The Oasis ****

Henry Brown took off his hat and wiped his brow. He was at the top of the hillock. Brown looked out over the vast expanse of lush green rolling hills that was his estate. Brown had arrived on Prince of Wales Island more than 20 years ago, and had come to love the beautiful Island. He had, through hard work and entrepreneurship acquired a large tract of estate. His horse snorted. It was thirsty. Brown patted its flank. He knew where he could get some rest. And a drink for his horse. And himself.
***
Periya Thottam. This was the name the Tamil cowherds called the tiny hamlet. Mariappan was one of the early settlers there. He had come as an indentured labourer from Arcot in Tamilnadu. While many others who had come at that time to Malaya ended up in squalid near slavery, Mariappan was relatively lucky. His boss was Brown Thorai. A man with a heart of gold. His daughter Helen Margaret was equally nice. Mariappan’s family was among several hundred others at Periya Thottam. Many worked on the coconut and rubber estates belonging to Brown Thorai. And there were more than 50 families here, at the Gelugor village, herding cows and goats. The surroundings were lush, and a small stream flowed through the valley, carrying sweet water all year round. The settings were ideal for the cattle and goats.

Mariappan’s wife Karuppayi was herding the cows back into the grazing area. Mariappan sat on his coir rope cot, the small tray of vethele paakku (betelnut leaves) in front of him. Just then, there was the sound of a horse approaching.
***

Brown Thorai’s black stallion thundered in, stopping in a swirl of dust near Mariappan. Henry Brown alighted, as Mariappan hurriedly stood up and went over to get the horse. “வாங்க தொற,” he smiled at Brown.
“என்ன , மாரியப்பன் , எப்பிடி இருக்க ?” (How are you Mariappan ?) Brown had a working familiarity with Tamil.
“உங்க புண்ணியத்துல நல்லா இருக்கேன் எஜமான் .” (Fine, thanks to you sir.) Mariappan said it from his heart. The Tamil villagers loved Brown Thorai.
“My horse is thirsty. And I would love some moru,” Brown smiled.
“கருப்பாயி, தொரைக்கி மொரு கொண்டா . கிருஷ்ணா , குதிரைய கூட்டிட்டு போயி தண்ணி குடு .” (Karuppayi, bring some moru for the boss. Krishna, take the horse and water it.)
***
Helen Margaret Brown was sitting on the balcony of their house on Strawberry Hill. Her father had died a month ago in England. She had just got the news. And he had wished that the long suffering coolies on the estate receive some reward. Some of them had been with the estate for a generation. Mariappan, Somappan, Veeraya.. they knew only this place. She was glad her father had thought of them.
***
Mariappan was overwhelmed. The villagers were in tears. Brown Thorai had passed away. And even in his last moments, he had thought of them ! He had instructed that the land on which they farmed and raised their cattle, be granted to them.
“தொற மனசு தங்கம் . அவர் கடவுள் ,” the villagers were eternally grateful.
***
Murugan was a sixth generation farmer and herdsman at Gelugor Estate. The place was now surrounded by developments. Brown Estate was now an urban sprawl : Island Glades, Brown Garden, Minden Heights, Sungai Dua, Sungai Ara. Thousands of houses, shops, even a University occupied what was once the vast Brown Estate. Their tiny village remained. It was called Kampung Buah Pala. But Murugan’s life was pretty much the type of life his forefathers had led, when they had lived on this very land. The area was an oasis in the urban concrete jungle. Murugan and many others still herded cattle. Many of the younger generation had moved out; many others worked in the factories, and the Government.
***
Samsuddin had just been posted as District Officer in Penang. He was summoned by Dato’ Osman. As he entered Dato’ Osman’s office, he found two Chinese gentlemen there with him. “Ini Tan Sri George Chen, Dato’ Kuan. Mereka ini pemaju dari KL. Mereka ada cadangan untuk satu kawasan dekat Glugor.” (This is Tan Sri George Chen, and Dato’ Kuan. They are property developers from Kuala Lumpur. They have a proposal for a piece of land near Glugor.)
***
Murugan was devastated. What was this young man saying? Is such treachery possible ? Surely the poor and uneducated people like him would have some protection ? Won’t the Government help ? Murugan’s grandfather had told him that the original owner of the land, Brown Thorai had given it to the villagers, including Murugan’s forefathers.
“Ayya, the government has sold this land to a Koperasi. This Koperasi has made an agreement with a developer. They are going to build several blocks of apartments. It will be called "Oasis".