Heart and Soul: Growing up in a coastal village in Butterworth

The writer (seated, middle row, second from right) with his football teammates in Bagan Ajam, Penang, in their younger days. Photo: JM Purushotham

Bagan Ajam, in Butterworth, was once a quiet little village along the Butterworth-Alor Setar trunk road. It was a small lndian settlement just behind the market, with a few clusters of lndian houses across the road, along the seaside.

Most of us stayed in wooden houses with attap roofs. Coconut trees could be seen scattered all around our houses; our village offered proximity to nature.

The beautiful sight evoked a sense of serenity and happiness. We had ample space in the surroundings to play about on the sandy ground and lots of wide areas to relax in and be left with our own thoughts.