Kathiresan Ramachanderam

The tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee pervaded the air, and it was both inviting and invigorating. I took a seat after placing my order at the counter, and paying the bill, and I waited patiently for the cup of freshly brewed coffee, and the slice of cheesecake that I had ordered to arrive. I sat close to a large window that overlooked a street in one of Bangkok’s more popular suburbs, and watched the cars roll down the street, and the people that were walking on the sidewalk pass by, dressed in their trendy, gaily colored clothes, the Thonburi riverside district attracted more than its fair share of tourists. I caught a glimpse of someone dressed in white, walk by and my thoughts instantly turned to the angel that had appeared out of nowhere slightly over a year ago. I tried to recollect her features, she was slim, tall for a woman and fair. She had shoulder length hair that was neatly tied behind her back. While I had some difficulty recollecting her features, I remember he...

“Is it possible to see an angel?”, I asked and the man that sat in front of me replied with an affirmative nod of the head. “However,” he said, “they are only seen by those who are extremely pious, it is common especially among those who have devoted their lives to their faith”, he hesitated briefly before he continued “and those who are about to meet their demise”. “If it is any consolation, it normally means that you will die a good death, I know if you’ve seen one it’s not because of your piety”, he added with a smile. The man who is known only as Martin was a priest and he was well versed in matters with regards to paranormal activity. He belonged to a religious order that was particularly secretive especially because it was one of the few orders that when the situation required it, conducted exorcisms.  We parted company soon after that and approximately half-a-year later, I received a phone call from Martin. “I think I’ve stumbled across an actual case of possession”, he sai...

Anyone can fall in love, it’s not all that difficult to do, however you have to keep it going, and to keep it going for a lifetime, does take some effort. Fortunately, with us there was very little effort required, and things just fell in place. Everything that we did was more or less in togetherness, to the extent that the roles would sometimes get reversed. I remember when we went to watch ghost, we went for the evening show, and prior to watching the movie I was told, that it was a romantic comedy that might make me cry but I was skeptical, and I was dead-certain that my partner would breakdown while I remained unmoved, she was the type to cry at the movies, and I had my shoulder all ready for her to lean on. I vividly remember what happened when the movie was over and the lights came on. She looked normal, while I was all teary eyed. From what I was told later, the stains of the tears that had streamed down my cheeks were plainly visible. It was a relationship where she’d be in ch...

Just like every other story, this story too has a beginning, only it begins a very long time ago, in the unlikeliest of places, at a time when busses were the most common means of transport, and it was the means of transport that I used the most. I really didn’t have to use the bus, but I liked it especially the minibus with drivers speeding down the road, ignoring the speed limit, blaring their horns ever so often. I still have a fondness for them, and trains. I’ve always been a huge fan of trains, especially when travelling long distance, and the most memorable train rides, that come to mind, is the ride from London Victoria to Amsterdam, and an evening ride from Melbourne to Bendigo. This particular story however concerns the bus or rather the bus-stop. I remember the day very well. I was walking past this particular bus-stop, it was between 11 am and 12 noon, when I suddenly spotted this tall slim girl, she was fair, more so than others, and I still remember what she wore, image...

Shinto, also called kami-no-michi, is a religion that originated in Japan, and it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan’s indigenous religion. This ancient faith, deeply interwoven with the cultural and historical fabric of the Japanese archipelago, represents a unique spiritual worldview that has evolved over millennia. While its roots stretch back to prehistoric times, Shinto as a named and organized entity began to coalesce in response to the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century. Unlike other major world religions, Shinto does not have a single founder, or a primary sacred text that codifies a set of moral laws. Instead, it is characterized by a deep reverence for kami, a vast and complex pantheon of deities or spirits, and a focus on maintaining harmony between the human world, the natural world, and the divine. The practices associated with Shinto are diverse, ranging from grand state ceremonies to simple personal prayers offered at local shrines. Schola...

Pan Pan was a small Hindu kingdom that existed between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE. It played a significant yet often overlooked role in the annals of Thai history. Situated in what is now modern-day southern Thailand, in the province of Surat Thani, Pan Pan’s influence extended southwards towards present-day Malaysia. This ancient realm was strategically positioned, sharing its borders with the kingdom of Langkasuka to the south and Tun Sun near the Isthmus of Kra to the north. The geopolitical landscape of the region during Pan Pan’s existence was dynamic and complex. In the late 5th century CE, a significant shift occurred when Tun Sun, Pan Pan’s northern neighbor, broke free from Funan and transformed into the entity known as Kamalanka or Lang-chia. This change had profound implications for Pan Pan, as it led to a territorial reorganization. The southern portion of the former Tun Sun joined forces with Pan Pan in the 6th century, expanding its domain. Simultaneously, the northe...

Kamalanka, also known as Lang-chia, was an ancient political entity that flourished in the west Chao Phraya River basin of central Thailand within the Dvaravati sphere. Named after the goddess Kamala, this Dvaravati kingdom emerged in the late 1st or early 2nd century CE and endured until 1058. The heart of Kamalanka was its main city, situated at the site of ancient Nakhon Pathom, which played a pivotal role in the kingdom’s history. The kingdom of Kamalanka thrived for nearly a millennium, establishing itself as a significant power in the region. Its strategic location along the Chao Phraya River allowed it to control important trade routes and develop a prosperous civilization. The Dvaravati culture, that Kamalanka was a part of, was known for its advanced urban planning, sophisticated art and architecture, and the adoption of Buddhism as the primary religion. Throughout its existence, Kamalanka faced various challenges and underwent significant transformations. The kingdom’s i...