Cecil Rajendra (born 1941) is a Malaysian poet and lawyer.^[1][2] His poems have been published in more than 50 countries and translated into several languages.^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Penang, Rajendra completed his education at St. Xavier's Institution (elementary), the University of Singapore (undergraduate), and Lincoln's Inn (legal, London).^[2]

Career

Rajendra, nicknamed 'The Lawyer-Poet', writes controversial poems that address human rights and environmental problems. As an attorney, his work has focused on helping poorer people who are in need of legal aid. He is a co-founder of Penang Legal Aid Centre (PLAC).^[4]

Working with photographer Ismail Hasim, Rajendra explored the backstreets of the island of Penang before the pair compiled and published Scent of an Island, a collection of poetry and black-and-white photographs of Penang.^[5]

In 1993 he had his passport taken from him by the Malaysian government, to prevent him from traveling. A Malaysian High Commission spokesman stated, "Mr Rajendra's passport was retained for his anti-logging activities, which it was felt could damage the country's image overseas".^[6]

Recognition

In 2005, Rajendra was awarded the first Malaysian Lifetime Humanitarian Award "in recognition of his pioneering legal aid work and exemplary poetry".^[3] Also in 2005 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, which went to Harold Pinter.^[7]

Published works

Poetry

• Embryo (Regency, 1965)
• Bones and Feathers (Heinemann, Writing in Asia Series, 1978, ISBN 978-0686603337)
• Refugees & Other Despairs (Choice Books, 1980)
• Hour of Assassins (1983; Bogle-L'Ouverture Press, 1993, ISBN 978-0904521290)
• Songs for the Unsung... Poems on Unpoetic Issues like War and Want, and Refugees (World Council of Churches, 1983, ISBN 978-2825407851)
• Child of the Sun (Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, 1986; Bogle-L'Ouverture Press, 1993, ISBN 978-0904521382)
• Dove on Fire: Poems on Peace, Justice and Ecology (World Council of Churches, 1986, ISBN 978-2825408995)
• Lovers, Lunatics & Lallang (Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, 1989, ISBN 978-0904521474)
• Broken Buds (Friends of Bogle [distributor], 1994, ISBN 978-8185569086)
• Personal & Profane
• Leave-taking

Books

• No Bed of Roses: The Rose Chan Story (Marshall Cavendish International Asia, 2013, ISBN 978-9814408202)