Balachandran Kayaralavan

“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe will conspire so that your wish comes true” is the most powerful quote in Paulo Coelho’s novel Alchemist. Powerful as it was, I considered it just another inspirational quote and never thought my life would turn out that way.

“My ambition in life has been to become a teacher or lecturer, even after an illustrious career of 30 years in broadcasting. I continued to harbour a desire to teach but opportunities were scarce, and just as I was about to give up on the idea, true to Coelho’s words, Curtin Malaysia offered me the post of visiting lecturer in media!

“I still remember the day I arrived and the HR staff member welcoming me had the friendliest smile. When I looked around, I immediately felt the serenity of the place. I soon realised the whole of Miri City is like that and I feel safe and at peace here. Everyone greets you with a smile. Though my native India is renowned for its rich traditions and noble culture, of which I am proud, the people of Miri have shown me how good values should be actively practiced and not merely preached.

“It is the same on campus. Everyone is friendly and always willing to help. Here I have learnt to smile and always be grateful to others. I have met people from so many different countries and backgrounds that I feel I no longer belong to just India but have become a global citizen.

“I came to experience the smell of at least one beautiful flower, but the people here have greeted me with lots of beautiful smiles with the fragrance of a thousand flowers.” –Balachandran Kayaralavan, visiting lecturer in the Media and Communication Department, Faculty of Humanities