whether departed or lingering at the edges of life, who have contributed to the well–being, progress and growth of the nation, the Bar and the law. Their efforts and sacrifice, did, and to some extent still continue to visit upon us many salutary effects, and make for the structure and the stability of the Bar; and all of which we take for granted.
For example, there was Ramani (see the 2006 Insaf article), David Marshall, the Seenivasagam brothers and VK Palasuntharan. Of recent vintage, but gone, alas, is Karam Singh. Still among us (and we fain hope they would continue to remain with us for many years to come) is Dato George Seah (at the time I wrote this piece Seah SCJ was still with us. Alas he departed thereafter).
Then there are the Penang lions, Kean Chye and Karpal…
And who can forget the 5 Supreme Court judges who stood their ground during the Tun Salleh Abas debacle, and lost everything they had worked for decades, as well as the counsel who fought so bravely, for so long, and against so many odds? Or the that intrepid group of lawyers, including Mr. KN Segara, who calmly marched into Parliament, were arrested, and lived to tell the tale? Or the Rapporteur to the United Nations, Param Cumaraswamy, who found himself charged in his own country for speaking the truth?
Can they not at least (and at long last) gain our appreciation?
Many are the legends—but who is there to recount their deeds, and to appreciate, for no matter how fleeting a moment, their unstinting gifts to us all?
Some we do not know; some we have forgotten. It is a great pity that we have overlooked the contributions of so many women and men. Mere observances of silence, or the occasional wakes, or memorials, where only a small clutch of oldfriends are invited, are insufficient and inadequate.
There are many super–seniors among us, and retired judges—only if we take the trouble to ask—who will be too happy to relate to us tales of such men and women. Among them are Dato VC George and Dato Mahadev Shankar.
George Seah, said that ‘history would be my judge’; but how can history be his judge, unless his stainless deeds are preserved?
It is time to gather all the names of these knights and produce a record of their contributions in a book form. For example, some past interviews of judges or articles written by them, or their reminiscences, can be included. Their photographs, pictures or specially commissioned paintings ought to adorn the halls of the Bar. Before every AGM, perhaps a brief video of 20 minutes can relate their contributions. We need set up an archive, so that at a drop of a hat, an exhibition or a talk can be organized.
We are all merely a package of our memories. You take away the memories, and you take away your personality.
We have to start now, before what little memory we have, fades…
(Wednesday, 08 March 2006)