A short course on ancient Israel!

Solomon and Sheba (1959)

Director: King Vidor

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176236332980

Have been drawn to this particular genre of Hollywood films made during its golden era, when biblical stories were retold, sets were enormous, and actors were larger than life. 

The Ten Commandments (1956), with its biblical storytelling, Ben-Hur (1959), with its iconic chariot race, and Spartacus (1960), with its cinematographic extravagance, all fall into this category. Hoping to replicate their previous box-office successes, the studio released the lavish production Cleopatra (1963). Its production costs, which included a $1 million paycheck to Elizabeth Taylor, the highest to an actress at that time, her extensive wardrobe, and shooting locations, nearly bankrupted the producers. Fortunately, Hollywood recovered from its losses later with The Sound of Music (1965).

The Abrahamic scriptures offer a rich source for storytelling, similar to Hindu scriptures. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was popular to retell these stories with considerable artistic licence, adding elements of romance, suspense, and the moral and spiritual sins condemned by the Good Book. As a result, many films captivated audiences but were often disputed by theologians and historians alike for their historical accuracy. One such film is 'Solomon and Sheba' (1959). 

The story of the Israelites has a fascinating history. What is now called Israel, the land of the Jews, existed as early as 3000 BCE. This region, including present-day Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, was inhabited by the Canaanites. The Canaanites were polytheists, the main deities being El, Asherah, Baal and Anat. Maybe, (since historians are divided), around 1270 BCE, the Exodus brought Canaanite slaves to this land. This group of people probably became monotheistic after being under the rule of Akhenaten, who worshipped Aten, the Sun God (different from Ra).

After 40 years in the wilderness, the slave mentality of the escapees evolved into one that could be ruled by their leader, Joshua. The Ten Commandments gave them guidance. The chiefdoms were united by Saul, their first King. Their later descendants, King David, expanded the kingdom and made Jerusalem their capital. Under King David, the land they occupied was called Israel, and it had a vast expanse and trade with its many neighbours. 

The movie begins as King David is dying. David appoints the level-headed younger son, Solomon, as his heir rather than the military-minded elder son, Adonijah. Israel's enemy allied to bring down Solomon's rule. In cahoots with them is Adonijah's team. The Queen of Sheba, a nation south of the Arabian Peninsula, volunteers to visit Solomon with her gifts, assess the monarch, and probably sway him away from his people.

King Solomon's legendary wise decision at the court involving a baby and two grieving mothers, and the decision to cut the baby in half, is depicted here.

In the Biblical version, Sheba was just another kingdom with which Solomon had dealings. Their meetings were described as intellectual and diplomatic, between equals. In the movie version, they are romantically linked. Sheba, a non-believer of the Israeli God (should be logically referred to as Yahweh, but is referred to here as Jehovah), persuades Solomon to erect pagan temples. This angered Yahweh and led to his downfall, which is portrayed in the movie.

Gina Lollobrigida as Queen Sheba
https://culturaltrash.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/
history-vs-hollywood-solomon-and-sheba-1959/

In the Ethiopian traditions, romantic liaisons are described, and a lineage is also said to have existed. King Solomon's son is said to have ruled Ethiopia.

Solomon is credited with building the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem and bringing peace and prosperity. His life began with deep devotion to God and later ended in a downfall. The temple was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar when he attacked and took the Jews as slaves. This happened after Solomon's reign. 

Solomon is said to have had a large harem and over 700 foreign wives. In his later years, his popularity dwindled as he was influenced by his wives and had built pagan worship temples. His building spree also caused his citizens to pay more taxes. 

After his demise, Israel split into two warring nations - the idolatrous Northern kingdom of Israel with its ten tribes and the Southern, Judah. The people from Judah came to be known as Jews. They were eventually conquered by Assyria and Babylon, respectively.

This is a rare instance in which Yul Brynner, who plays Solomon, is seen wearing a crown with hair. He, who often shaves his head after his successful role of King Mongkut in 'Anna and I', wore a wig. Tyrone Power was cast and completed two-thirds of filming before dying of a heart attack. Brynner was his replacement.

It paints a picture of ancient Israel as peaceful and a land of justice and liberty. In reality, as the Bible dictates, slavery was accepted, and imperial expansion was at its height. War is always ugly.

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Live and let live!

https://www.thecollector.com/greco-persian-wars-timeline/

Humans are a peculiar species. They do not always behave in accordance with their own teachings. Rules are often for others to follow, not themselves. These social beings gather along lines of ethnicity, lifestyle, social standing, and even skin colour. They forget that every one of them has blood of the same colour. They feel happiness or sadness for similar reasons. They love their kin equally, but not necessarily each other's, though. 

Entering a world so cold, ancient Man believed strength came from numbers. A group becomes more powerful when like-minded individuals unite. 

Although everyone is heading towards their own destination and there are no instruction manuals to guide life, each group believes that they alone hold the key to the universe's secret. Sometimes they wonder whether theirs is truly the correct path, and they convince themselves of this by being among those who share the same belief, perpetuating cognitive dissonance. Each group is convinced that the other belief system is on the verge of ruin. If so, they should just leave them to self-destruction. But no! They make it their life's mission to oppress and suppress the other. The glaring example of this can be seen in two events unfolding right before our eyes. 

What began as a small group of warriors spreading their influence beyond their territory some 2,500 years ago grew into the mighty Persian Empire. Like everything else in life, they too had a shelf life. The expanding Islamic Army from the West brought them to an end and ruled over an area so vast that it incorporated many civilisations as its own. They believed they must be doing something right to expand so rapidly. They must be doing God's work. Their Army must be God's Army, and their warriors were fulfilling God's divine duties. Over time, their scriptures began to reflect a similar view, and the eradication of other beliefs became their life's ambition.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/12/7/
malaysia-urged-to-protect-temples

Even though this Islamic Empire also crumbled under its own weight, the fringe member groups do not believe so. They are cocksure that it is the conniving work of its enemies. 

Another radical group has emerged in the homeland, insisting that houses of worship of non-Muslims must be destroyed at all costs. This group, comprising mostly converts, 'born agains' - as if they were born from the same wrong orifice the first time around. Perhaps they are uncertain about their conversion and feel insecure about acceptance in society by their peers, so they attempt to appear more Islamic than natural-born Muslims. Their crusade on this mission threatens the societal harmony that Malaysians have built over generations. 

This kind of oppressive culture must surely be wrong and self-defeating. Acquiring knowledge is an ongoing pursuit that never ends. Instead of dismissing others' input, why don't we sit down together, try to see the shared teachings, which I am sure are abundant, and build a better world — one where no superpower destroys another and no group breaks the temple of worship of another.

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FBI, KGB, SAVAK, Stasi, SB, what's the difference?

Seberg (2019)
Director: Benedict Andrews

Heard on a conspiracy theory podcast about a certain American actress from the New Wave of French cinema who was the talk of the tabloids in the 60s. She started her career in Hollywood on a few big productions, but did not do very well. She was offered a role in Breathless (1960) in France and became a sensation. She shuttled between Europe and the US, did a few memorable movies, and is also remembered for her many affairs with co-stars, including Clint Eastwood and Warren Beatty.

All her troubles with the FBI started at the height of her career in the late 1960s when she became sympathetic to the civil rights and anti-war movements. She was a generous contributor to the Black Panther Party's (BPP) coffers. Seberg was having an affair with Jamal Hakimi, a member of the BPP. Both were married to others at the time. The FBI was busy setting up surveillance and phone tapping on them.  

Somewhere along the way, in 1970, Serberg became pregnant, and the FBI came to know about it. At a time when interracial relationships were frowned upon and would hurt an actress' career, the FBI clandestinely leaked the news to Newsweek and rumoured that her baby was coloured. Serberg had a mental breakdown and a subsequent premature delivery. The baby girl died on day 2 of life.  To prove everyone wrong, the funeral was conducted with an open casket to prove that the baby was as white as white can be. 

Funny that the FBI allegedly continued surveillance even into the late 70s. Her paranoia and suicidal thoughts also continued. She made many unwise decisions, too, like marrying an Algerian man ten years her junior, who may have squandered her money to invest in a restaurant business that never saw daylight. 

One evening in 1979, her husband reported her missing. Nine days later, her decomposed body was found in her car, parked not far from her apartment. Police were perplexed that they had not found the car earlier, even though they had been extensively combing that very area. Postmortem results suggested that her alcohol levels were too high, suggesting that it could have been given parenterally, raising suspicion that it could have been an unnatural death. 

Declassified FBI documents admitted their hand in the fabrication of false information about her pregnancy and their surveillance. The whole story, however, is not in the open. 

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Righting the Wrong

Forgotten Malaysian History

(Restoring Voices, Reclaiming Truths)

Ranjit Singh Malhi (2026)

The history syllabus we studied is completely different from what is present in the current school curriculum. There is a clear attempt to minimise the roles and contributions of various sections of society. There is a clear effort to rewrite the country's history to serve certain political agendas. This country would not be what it is today if not for the blood, sweat, and hardships endured by various immigrants who landed on this land.

Ranjit Singh Malhi is a senior academic who has been in the business of writing history books, like forever. Over the years, he has lamented that the Malaysian history taught in secondary schools has progressively downplayed the role of the Non-Malays in the country's early history. The contributions of the non-Malays to subsequent development, defending the nation against enemies of its independence, and their own economic progress are gradually being erased. 

Penang Waterfall Temple
Established in 1914, long before the Malayan
Land Codes were established.

At this age and era, this book feels more essential than ever. Evidence of ignorance about Malaysian history is evident from the recent fiasco surrounding the legitimacy of numerous unregistered Hindu temples across the country. The confrontational buffoons who are on a witch hunt to demolish all Hindu temples they consider illegally built are products of Malay-centric, whitewashed history lessons. This book aims to set the record straight: the history of Malaya is not solely Malay-centric.

Some time ago, many Malaysian historians mooted the idea that Malaysia was never 'colonised' by the British but merely 'administered' it. When the British enacted laws for Malaya on how it should be governed, as they did on several occasions, they effectively ruled us. 

The word 'pendatang' (newcomer) is a slur in Malaysia used against non-Malay people. It is absurd to continue using such a phrase, as some non-Malays have been here since before the 16th century. Clearly, they are more deeply rooted here than some first-generation Indonesians who claim to be more Malay by virtue of their religion. 

The Malays are a group of Austronesian seafarers from Taiwan who migrated through the Indonesian archipelago, from Sumatra, and then settled in the peninsula, mostly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The various tribes of people from the archipelago—such as the Malays, Minangkabaus, Javanese, Kerinchis, and Mendalings—each claim to be more 'son of the soil' than the others. It may be that the 1931 British census showed that non-Malays outnumbered Malays, which led to them being grouped together under the umbrella of Malay.

Lately, Yap Ah Loy's contribution to transforming Kuala Lumpur into a thriving city has been overshadowed in the name of 'Ketuanan Melayu' (Malay Supremacy). The names of Raja Abdullah, Sutan Puasa, and Abdullah Hukum are being mentioned. Raja Abdullah may have brought Chinese miners to work in Ampang. Sutan Puasa owned a piece of mining land. It was Yap Ah Loy who helped rebuild Kuala Lumpur after a fire and floods. 

The Orang Asli's role as the peninsula's earliest inhabitants is often overlooked. They arrived on the peninsula around 10,000 years ago. During the era of the Malay Sultanates, the Orang Asli were enslaved, causing them to retreat further into the wilderness. They played a vital role in maintaining security, especially against the communists. The skills of the Senoi Praque need no elaboration.

Kpl Baharuddin @ Senoi Praque

The Indian culture has been a powerful civilising influence on the Malay kingdom. This is reflected in their cuisine, language, wedding rituals, and royal ceremonies.

The author goes on to highlight the contributions of various communities in nation-building. The Javanese are depicted as a model of agricultural excellence. After being recruited as labourers across various geographical locations, they developed entrepreneurial skills and hard work that allowed them to become independent rubber estate smallholders. They retained their language and culture, living in Kampong Jawa, a common sight in many towns. Many Javanese have become Malaysian political leaders, not as Javanese but as Malays. 

The existence of the Melaka Chettis, a unique Hindu Peranakan community, dates back to the 15th century. Originally traders, they have now expanded into many professional fields. Their culture combines Tamil Hindu, Malay, and Chinese influences. Many speak Bazaar Malay at home. The community even produced a dondang sayang singer. Their traditions, dress, and cuisine are a blend of Indian and local flavours. They are among the original inhabitants of Malaya. 

The Baba-Nyonya, part of the Peranakan Chinese community, also shares a rich heritage with the Chettis. They have incorporated elements of Western culture into their traditions. They demonstrate allegiance to the Crown to distinguish themselves from the ‘off the boat’ Straits Chinese who arrived later. The former spoke a Malay-Hokkien blended language, while the latter spoke Hokkien or other dialects. The Baba-Nyonyas have their own distinctive cuisine and attire. Many from this community went on to become national leaders, including Tan Cheng Lock, the first president of the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association); his son, Tan Siew Sin, the first Malaysian finance minister; and others. 

Jean Abdullah

The Portuguese Eurasian community traces its ancestry back five centuries to Melaka. They still carry their surnames. We are aware of many sportsmen, musicians, politicians, judges, and even a ‘First Lady’ for a brief moment through Jeanne Danker Abdullah. 

South Indians contributed immensely to Malaysia's subsequent economic and infrastructure development. The history textbooks conveniently omit the part where hundreds of thousands perished in the elements during the transformation of tropical jungles into rubber plantations. Then the hands that diligently tapped the white gold under the cloak of darkness to create modern Malaysia. The British also found them to be excellent workers for laying railway tracks. 

Then there were the Ceylonese, Malayalees, Telugus, Tamil Muslims, Sinhalese, entrepreneurial Gujaratis, and Sindhis.

The Sikhs, though small in number, proved to be no pushovers. Brought into the police force in the late 19th century, they play an important role in the country's defence. In this context, they are accused of being lapdogs of the British, doing their dirty work of curbing the natives. In their defence, the Sikhs were quite riled up after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Komagata Maru incident, where Sikh immigrants from India were denied entry and turned back. The passengers who reached Calcutta were forcibly arrested and shot during a scuffle. This event is said to have spurred the anti-British Gadar movement. A Malayan Sikh is credited with chartering the ocean liner from Hong Kong to ferry immigrants to Canada. 

Jagat Singh of Perlis

The significance of Sikh moneylenders as an alternative to traditional banking cannot be overstated. The story of Jagat Singh of Perlis is quite compelling. His involvement in moneylending enabled him to acquire nearly half of Perlis' land. The British had to intervene and exile him to Penang.

Their contributions to the legal profession, sports, education, politics, civil services, banking, and medical services cannot be denied. 

The ethnicities from Sabah and Sarawak also have their side of history that is glazed over to deny them their role in national progress. The 1943 Jesselton Uprising is a significant moment when a multi-ethnic Sanahan crowd stood up against the formidable Japanese forces during World War II. 

The current Government, which has strong roots and links with the right-leaning, pro-British, elitist Alliance Party, aims to promote the idea that the UMNO-MCA-MIC coalition is the only entity claiming independence from London. The contributions of the radical Malay left, such as PKMM and their liaison with the Japanese while maintaining rapport with MPAJA and CPM, are downplayed. Ahmad Boestamam, one of the key figures of the Malay left and other offshoot parties, does not receive due recognition.

In the early years of Malaya, Chinese entrepreneurs played a crucial role in developing commercial agriculture and tin mining. There is a special mention of a defender of the working class, Karam Singh Veriah; Karpal Singh Deo, whose fierce arguments about the Constitution still echo in the Opposition's minds; the revered spiritual leader Nik Aziz; the best Prime Minister Malaysia never had, Tun Dr Ismail; and the 'more Malay than Malay' leopold who cannot change his spots, Mahathir Mohamad. 

The book concludes with a report on the May 13 racial riots. The official narrative, as mentioned by Tunku, is that it was orchestrated by communal extremists supported by secret societies and Communists. In reality, it might have been a political coup in disguise. The ultra-Malay faction within UMNO, including Harun Idris, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdul Razak, and Ghazali Shafie, plotted to remove Tunku. It was a well-executed coup de tat that struck fear into Malaysia. New economic and educational policies were introduced to determine the country's direction for generations. Racial supremacy became ingrained in everyday life in Malaysia.

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Knowledge without Wisdom!

Capture of Delhi 1858
Wiki Commons

Having an extensive amount of knowledge is not enough. One must assess the information and use it critically. It is like having a lot of money but no brain to manage it. In the end, it would be like the Emperor's new clothes, and everyone else would have a good laugh at the Emperor's expense.

This idea came to me while listening to a podcast about the 1857 Indian Sepoy Mutiny, also known as the Indian Rebellion or, more recently, India's War of Independence. About a hundred years after the Battle of Plassey, which marked the start of British rule in India, Indians were becoming restless. Christianity was increasingly influential in Indian daily life. British commanders included Christian prayer in their morning briefings. There was a sense that the British were actively proselytising Indians.

So, when the rumour spread that the bullets in the new Enfield rifle were greased with pork and beef fat, and required the sepoys to bite open its greased paper cartridges, Indians, both Hindus and Muslims, were provoked. It all began in Meerut when 85 soldiers defied their superiors. They refused to handle the bullets and were imprisoned. The other soldiers freed them, signalling the start of the rebellion.

Like wildfire, hushed, coded messages were sent between towns in the form of capatis (similar to Chinese mooncakes with hidden messages). Peasants rose up to oppose their colonial masters, especially around Lucknow. The natives rebelled against foreigners in Calcutta, Cawnpore, Delhi, and Lucknow. The problem was that they were not united. They fought in isolated pockets, defending regions such as Jhansi, territories, and their religious beliefs. The British were better organised. They used the telegraph to coordinate their troops and strategies. They also had formidable Sikh and Pathan fighters on their side. The Indians, however, had the numbers. An 82-year-old reluctant pacifist and poetic king, Bahadur Shah Zafar (Bahadur Shah II), was installed as their king. A fierce battle followed. The human tragedy was beyond words. It resulted in a stalemate; both armies remained trapped in trenches.

Aryabhatta -Mathematician-Astronomer
Extraordinaire 476-550 CE

India had advanced knowledge in astronomy. They understood that the Earth was spherical and that their heliocentric model existed long before Europeans could even count. However, knowledge that is not applied or understood in context can be cause for disaster. It is similar to a doctor refusing to attend to a patient and delaying essential care because of a lunar event. Indeed, the lunar eclipse would definitely alter his career path. He could be barred from practising, seeing patients, and might face removal from the medical register. Such a situation would be a 'cataclysmic turn of events' for him. Remaining inactive when a disaster is looming is unlikely to lead to a good outcome.

Suddenly, in early September 1858, the Indian soldiers deserted the battlefield. The Hindus, busy with their routines, had not realised that a full lunar eclipse was occurring. They believed such an event held spiritual significance and signified a disastrous turn of events; therefore, it was expected that prayers and rituals would mitigate its effects. The rest is history. The British gained the upper hand and continued their dominance over India for nearly another 100 years.

It is frequently observed that a lunar eclipse also took place at the time of Jesus Christ's crucifixion in 33 CE.

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Tell a thousand lies to make a wedding take place!

Ullozhukku (Undercurrent, Malayalam; 2024)

Written & Directed by: Christo Tomy

https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/
ullozhukku-malayalam-movie-streaming-online-watch/

Urvashi was a regular in many Tamil movies in the 1980s. She used to appear in many of the blockbusters, including those acted and directed by the multitalented Bhagyaraj. She went on to win many regional and national accolades. Then her appearance declined as demand shifted toward younger faces. She became choosy about her roles as she took a breather with family life and childbearing. She shone in whatever roles she took. 

This movie is one such movie. It is a slow-moving but engaging one that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering how the problem will be resolved in the end. 

Marriage plays a vital role in the Indian psyche. From a line in the Manu Smriti, often exaggerated by detractors, which equates an unmarried woman to the stones by the river being washed away. Many critical editions dismiss it as an improper translation. Modern Hindu laws do not follow this doctrine verbatim. 

A peculiar thing about Hindu funeral rituals is that some steps are omitted when the deceased is unmarried. He or she is considered to have not led a complete life. Since the deceased is not one who surrendered to a brahmachari way of life, he is assumed to have not completed his householder duties.

In Tamil, there is a saying that goes like this. 'Tell a thousand lies to make a wedding take place' because the blessings of a successful union of marriage supersede everything else. Because of this, many marriages are arranged through marriage brokers through half-truth or the convenient erasure of negativities.

Anju is married off to Thomas Kutty. Anju's mother gets her married because of her entanglement with a Hindu man. Thomas Kutty is a sickly person who had a brain injury. He has epilepsy and needs frequent hospital admissions. His mother, Leelamma, seeks the help of a broker, with a full declaration of his medical condition, to find a bride. Somehow, the truth is suppressed and the wedding proceeds.

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/
ullozhukku-teaser-out-d676af5e

Anju is shocked to find herself in a meaningless marriage. There is no intimacy. She essentially ends up being a nurse for her husband. In that situation, during one of her numerous hospital trips, she bumps into her ex-boyfriend. Romance is rekindled on the sly, thanks to the privacy of the mobile phone. Anju gets pregnant.

Meanwhile, Thomas Kutty succumbs to a fall. Anju's pregnancy comes to light. Leelamma is overjoyed, thinking it is her son's progeny which was germinating.

The village they live in is perpetually underwater, even after a short spell of rain. Thomas' funeral and burial are chronically delayed. In the interim, the story of the boyfriend and the love child comes to light. The rest of the story deals with how she deals with a likeable mother-in-law whom she had wronged, her own family, who is ashamed by her action and the father of the child, who appears more like a rolling stone that collects no moss and has his eyes keenly on Leelamma's property that she had willed to pass to Anju.

A nicely done film, minus all the wailing and melodrama associated with most Indian movies.

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