SINGAPORE: Through Channels

Several years ago, during World War II, the Japanese district commander at Butterworth, near Singapore, ordered the destruction of a local Hindu temple to make way for an airfield. Local laborers refused to tear down the shrine; the deity who dwelt within, they said, did not want to move. The Japanese gave up. Last week the tactful British, who also want to build an airfield at Butterworth, tried their luck in their own way. They approached the Hindu god through proper diplomatic channels—a local poojari, or medium. After spreading the temple liberally with sweet-smelling blossoms, coconuts, saffron and camphor, the poorjari cut off the heads of several roosters and sprinkled their blood on the ground. Then he sat down on the sharp edge of a knife and went into a trance.

After a few minutes he came out of the trance and told a representative of the Air Ministry that the god was willing to move, provided the R.A.F. would build him a new shrine nearby. The Ministry man nodded agreement.

The poojari went into another trance. After a brief spell he emerged once more. Everything was all set, he reported, and for good measure the god offered his blessings to all concerned.