THE BOOK CLUB

Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Chairman and Founder of Sutra Foundation

DATUK RAMLI IBRAHIM
Founder and Chairman of Sutra Foundation

Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl G Jung – “Helped me understand many abstract concepts, such as archetype, individuation, synchronicity, the significance of dream, which allowed me to make connections to my own study of traditional psychotherapy in Malay traditional theatre like Main Teri and Mak Yong.”

The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra – “I have always been fascinated by Eastern mysticism and this book explores its possible association with Quantum Physics.”

No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan – “Gifted to me by a friend, this book clears up a lot of confusion about Islam, while providing a balanced view of Islam’s formative development leading to its present crisis.”

Letters to a Young Architect by Christopher Benninger – “The author is one of India’s most interesting architects, designing many beautiful buildings there. I find a lot of parallels between his work (challenges in establishing an ecosystem in his endeavours) with mine.”

Quest for Architectural Excellence – A Malaysian Experience by Ruslan Khalid – “This was a particularly interesting read; it was published posthumously, and exposes many flaws and current corrupt practices in the construction of Malaysian buildings.”

Rethinking Odissi by Dinanath Pathy – “An active collaborator of Sutra Foundation, she’s a bold and intelligent woman as reflected in this book. This book was a born out of the criticisms she received for supporting Sutra Foundation in the use of ordni (a sash around the front of the female dancer’s blouse).”

The Hindus – An Alternative History by Wendy Doniger – “A marvellous read offering alternate views on the accepted social, political and religious views in India (probably why it was banned there).”

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – “To me, this is Roy’s best work. It’s sensitive and authentic.”

The Other Malaysia by Farish A Noor – “A collection of articles and essays by Farish Noor, it gave me an insight into the diversity of Malaysian social, political and religious perspectives in both the past and present.”

The Age of Kali by William Dalrymple – “This is fantastic reading for those who love South Asia. William Dalrymple gives us a well-researched picture with what really happened in some parts of India and Sri Lanka.”