Friday, August 9, 2019

GUNNERS ALIVE!

THE BEGINNING?
After a long period of idleness ( I cannot describe it any other way) I've decided to rise again. In mainly a retirement mode, I suppose I'd have more time now to fill that gap and plod along. It's tough to keep this blog apolitical, away from race and religious sensitivities, but nevertheless, one must persevere and move forward. Another attempt is being made to write the regimental history of the Malaysian Artillery. Some serious attempts resulted in some long forgotten publication. The spirit to write accurately, with the full extent of the development of the Corps, from its inception to date has been somewhat missing. When gunners gather for social occasions, its lively banter streak across years of history and forgotten moments. What a loss, when you think that all of these shall disappear to oblivion by the memory bearer.
So, my provoking question is...Where do we go from here? I am of the belief that a team comprising dedicated, wholeheartedly "determined" veterans and a select few of serving gunners worth their salt, can pull this off over a timeline of two years involving research, collection of facts, verification, interviews and drafting the master document. Then comes the question...who is this for?....Who's going to read it? Well to put it simply, if I asked you where you came from and and about your family tree and you couldn't respond, that would indeed make you a huge embarrassment. In Tamil society, its a derogatory remark if it is said that you do not know where you came from.
The team can now look forward to a purposeful effort and the result should be nothing less than phenomenal. A living document of Gunners "BY US, OF US, FOR US". I say no more. Not forgetting.....SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA.

ALWAYS A GUNNER