The Unexpected Gift of Language – A Father’s Journey
My name is Rajesh, and I am a proud father of two wonderful children. My wife, Christine, is Chinese, and I am Indian by race. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we have always strived to create a harmonious and enriching environment for our family. One unique aspect of our family’s story is our relationship with the Malay language.
During my school years, I chose to study Malay. This decision was influenced by my late father’s love for languages and the multicultural tapestry of Singapore. Little did I know that this choice would profoundly impact my future family.
When our children, Priya and Arjun, started primary school, we decided that they would take Malay as their Mother Tongue language. This decision was not taken lightly, as it was driven by the desire to honour our multicultural heritage and provide our children with the benefits of multilingualism. However, the journey was far from smooth. (more…)