Latest news with #Sivarajah
The Star
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Malaysian father-son barbers have cut hair for over 1,000 kids on the spectrum
Darmalingam Manickam, 73, and his son Sivarajah, 47, are hairstylists who have, at times, been bitten, scratched and even spat on by their customers. But the father-and-son team from Bangi, Selangor, take it all in their stride. Many of their customers are children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – and both of them understand exactly what it takes to care for and connect with neurodivergent kids. Darmalingam's late sister, Malani, had low-functioning autism. Growing up with her gave him a deep insight into the challenges and needs of individuals on the spectrum. Darmalingam (right) says it's important to make children feel at ease so they are comfortable throughout the The Star/Sheela Chandran 'My sister was my 'teacher',' says Darmalingam. 'It's only when you have a sibling with disability that you begin to truly understand what it means to care for and love someone so deeply.' Malani lived with Darmalingam's family until she passed away from uterine cancer at the age of 46. Growing up alongside his aunt, Sivarajah was already familiar with the challenges and care involved in supporting a person with disabilities. Clippers, care and compassion Associated with a wide range of behaviours and developmental differences, ASD is a lifelong condition. Individuals with autism often require ongoing support throughout their lives. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism affects approximately one in 31 children aged eight years old. Based on this statistics, the National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) estimates that around 9,000 children are born with autism in Malaysia each year. Common characteristics of ASD include difficulties with social interaction, challenges in interpreting non-verbal communication and intense focus on specific interests. Many children on the spectrum experience sensory overload and often struggle to cope with everyday sounds – including the snipping of scissors and the buzzing of a trimmer. While these sounds may seem ordinary to most of us, they can be overwhelming and even distressing for a child with autism, sometimes triggering anxiety, fear or a meltdown. Darmalingam's hair studio has been thoughtfully decorated to be inviting and interesting for kids – a colourful space where children can relax while they get their haircut. The walls are adorned with spinning flower wheels, and baskets with toys are scattered around the room. Colourful character masks including Marvel's Iron Man , Star Wars' Stormtroopers, and the Minions from Despicable Me hang on the walls. Darmalingam's studio is designed as a space where children feel welcome, calm, safe and relaxed. Even the hairdryers are jazzed up with gold tape and stickers to make them more appealing to young customers. The hair clippers are specially chosen for their low noise levels, helping children feel more at ease during their haircuts. 'As a sweet reward after a haircut, we hand out lollipops and candies. You should see the big smile on their faces,' says Darmalingam. With his thick and well-groomed beard, Darmalingam is hard to miss. The septuagenarian dresses in a flamboyant outfit each day (think multi-coloured jackets, harem pants, bright sneakers and a turban adorned with embellishments). He wears an autism badge in support of kids on the spectrum too. Darmalingam (left) and his son Sivarajah are among the few hairstylists in the country who specialise in giving haircuts to children on the autism spectrum. Darmalingam shares: 'One of the key factors in cutting the hair of neurodivergent kids is making them feel comfortable. And they need to be distracted when we cut their hair.' Before becoming a barber, Darmalingam worked as a technician with Telekom Malaysia (TM) in Kuala Lumpur. He opened his barbering business – Mr D Hair Studio – in the late 1980s. Sivarajah helps autistic boy Arrian Rizky Mohd Jazlan, six, feel at ease during his haircut. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran 'I left my full-time job to care for my father, who had suffered a stroke, and my autistic sister,' shares the father of two. 'I've always had a passion for hairstyling since I was a teenager. Running my own barbershop gave me the flexibility to look after my ailing dad while pursuing a dream job,' explains Darmalingam. Sivarajah used to work as a customer service executive at TM. But in his mid-20s, he left his job to join his father full-time at the barbershop. Both father and son hold a diploma in hairstyling from a hairdressing academy in KL. 'We come from a middle-class family,' Sivarajah says. 'I decided to follow Appa's (father) footsteps because I wanted to continue the family business. We also wanted to build something of our own – something we can be proud of,' says Sivarajah, who uploads videos of their haircuts (for regular customers and for those with special needs) on Instagram (@mrdhairstudio). Snip by snip Mr D's Hair Studio has been in operation for nearly 40 years and has been welcoming children with autism for close to two decades. It all began one day when a young boy with autism came in for a haircut – after being turned away by other barbers who found him too difficult to handle. 'The boy was about four years old back then. In the beginning, I couldn't even bring him into the shop. My son and I had to trim his hair outside the studio because he found it hard to adjust to a new environment. But because of Malani, we knew how to handle him. We patiently coaxed him to get him familiar with our tools. Darmalingam wears an autism badge in support of kids on the spectrum. 'He's in his mid-20s now. Whenever he comes over, he hugs and kisses me. People on the spectrum need trust and that's how our bond develops,' says Darmalingam. Word about their service quickly spread within the autism community, with Nasom also helping to recommend them. Over the years, they have provided haircuts for hundreds – if not thousands – of children on the spectrum, ranging from low to high functioning. Now, they style the hair of about 60 to 70 autistic children each month. 'Some of them can't sit still – they spin around, move from chair to chair or even lie down. We simply follow their lead. Whether they prefer to be outside, inside or even on the floor, we adapt to whatever makes them comfortable. 'When dealing with children with autism who are aggressive, we use protective padding on our hands and pants,' says Sivarajah, who has two children. For Darmalingam, everyone is welcome to the barbershop – whether they have Down syndrome, autism, visual impairment or other conditions. 'We also spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour with each family, talking to the parents, offering advice on how to care for their child with special needs. It's almost like a therapy session,' says Darmalingam, adding their charges are from RM20. He hopes that someday, someone will come forward to help him open a dedicated hair studio tailored specifically for children on the spectrum. Thanks to their services, more members of the public are beginning to better understand autism. 'Most of our regular customers are used to seeing kids with special needs and are very understanding. Instead of judging them, our customers are calm and supportive when these kids have a meltdown. That's what true awareness really means,' says Sivarajah. Darmalingam (left) and Sivarajah are making haircuts a kinder experience for children on the spectrum. Cut from the same cloth Darmalingam, Sivarajah and their family all live under one roof – in a home located just above their hair studio. While the arrangement is convenient, Sivarajah admits that it isn't always easy. They work side by side from 10am to 9pm, six days a week. 'Everyone needs their own space,' Sivarajah admits. 'But we've learned a lot. It's all about compromise.' Darmalingam chips in: 'To make business and family work, understanding is key. At the studio, we give each other space – there's no overruling, even though I'm the father. 'If I don't agree with something, I just keep quiet. He's an adult, so I let him make his own decisions, right or wrong.' Agatheesan (right) is slowly learning the ropes of the barbering trade from his grandfather (centre) and father. Photo: Sivarajah Darmalingam The studio is closed on Tuesdays, to give the family a chance to rest and recharge. Occasionally, they do grocery shopping together, and at times, Darmalingam teaches his grandson, Agatheesan, 21, the ropes of the barbering trade. Sivarajah doesn't have any specific plans for Fathers Day. He knows both of them will be extremely busy tending to their customers, including those with special needs, that day. 'It'll be a regular day for us,' says Sivarajah. 'I'm blessed to have Appa with me every single day.' Darmalingam smiles and adds, 'That, in itself, is the best Father's Day gift I could ask for.'
CNBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Trump's visa ban could be Britain's big break in the race for top Chinese talent
British universities are preparing to attract international Chinese students after President Donald Trump's administration cracked down on visas for Chinese students studying in the U.S. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. will start "aggressively" revoking visas for Chinese students in the U.S., including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party, in efforts to curb immigration. It comes after the Trump administration also blocked Harvard University's ability to enroll or retain international students, accusing the elite Ivy League institution of "coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus." U.K. universities are now set to profit as they snatch up Chinese students who have been disrupted by this development and are likely to pivot from the U.S. to other study destinations, according to Sankar Sivarajah, head of Kingston Business School. Sivarajah said the U.S. policy is "disappointing" and "not forward-looking" at a time when higher education institutions should be fostering more diverse talents and perspectives. The total number of international Chinese students at higher education institutions in the U.K. in the 2023 to 2024 academic year came to 149,885, according to the latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. This was down from 154,260 in the previous academic year, and 151,700 in the 2021 to 2022 academic year. However, change is underway as a Knight Frank analysis of UCAS's January 2025 Cycle Application found an 8.9% surge in Chinese international student applications, with 31,160 applicants from China by January 2025 compared to 28,620 at the same time last year. The U.K. is an attractive study destination for international Chinese students amongst competitors like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, Sivarajah said. It's appeal is rooted in shorter degree durations, affordable living costs, and global recognition. "These are quite attractive factors in general for the U.K. being a destination of choice for higher education and the current post-study work opportunities as well places the U.K. at a forefront to seize this opportunity," Sivarajah said. André Spicer, executive dean at Bayes Business School, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" that there's been a "slow decline in the number of U.S. institutions which are in the top 100," and it comes down to international institutions upping their game, including in Europe. "So here in the U.K., we've sort of held our own, so if you get on a LimeBike from here ride 10 to 15 minutes, you're going to find a bunch of globally, leading institutions, leading business schools like my own, like Imperial like London Business School," Spicer said Friday. "So, we're one of the highest concentrations of fantastic business schools, but also great universities in Europe." British universities are also heavily reliant on funding from international students because undergraduate fees for domestic students are a "loss-making product," as the tuition fee is frozen and hasn't kept up with inflation, Sivarajah said. "So to fund higher education, the model in the U.K. is that universities really rely on international student funding to make sure that they're financially sustainable ... International student funding is quite crucial for the U.K. University's financial sustainability." Chinese students bring in about £5.5 billion ($7.4 billion) in fees across 158 U.K. universities, according to a recent Telegraph analysis. The British newspaper found that 21 universities rely on students from China for at least a tenth of their income, including the Royal College of Art, University College London and the University of Manchester. Michael Spence, UCL president and provost, said in a statement to CNBC that it highly values its international students. "International students bring far-reaching economic, social, and cultural benefits to the UK, and we remain dedicated to welcoming the brightest and the best to study with us now and in the future," Spence said. With many students set to begin the academic year in September, British universities will be ramping up efforts to make studying in the U.K. more attractive for Chinese students, including creating initiatives with Chinese institutions. "There might be an increase in the number of strategic level partnerships, working with Chinese institutions to build that so it's not a short term but a long-term look at how they can build that bridge," Sivarajah said. This includes pushing schemes such as 2 + 1 articulation programs where students are able to begin their studies in China for two years and complete the final year in the U.K. Other avenues to attract talent include offering financial incentives such as scholarships, Sivarajah added. Bayes Business School's Spicer pointed out that there are long-term benefits to Chinese students pivoting to the U.K. including growth of the European startup ecosystem. "There's some economic research which came out last year which showed that the larger percentage of high growth startups in the U.S. are founded by basically foreign nationals who had gone to U.S. universities, either in engineering, sometimes in business schools," Spicer said. "Now the question is that, if we can attract that talent here, use the ecosystems that we have in places like London, places like Berlin, places like Paris, to kind of boost those high growth startups, it's certainly going to benefit," he added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Sivam Selvaratnam's kaleidoscopic Malay canvas
A picture of zen. This is how most remember the late Malaysian artist Sivam Selvaratnam, a pioneering female voice in the still-growing melting pot that is post-Independence Malayan art. The 'zen' was not just limited to her personality — her canvases spoke of a quiet confidence. Deeply meditative at times, and unpredictable at others, the artist's body of work spanned genres and mediums, resulting in an oeuvre that resonated with many. Over 200 works from Sivam's six-decades-long career, curated by Sivarajah Natarajan and Cyril Periera of Sutra Foundation (dedicated to promoting and preserving traditional and contemporary performing arts), have recently been consolidated into a book. Sivam Selvaratnam: A Life in Art charts the artist and teacher's life, more than 10 years since her passing. 'When I was studying at the Malaysian Institute of Art, I was introduced to art history. We don't have a history like India, but there was a group founded by Sir Peter Harris, an Englishman [in 1952],' says Sivarajah, over a phone call from Kuala Lumpur. 'This was the first art group that was formed, and they would gather every Wednesday and paint.' The Wednesday Art Group attempted to break away from Eurocentric traditions and platformed artists with distinctive, modern styles. Sivam was one of its key members. 'When my lecturer mentioned the name, I was fascinated at how Indian-sounding it was,' says Sivarajah, recalling his first brush with the artist. Into a world of colour Born in Kajang, Malaysia, to parents of Sri Lankan Tamil origins, Sivam grew up surrounded by rubber plantations, tropical sunshine and abundant monsoons. And so, nestled deep in her canvases, be it realist or abstract, were the greens and browns that were hard to miss. But before entering the world of colours, she pursued a degree in teaching in Malaysia, and continued her studies in the Manchester College of Art and Design (now Manchester Metropolitan University) and with a Masters in Art and Design at the University of London. Sivam's early western influences were that of Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky and Swiss-German artist Paul Klee. And from the Indian Modernists, the Bengal School of Art and artist Raja Ravi Varma. In 2012, Sivarajah led a curation of all of the artist's work, marking Sivam's first solo show ever. Titled Rapt in Maya, it was displayed at the Universiti Malaya Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. During the course of the curation, over lemon cream biscuits, Sivarajah and Sivam would talk at length about the creative process behind each work done over years spent in travel with her husband. Some of her most noted works such as the Colour of Rain series, Self Portraits, MetamorphosisandIridescence, and Twilight Raga, are featured in this volume. Her family, whose personal accounts enrich the book, lends insights into the artist's personal life and values. Lakshmi Selvaratnam, her eldest daughter-in-law, fondly shares: 'My earliest recollection of her as an artist was at her home when we were children. They [her paintings] were colourful and abstract, unlike anything that you saw on walls at the time.' For Lakshmi, Sivam's sense of shapes and colour was a point of intrigue. 'Sometimes, some pieces become a blend of sound and colour, and very much an expression of her inner self,' she says. On the other hand, her observational sketches and drawings show her penchant for planning and execution, and perhaps held up a mirror to her love for teaching. Instinctive and curious Sivam was multi-faceted. 'We cannot frame her into one genre. She was very adventurous,' says Sivarajah. She was passionate about textile, jewellery design, and printmaking — dabbling in both linocut and woodcut printing. How she analyses colour theory in her abstracts stayed with Sivarajah. 'A regular to Chennai's annual Margazhi festival, she was influenced by Carnatic music and the ragas.' An educationist, she was always a teacher at heart, which also spoke to her perfectionist approach to art studies. 'She was instinctive, and always curious,' says Lakshmi. The artist's final piece of work titled Curioser (2014) — which reveals her unique exploration of memories through hieroglyphic symbols (and makes up the cover of this book) — is now at the National Art Gallery, along with another work titled Malapetaka (1962). Peppered with artworks and personal essays, the book charts a life well spent in the company of art. 'Sivam Selvaratnam: A Life in Art' is on shelves now. The journalist is based in Chennai.
