Precious Lives Archives : Page 2 of 4 : Just Never Forget

Thayalan Balakrishnan: Leaving A Sounding Impact On The World … In His Own Quiet Way

By Guru 6 February 2024

Introversion is the behavior of focusing on inner thoughts and ideas, rather than expressing them openly. Introverts enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups…

Devaki Krishnan: First woman elected to public office in Malaysia

By Guru 21 January 2024

Tan Sri Devaki Krishnan, the first Malaysian woman elected to public service (an honour recognised in the Malaysia Book of Records), achieved eminence in Malaysian politics before the country was…

Chandramalar Chelliah: Matriarch of Malaysian police force

By Guru 14 January 2024

THE send-off was remarkable. Dressed in their full uniforms, the police officers reverently lifted the coffin onto their shoulders and carried it to the hearse nearby. Once the coffin was…

Lewis Pragasam: The Drum God Who Was Too Human

By Guru 24 December 2023

Macaques, the most brilliant of monkeys, have a habit of intimidating uninvited guests by beating the trees they are on. Chimpanzees also make crude drumming sounds to signal distress. Humans,…

Malaysia’s Mother Mangalam: New World Care in Old-School World

By Guru 24 June 2023

The 15-year-old was about to put the buttered slice of bread into her mouth, when it was yanked from her hand. “This bread belongs to Pure Life. It’s not for…

Elyse Bree Nantha: A Go-Getter Extraordinaire

By Guru 23 May 2023

It is rare for undergraduates to be awarded honours in competition with tenured staff. The University of Nottingham UK does exactly that with the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Medal (right), recognising those…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Grace Audrey McDonnell (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 18 December 2022

Grace Audrey McDonnell was the love and light of her family's lives. Every year on November 4th, balloons go up on the mailbox in front of the McDonnells’ home. The…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: James Radley Mattioli (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 17 December 2022

James Radley Mattioli used to be first in his family to wake up each morning, ready to go to school with his adored older sister, Anna. “He couldn't wait to…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Ana Marquez-Greene (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 15 December 2022

Ana Grace Marquez-Greene’s love for singing was evident before she was even able to talk. “In a musical family, her gift for melody, pitch, and rhythm stood out remarkably,” Ana's…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Jesse Lewis (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 14 December 2022

Jesse Lewis had just witnessed his teacher getting shot in the hallway of the first grade classrooms of Sandy Hook Elementary School and saw the gunman pausing to reload. “Run!”…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Chase Kowalski (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 13 December 2022

The Kowalskis could seldom focus on the birthday of their son Chase Michael-Anthony because Halloween fell on that day too. Chase was born on Oct. 31, 2005, and each birthday…

Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Catherine Violet Hubbard (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 13 December 2022

On a quiet street in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, Catherine Violet Hubbard was being remembered lovingly by her mother. “This was Catherine in the fall, we had gone pumpkin picking,” Jennifer…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Madeleine Hsu (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 13 December 2022

Madeleine Hsu loved music, was always in motion and had a strong personality. “Petite princess” — that’s how her family remembers her in a tribute posted to the “My Sandy…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Dylan Hockley (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 13 December 2022

To the world, Dylan Hockley was a beautiful, joyous, loving boy who often would laugh himself silly by repeatedly replaying parts of his favorite movies. “He had an infectious laugh…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Josephine Gay (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 12 December 2022

Josephine Grace Gay was on the autism spectrum and was nonverbal. Despite not communicating, Joey, as she was known to family and friends, often got people to do exactly what…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Olivia Engel (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 12 December 2022

At six years old, Olivia Engel was already a leader to her family and those who knew her. She played big sister responsibly to her three-year-old brother Brayden. She led…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Daniel Barden (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 11 December 2022

Daniel Barden was fearless in his pursuit of happiness and life. He was a budding athlete, a member of the swim team and an avid soccer player. And he had…

‘Remembering America’s Gun Victims’: Charlotte Bacon (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

By Guru 11 December 2022

Charlotte Helen Bacon had bought a new outfit for Christmas — a pink dress and white boots — that she wanted to wear before her school broke for the 2012…

Johnny Loke: Coke, Ice-Cream or “Big Brother” — He Was MBSKL’s “Real Thing”

By Guru 15 October 2022

What’s in a Coke? If you asked the kids back in the 70s and 80s, they’ll tell you: “It’s the real thing” (one of the marvels of advertising, no doubt).…

Subramaniam Harihar: The Journalist Who Taught His Gardener About Fonts

By Guru 30 August 2022

Till his last breath literally, Subramaniam Harihar, possibly Malaysia’s oldest working journalist at 79, was thinking of “the story”. On the afternoon of his passing, at about a quarter to…