GEORGE TOWN – Internationally renowned lawyer-poet Cecil Rajendra has once again made his mark on the literary scene with the launch of his latest poetry collection, Doomsday Dirges.
Rajendra’s 27th collection, Doomsday Dirges, was unveiled last night at Gudang Cafe here during a creative and celebratory event hosted by Friends of Artistes Liaison (Foal).
The occasion also honoured the 70th anniversary of the Penang Arts Council, founded in 1954, and the 67th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence.
At the event, Rajendra captivated the audience with recitations from his new collection, including a poem that boldly addresses the issue of climate change and the falsehoods propagated by politicians.
He also delivered a powerful critique of rampant nationalism, a value he has always been sceptical of, citing its role in precipitating numerous conflicts, including the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
He also condemned Israel’s actions against the Palestinians, describing it as an ongoing genocide in his poignant poem recital.
“What justification is there for the slaughter of innocents, whatever the cause or reason?” Rajendra asked in his poem, which resonated deeply with the audience.
In addition to his politically charged works, Rajendra shared some of his humour-themed poems, including one reflecting on his own mortality.
“Death does not bother me. It is getting there that bothers me much,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the approximately 100 attendees at the launch of his poetry collection.
Doomsday Dirges was launched by Paddy Maguinness, an Irish folk singer, humanitarian activist, and the head of Haiti Matters, which is an organisation that works as a mediator between the Haitian gangs and the government of the conflict-ridden Caribbean nation.
During the launch, Maguinness said that Rajendra’s poetry collection, which touches on climate change, politics, and multitudes of other issues, is very relevant to today’s world.
“Cecil’s work is very relevant in Malaysia and should have a place in this country,” he said, adding that his books need to be digitised and archived for all Malaysians to cherish.
Youths love Cecil’s “harsh, straightforward” poems
Speaking to Scoop, Maguinness also reflected on his long-standing friendship with Rajendra, which began over 40 years ago in London, sparked by his admiration for Rajendra’s poetry.
He shared that Rajendra’s works have been utilised in educational programs he organised across Asia and Africa, resonating particularly with young people.
“Young people love them (Rajendra’s poetry) because they are not written in a way where you don’t have to explain the poems.
“His poems explain themselves, and so we found a great resonance with young people, particularly university students (towards Rajendra’s poems).
“They liked the harshness (of Rajendra’s poems) as they (poems) are a kind of in your face (type),” he added.
Maguinness also said that he had sold Rajendra’s poetry works in Ireland through Penrose Publications.
Rajendra poems have been published in more than 50 countries and translated into several languages. His contribution to the international poetry scene has earned him a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005.
In 2015, Rajendra was accorded the highest heritage honour as one of the Living Heritage Treasures of Penang by the Penang Heritage Trust.
As a lawyer, Rajendra’s legal work focused on helping poorer people who are in need of legal aid. He also co-founded Penang Legal Aid Centre (PLAC).
His contribution to the legal sector earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bar Council back in 2019.
Rajendra is well known for being a fierce critic of overdevelopment and Penang’s diminishing green credentials.
His staunch environmentalism has earned him notoriety among the authorities in the past, with his passport having been seized by the government in 1993 to prevent him from travelling overseas due to his “anti-logging activities,” which they said could tarnish the government’s reputation overseas.
Doomsday Dirges can be purchased at the Gerak Budaya bookshop in Petaling Jaya, Lit Books, and in some bookshops in Kuala Lumpur. – August 25, 2024