Dr C Devendra: Always on the go

Dr Canagasaby Devendra

Doubling beef production. This headline in a local daily caught my attention. The story was about the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries studying a proposal to integrate oil palm plantations with cattle-rearing to double beef production.   

The article reminded me of a renowned senior Malaysian scientist – Dr Canagasaby Devendra, 70, who is a member of the committee on National Livestock Development in the Ministry.


He is a good example of a person who is way past retirement age but is still active in his chosen field of specialisation.   

A specialist in animal nutrition and animal production systems, he has worked in Malaysia and throughout Asia. He was a consultant to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation.  
“Working with, and being able to serve, many national agricultural systems, gives me much satisfaction,” said Devendra.  

There have been many professional challenges for him. “The most engaging one is the contribution to new knowledge – to have it accepted and endorsed by one’s peers is wonderful. The sharing and dissemination of information is an important part of the research process.”   

When asked how the high-tech younger generation can learn from the experiences and expertise of senior scientists, he said: “For the research scientist, the important prerequisites are reading, writing and communication in the context of commitment to purpose. It is equally important to recognise other tenets. Research must be relevant and needs-based. It is dynamic and must lend itself to constant critique. It must drive development. Research results are the purview of all mankind.”   

Being interested in goat meat and milk, I asked him about their nutritional value. “Goat meat is leaner than mutton or beef. Goat’s milk has anti-allergic properties and a higher proportion of small fat globules. It is often recommended for people allergic to cow’s milk and who suffer from gastro-intestinal disorders,” he said.

“Goat’s milk has more essential amino acids, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and medium chain triglycerides which are all beneficial to health,” continued Devendra. 

How does Devendra unwind?    

      

“I enjoy reading, writing and travel,” he enthused. He is a prolific writer and is the author of 15 books and over 400 publications, mostly published internationally. Two of his most prominent books published in Britain are: Goat Production in the Tropics and Goat and Sheep Production in the Tropics.  

He is also a sports enthusiast. He played cricket, hockey and badminton in his younger days, and now follows live telecasts of these sports.  

Devendra hails from Kuala Lumpur where he had his primary and secondary education. He has always been keen on biological sciences. He holds a degree in agricultural science from Lincoln University, New Zealand, a Master’s degree from Universiti Malaya, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham, Britain.   

He started his career as a lecturer at the College of Agriculture, Malaysia (1963-66), and then as animal nutritionist at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad (1969-71). Between 1971 and 1984, he worked as Principal Research Officer in the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, focusing on fundamental and applied animal nutrition projects.  

From 1984 to 1994, he served as Senior Programme Officer for the Animal Production Systems (Asia) programme at the Canadian International Development Research Centre in Singapore. He participated in over 80 research projects in 13 Asian countries, Latin America and Africa.   

He was a member of the sub-committee on Animal Nutrition for the United States National Research Council and tasked with producing a study on “Nutrient Requirements for Goats”.   

From 1995 to 2002, he served as senior associate with the International Livestock Research Institute, and managed the crop-animal systems network project in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.   

He has received many awards in recognition of his efforts. He was the first Asian to receive the International Dairy Production Award from the American Dairy Science Association (1989). He was also the recipient of the Medal of Honour from the Minister of Agriculture in Vietnam (1991), Lincoln University International Alumni Medal from New Zealand (2004), and the Asian Animal Science Award from South Korea (2004). He is a Fellow of the Malaysian Society of Animal Production.

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This article was published in the Star (Malaysian newspaper) on 5th September 2005.

Currently, in 2016, Dr Devendra is still actively involved in writing and publishing.

Update in 2017:

On 16th September 2017, in Starmetro, an article by Priya Menon reported that the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA), honoured Malaysian scientists over the age of 80 who are still conributing towards the advancement of Science, at an Awards Nite 2017. Dr Canagasaby Devendra was one of the recipients for the Senior Member Certificate of Recognition.

Quoting Priya Menon: "Dr Canagasaby, who specialised in animal production systems and the environment, believes sharing knowledge is important. This belief has kept him going and he has built a name for himself in the windows of opportunity that have come his way. His main concern has been in improving the nation's ability to increase food production through the use of natural resources with community-based participation from farmers."

"Dr Canagasaby has written 24 books and about 500 publications. He said that Science must provide solutions to growing challenges and demands in an environment of reduced resoirces and diminishing funding." 

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Wheels of change

Our first family car, a Morris Minor in the 1960s:
Car number - JA 1395

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. I was driving my mother in my new car to Seremban to visit my aunt. In this modern age, a car is a necessity. As long as public transport is inefficient, people will continue to drive their own cars to get to their destination.   

Many of us seniors have been driving since the age of 18. We still need to drive, whether it is to work, to shop, to pay bills, to visit family and friends, to attend functions, to go for recreation or to run errands (for children, grandchildren or elderly parents). As long as we are healthy, have good vision and hearing, and we avoid peak hours, we hope to drive well into our golden years.    

That morning, I was driving on the slow lane of the highway. A lorry moving in front was a wee bit slow. I flashed my right indicator light and eased into the fast lane to overtake it. The driver of a car, who was very far behind, honked annoyingly. He accelerated and came very close to my car, almost kissing it.   

After overtaking the lorry, I moved back to the slow lane with as much calm as I could muster. Within seconds, the same car overtook me. I glanced at the driver. He stared angrily at me, and he gave me the finger. Mr Kiasu’s young handsome looks were somehow spoiled by his ugly behaviour.   

Mr Kiasu did not go far. Soon a queue built up on the fast lane. I heard a screeching sound as he applied the brakes. Crash! I did not wait to find out what happened!  

Why are some drivers in such a hurry? Does it matter if they arrive at a certain place 10 minutes later? When accidents happen, it is not only the injured who suffer but their family members, friends and other road users too, not to mention the wastage of money and invaluable time.   

Once upon a time, it was a pleasure to own a car and drive around town. I remember our first family car, a Morris Minor, in the 1960s. Although not equipped with air-conditioning, radio or compact disc player, it took us places and taught us family values.  

 

Our family car took us places and taught us family values

During weekends and school holidays, my family members and relatives (nine of us young kids, packed like sardines in the small car) enjoyed picnic trips to Templer's Park, Morib, Port Dickson and Mimaland. 

My siblings and I, together with our cousins, remember fondly those fun-filled days of swimming in Morib and Port Dickson, listening to music or our tiny transistor radio and then savouring my mother's curry chicken in the open air.
 

With my mother, siblings and cousins in Morib family: 24 Sept 1962

With my siblings and cousins in Morib:23 April 1966

We used to travel to Kuala Lumpur to watch epic movies. Driving on the old trunk road was relaxing with fresh air, blue skies and green rubber estates for company. For entertainment, we sang our favourite songs (called “oldies” now) throughout the journey.  

Cars of the 1960s were manually operated. We locked car doors using keys and we wind up the car windows by turning a handle below it. We changed gears, from one to four, while accelerating. It  was challenging to change gears without any jerky action. I remember my poor instructor’s anguish when I could not coordinate the clutch and accelerator properly during my driving lessons. Now most cars have automatic gears with functions of drive, reverse, neutral and parking.

On rainy days, driving was distressing. The windscreen wipers could clear the water externally but internally the mist that formed had to be continuously wiped with a piece of cloth. And there was no demister in the rear window – your passengers had to wipe the window dry for you. 

There were no indicator lights for turning right or left. Instead, I had to stretch my right hand out of the window for a right turn, or rotate it anticlockwise to turn left. Some cars had a cute contraption – an eight-inch long ruler-like plastic light – that flicked out from the side panel between the front and rear car-door windows. However, the outstretched hand was a better indicator, although you have to be sure cars do not overtake you at that moment! 

In the 1960s, an outstretched hand like this means I am turning right

Most people could only afford second-hand cars, which often stalled along the roadside due to overheating. Sometimes drivers tried to kick-start the engines themselves using an L-shaped metal bar to crank it back to life.  

During those good old days, drivers and other road users were considerate and helpful. They often gave way to others (women, children, senior citizens and four-legged road-users) with a friendly wave of the hand and a pleasant smile.  

Neighbours were always ready to lend a helping hand. Once, my car could not start and they helped me push it downhill to kick-start the engine. Nowadays, if your car breaks down, you have to call for help (the mechanic, the Automobile Association of Malaysia or the Highway Patrol) on your mobile phone. And you have to be wary of bad hats like thieves, rapists etc. 

Driving was less stressful then. Instead of traffic lights, there were many roundabouts at junctions which ensured smooth driving. However, we had to look out for pedestrians, bicycles, trishaws, motorcycles and the occasional cow or goat.   

Coming back to the present, high technology has made cars easier to handle and efficient to drive. The modern car with touch-button accessories are a boon to seniors.   

 

When I first got my new car, I was apprehensive of the numerous controls and buttons on the dashboard and driver’s door. I had to learn the functions of all the controls before I drive on the road.. I discovered what was amiss when the buzzers or flickering lights came on. I like the power-steering and beeping sounds for reversing which helped me greatly in parallel parking. This is because I am hopeless at parking.  

Numerous controls on the dashboard

 

Many buttons on the car door

I also like the fact that the all the doors are automatically locked soon after I start driving. The rear doors are child-protected for they can be opened from the outside only. This is good when young children or the elderly are in the car. The presence of safety belts, airbags and other safety features give me added confidence when I am on the road.  

 

I’m beginning to enjoy my high-tech car. Just like old cars evolving through the years, changes occur in our life too. If we are willing to learn new things, to accept changes and to adapt to them, our life can be happier and more pleasant.

My hitech car

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This article was published in the Star (Malaysian newspaper) on 16th August 2004. It is edited and photos are included here.

In 2004, I learnt how to handle my modern hitech car and enjoyed the mobility it provided. Now, in 2016, I am still learning and enjoying my "old faithful" hitech car which is 12 years old.