OF MY LIFE
An Autobiography
1905-2002
My Father
My beloved father, Ambiavagar, wrote his autobiography in spurts of energy over a fifteen-year period. Initially, he used pen and paper, and sent them to me to be typed. I introduced him to PCs and WordPerfect in 1990. He taught himself to type and spent many long hours at the computer writing and revising his memoirs using his two-finger method. For him, it was a labour of love. He gave me several versions of the soft copies and a couple of hard copies. I have endeavoured to retain the flavour of his narrative, while rearranging the text for a better story line and removing redundancies. In addition, I have created chapters, inserted chapter titles and subtitles, a timeline, photographs and explanatory notes.
During the last two decades of his life, he gave several interviews to journalists and historians. These are available in the news archives and the living history museum in Singapore. His autobiography includes the substance of those interviews.
Indra Pathmanathan, Editor
Who am I?
What forces shaped my life and
my personality?
I am writing this to inform my progeny and friends the ills and thrills I experienced in rising from very unpromising beginnings to a satisfactory course of life that stretched into ninety odd years.
My children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: I hope this story will give you a greater understanding of your roots.
I did not enjoy the luxuries most of you had, because I had no father, and knew my mother only as a little child could know his mother. For most of my life, I longed that it had been otherwise.
Hence, I sit in my twilight years, struggling with pen and paper, and subsequently trying to master basic computing skills. In these pages, I relive the years of my past, and trust my memory is clear and just.
My ancestors were Tamils eking out a living in the arid Jaffna peninsula situated in north Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). My story, though unique in itself, is also illustrative of the lives, ambitions, trials and tribulations, opportunities and hurdles of the generation born in Jaffna at the start of the 20th century.
Sandilipay is a village located 10 km from the City of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Ambiavagar: timeline of his autobiography
Born in Jaffna “in a mud walled, windowless thatched hut, on a mat stretched on the earth floor,”
Attended a Tamil village school in Jaffna
Enrolled in Kantharodai bi-lingual school in Jaffna. He was undernourished and felt like a misfit in the school where his classmates already had two years of English education. He used to walk two miles to school, with no food.
Brought to Malaya by his uncle. September 1916: Enrolled in Standard 3 Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur.
Methodist Boys’ School (MBS) Kuala Lumpur
1917: Moved to Kajang when his brother was promoted to Assistant Post Master, and he commuted daily to KL.
May 1917: His mother died leaving him an orphan.
Failed the Junior School Certificate exam – and this was a watershed moment in his life. According to him, it shocked him into paying more attention to studies and limiting the time spent on sporting activities.
He had to leave Kuala Lumpur to go to Singapore to live with another relative, because his uncle was transferred once again. He sought admission to Raffles Institution, and was pleasantly surprised when the Principal Mr Bishop admitted him without any questions, on the strength of his certificate from MBS.
Passed the School Certificate examination.
He returned to KL to await his results and was under pressure to apply for various jobs including technical studies, railways or postal services. His teacher/mentor Dr Proebstel of MBS advised him to apply for teacher training.
him to apply for teacher training.
Teacher Training (Normal) in Singapore
January 1927: He had secured his first posting as a student teacher at Radin Mas (full-time teaching). He learnt the art of teaching through trial and error and observing experienced teachers. Supervisors observed his teaching and gave practical tips on how to handle classes.
August 1927: He visited Swatow on a Norwegian ship as an assistant to his friend Dr Chan Jim Swee. He gives a graphic account of walking the streets of Swatow. On the return journey, the passengers on the ship (emigrants) suffered due to a cholera outbreak.
He won an indentured scholarship to Raffles College. The Diploma in Arts/Science course had the aim of producing local graduate teachers. 42 enrolled and only 28 graduated. He was among the first batch of graduates.
Started playing hockey in the Ceylon Sports Club (CSC).
On graduation, contrary to his expectations of being posted to a secondary school he was posted to the Radin Mas primary school.
He won a transfer to Raffles Institution, and noted the great difference in the school between his days there as a student and the atmosphere of discipline and scholarship that prevailed in 1932. Developed his passion for teaching and sports.
Marriage followed by birth of eldest two children in 1935 and 1936.
Japanese Occupation
He became the de facto teacher in charge of English in Raffles Institution.
The failed Ceylon venture.
He spearheaded a successful intervention for the adoption of the Singapore Education Scheme that raised salaries and the status of Asian teachers, and gave them better promotion prospects.
Appointed as the “unofficial assistant” to the Principal of Raffles Institution in addition to being the teacher in charge of English.
Acting Principal of Raffles Institution.
Appointed as Grade 1 Specialist English Teacher at Raffles Institution.
Principal Beatty Secondary School. [He was posted there to resolve discipline problems that resulted in a student riot).
Acting Dy Secretary B (Grade F) Ministry of Education. [This posting was supposed to give him the opportunity to develop broader administrative skills such a budget planning, building of new schools, etc].
Moved back to become Principal of Raffles Institution.
Deputy Secretary/Deputy Director A (Grade E) Ministry of Education.
Retired from government service (a few months prematurely).
During retirement:
- University of Malaya: (for four terms) Special Lecturer in English for former students of Chinese High Schools who were seeking admission to university.
- Presented Memorandums to the Lim Tay Boh Commission.
- Had some bouts of serious illness: adenoma of the lung which required removal of one lobe of his lung; cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding) from a weakened blood vessel).
- Gave private tuition in English Language and Literature to a succession of students to enable them to get the required Credit or Distinction that they needed to gain entry into universities.
- Published a book of short stories
- Became an avid golfer and won tournaments late into his eighties.
- Gave several oral history interviews.
- Was honoured by Raffles Institution and the University of Malaya at several key anniversary functions.
- Gained increasing recognition for his contributions to education in Singapore.
- Was a Trustee to Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple for 28 years.
Became a Christian and was baptised.
Passed way