NESAMALAR PREMAKUMARAN

F.I.C.B., I.B.P.M (BTEC) - United Kingdom  
C.P.M., Paralegal - Canada 

Nesamalar Premakumaran (preferred name Nesa) was born in a prominent, respectable, middle-class family in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

 She was the fifth child in a family of eight, three sisters and a brother ahead and a brother after her. Her mother was a housewife and her father a high rank government officer. Family morals, respect, dignity were of number one importance.

 “Our families reputation is in your hands, never disgrace us--- always walk the rightful path, or you can ruin your life and our relatives will band you for good” --- these were mother’s favourite words.

 The family lived at the foothills of the mountain and valley, surrounded with dense tropical rain forest that acted as an enjoyable playground for the children, especially Nesa.

 Her parents believed that education was number one priority for the future. It was common in Malaysia and in most Asian families then and now, to consider children as the generations’ wealth and they should do well. On that basis, competitions between families on how well their children perform were high. For this reason, parents never talk about finance nor do they argue or dispute in front of the children. However her parents had this unshakable notion that their daughters respectable occupation had to be a nurse, teacher, an office clerk or a housewife. Nesa had other ideas, she wanted to be a lawyer and when she mentioned it to her father, his face turned red with anger. His reasons were “Lawyers were Liars just like Politicians” and this would bring disrespect to the family name. Her father went into a heated debate and refused to talk to her for two weeks, until she gave up the idea. Today after going through the Canadian Legal system Nesa admits that the experience had left distaste in her mouth and that her father arguments were well founded.

 In 1974, Nesa’s  father had a stroke, followed by a second in 1975 and a third two years later leaving him blind in one eye. Her mother was devastated. By that time, Nesa’s older two sisters had immigrated to England where they had their nursing careers; her third sister was training and working as a teacher in Malaysia. Nesa’s older brother who was a district (provincial) level hockey player had a bad accident during a tournament at the age of 18 leaving him mentally handicap. Her younger brother was too young to know what was going on.

 A decision had to be made and Nesa never regretted the decision to stay with my parents as long as they needed her. Her education was stopped and any job she had was of a clerical nature and close to home, where she could be on hand for her parents if they needed her.

 One day in 1985, her father ordered her to leave to her sisters in England for a three-month holiday. Two months later while Nesa was still on holiday, her father passed away. Nesa was devastated, lost and could not face going back home. When my sisters asked her what she wanted to do with her future it draw on her only than that, she had put her parents first which was good, however she had neglected to secure her own future.

 She decided to start again in this new country and leave the past behind. However, she only had the General Certificate of Examinations also know internationally as G.C.E. 0’Levels, no proper training in any field, no qualifications or experience. Fortunately, she discovered that in England there were many openings for people like her. There was no end to education and however unskilled she was, the Brits were ready to take her in and train her. This was definitely an opening door for her.

 With the help of her late sister, she enrolled with the London School of Accountancy. Due to the fact that her G.C.E. O’ Levels, which she had sat for in Malaysia was done in collaboration with the University of Cambridge in England it was accepted immediately.

 Nesa’s next step was to find a job and to be self-supportive. On a student visa, she was allowed to work up to 15 hours a day, provided she did not missed a day of college. One of her classmates who later became the best man at her marriage got her a job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was difficult to adjust at first, however Nesa learnt quickly to fit in. Imagine a young lady with strict up bringing who had not heard as much as a swear word in her life nor known some of the vulgar sign language further a vegetarian at that time, working at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

 Nesa’s college started at 8.30am and ends at 3.30pm and her work shifts began at 6:00pm and ended at 2:00 a.m. Nesa recollects a vivid memory of an incident. One night a customer turned up at the door just a minute after 2:00 am. The shop was closed for the day. This customer kept pounding on the door and Nesa pointed at the clock and showed him two fingers as a signal to say that it was 2:00 o’clock the shop was closed. How was Nesa to know at that stage that two fingers was a bad sign language and that the customer would get upset so as to take an iron rod and break the entire front glass panel down? Nesa admits that working at Kentucky Fried Chicken was one of her best learning process and she did learn fast just to survive.

 In 1987, out of the blue Nesa met Mr Right at a party. After six hours of fiery words from both sides Mr Right proposed. Today Nesa cannot believe that she had actually accepted a proposal from a man whom she knew for less then six hours, further only by his nickname “MGR”.

 In 1988 after the birth of her first son, she decided to pursue and further her career. Within a short time of sending out ninety applications, she was called for an interview with the Department of Health and Social Security. The position she applied for was an Administrative Assistant, however when she went for the interview, and based on her G.C.E.’0 Level certificate, the interviewer decided that she should be on a much higher level and offered her the position as an Administrative Officer. Thus began her career with the British government in 1989.

 Shortly after this, she decided to continue with her education as well and embarked on a mission to change her future in bright direction. By the time Nesa decided to immigrate to Canada she had an extensive education, knowledge and skills in administration, accounting and payroll management and three young ones so much so that the Canadian High Commission claimed that “her useful skills” was easily transportable into the Canadian Labour market.  The interviewing officer claimed that her skills together with her husband’s was much need in the Canadian economy and they should have no problem getting jobs that would give them a life of luxury in Canada.

 Nesa was very reluctant to move, as she loved a life of security. She wanted to remain in England and let her husband secure himself in Canada first, however the interviewing officer claimed that she cannot remain because “Canada Never Believe In Broken Families”.

 Based on that statement and the beautiful pictures of the Rocky Mountain, Niagara Falls and Wildlife shown at the Canadian High Commission, Nesa finally fell for the advertising gimmick and truly believed that she and her family would be better off moving Canada and maybe her young ones would enjoy the mountains and wildlife as she had.

 Little did she realise, she was taking her young ones and herself to a Land of Broken Promises, a Land of Shattered Dreams, a Land of Disaster, a land that would slowly destroy her dreams and future for good. 

 What a waste of valuable resources?