Coffee with Joshua

This morning I had coffee with Joshua. He had messaged me yesterday and suggested that it was time for a chat to catch up with the many things happening in the world.

I got to know Joshua in 2014. I needed to invite a VIP to be the guest of honour for my firm’s event and I was told to liase with Joshua if I wanted this to happen. Until then I didn’t know who Joshua was. We spoke and texted each other for weeks in relation to the invite. The VIP did come for the event and I became friends with Joshua.

At first glance Joshua appears forbidding. After knowing him, he has always been helpful and obliging whenever I have asked him anything.

Over the years he has introduced me to several Indian organisations such as SICCI, Sinda and to many people and community groups. He has been very much involved in community work for a long time. During Covid, he did a lot of work for the migrant workers. I once did a food distribution to migrant workers, who were then locked up in the dorms, in Taman Jurong. He arranged this.

His community and grassroots work spans some 25 years. Some of his contemporaries who started doing the same work have gone on to become MPs or political appointment holders. I have always wondered why he never got picked. He has so much dedication in his work for the community.

He has excellent connections in India and one of my temple visits in India was arranged by him.

There are people in your life you are glad you met. Joshua is one of them.

Our chat this morning was on the electoral boundaries report and who are the likely people either standing up or stepping off this coming elections.