KUALA LUMPUR: Many will feel touched and honoured when a Happy Birthday song is sang for them on their birthdays, but that is not the case for K Anuradha.
Being one of those known as ‘Anak Merdeka’ (Independence Children) as they were born on Aug 31, the 42-year copy writer always prefers to hear the national anthem, Negaraku, be sang to her on her birthday.
Anuradha said, on Aug 31 last year, she and her friends were dining in a restaurant in the city when the clock struck midnight and all of them got up and sang the national anthem.
“It has been a tradition for me to celebrate the country’s independence anniversary first before celebrating my own birthday,” she told Bernama, when contacted here yesterday.
Relating the celebration last year, Anuradha said their spontaneous act also led other patrons in the restaurants to stand up and joined them in singing the national anthem, before imitating her friends in shaking her hands and wishing her ‘Happy Birthday.
“One of senior patrons in the restaurant also told me that she was very proud because there are young people who truly know how to respect the national anthem,” she said.
When asked what she really felt when she sang the national anthem on her birthdays, she said to sing that special song on that special day really touched her heart and made her feet like crying.
“I love my country. It means a lot to be Anak Merdeka. Politicians may divide us, but we are still citizens of this country and share the same national flag,” she said.
Anuradha said in conjunction with the country’s 57th anniversary of Independence and her 42nd birthday this year, she really hoped that all Malaysians would continue to live in peace and harmony and would not allow political differences to tear the nation apart.
When asked about her birthday celebration this year, she said she would only join the Merdeka party organised by her friends.
“There will be no specific celebration for my birthday, what matters most on that day is to celebrate the anniversary of the country’s independence,” she added. — Bernama