Abstract In 1905, Ambi was born to a dirt-poor family in the arid Jaffna peninsula in North Sri Lanka. At his death century later, he was eulogised as the much loved and revered Mr Education in the modern bustling city of Singapore. He describes and reflects on his life. He provides fascinating glimpses of life […]
SNAKES AND LADDERSOF MY LIFE An Autobiography V. AMBIAVAGAR 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 […]
Born in 1905, I spent the first decade of my life in a village in the arid peninsular of Jaffna in northern Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). The widow Nagamuthu married widower Sivasambar in the village of Sandilipay North Jaffna, Ceylon. As a product of this union, I leapt into the world on 20th […]
Life in my home village of Sandilipai North The sand lane beyond our compound on the left fizzled into two broad paths turning right and left. The right one led to two cottages, one of which later belonged to my uncle, a retired stationmaster whom I visited in 1952. The path on the left split […]
Migration After his wedding, Kumarasingam arranged for my mother and me to return to Kuala Lumpur with him. We were to go by train from Jaffna to Colombo, and thence sail by ship to from Colombo to Singapore. From Singapore, we would go by train to Kuala Lumpur in Malaya. The prospect was not exciting. […]
Ambi walked down memory lane to view the flat above the Kajang post office My teen years From the age of 11 until age 28, I shuttled between various dwellings and living arrangements, with no family or home to call my own. At best, I was a burden to my stepbrother, who was my guardian. […]
Methodist Boys’ School (MBS), Kuala Lumpur Incorrect date of birth In September 1916, my uncle, Ponnampalam, who didn’t know my date of birth, registered me at the Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur and gave my date of birth as 4th July, 1907. I myself did not know my date of birth. Two years later, my […]
66 years later Ambi visits the MBS class where Proebestel profoundly influenced his life Dr. Proebestel enters my life Late in 1922, I had come under the mesmeric influence of Dr. Proebestel towards the end of my Junior Cambridge year. I remember his interest in me with a deep sense of gratitude. His influence was […]
Click here to view the school history Experiences in applying for jobs While awaiting my Senior Cambridge results, I returned to Kuala Lumpur to consider what I was going to do in life. In response to my request, Uncle Sinnapoo said he was prepared to pay half my expenses to study Law in England if […]
Ambi on his 75th birthday with Pathmanathan and Prof Sandosham. Episodes and Encounters that Shaped My Life Editor’s note: This chapter contains extracts from various periods of Ambiavagar’s life. I have collated them into a single chapter to provide insights into the influences in his life. 1917 (Aged 12) Kajang Bullying Mr. Oswald my teacher […]
I begin a graduate programme but the scholarship is a pittance I responded to a circular inviting applications from trainees and teachers for indentured scholarships for a Diploma in Arts or Science in Raffles College. I am ever grateful to my two friends, T.E.L Retnam and Ben Dudley who signed my guaranty form. However, shortly […]
My disappointment at returning to Primary School Radin Mas I started my qualified teaching career with an unexpected obstacle. Since I was a graduate teacher, I had expected a posting to a secondary school. Contrary to expectations, I received a posting back to Radin Mas, my former primary school. When I protested, the authorities told […]
Teacher in Raffles Institution (R.I.). After a full week of holidaying, I returned to Singapore to prepare for work and cricket. The school year had four terms. At the beginning of the second term, I reported at Raffles Institution for work. Mr. McLeod assigned me Standard 6 A to teach all subjects, except General Science. […]
Marriage? While most of my colleagues prepared for marriage, I saw no prospect of it for myself for various reasons. I would not consider it unless I came across a girl I truly liked. My community did not allow girls to meet boys and stopped their schooling in their early teens; therefore, I had no […]
Japanese Invasion World War II caught us by surprise. Putting things in perspective and reflecting on history, it seems to me that World War I was a conflict that arose from a philosophy of “might is right” associated with unbridled greed and power. It ended with the defeat of Germany. Britain enlarged its empire and […]
Post-war Education saw a succession of changes. It would be appropriate to interrupt the chronology of my story. I want to summarise my personal views of the key features in the historical development of Education in Singapore (1916 to 1959) that contributed to the conflicts that characterised the early years of Singapore’s transition from Crown […]
The emerging new State of Singapore provided a dynamic backdrop to my life. Three parallel threads characterised my life. Firstly, my family and I adjusted to the evolving circumstances of life in Singapore. Secondly, I became deeply involved in rehabilitating and re-establishing Raffles Institution to its rightful role as a premier school. Thirdly and finally, […]
The reopening of English Schools 1945. Immediately after the liberation of Singapore, a number of expatriate British officers, released from war prisons, set about reestablishing services. Cheeseman appointed the most senior graduate teachers, namely, N. I. Low and H. N. Balhatchet, together with Frank James, from the Aided Schools, to organise the English medium schools. […]
Success in our fight for Back Pay: 1947 I was the chairperson of the Singapore Teachers’ Association. In that capacity, I became a member of an Action Committee representing all employees of the Government. The Committee chose me as one of the three delegates to appear before the Governor of Singapore and members of the […]
My career milestones 1925-1928 Student, Teacher Training College (Normal) – Chapter 7 Jan 1927 Student teacher Radin Mas School– Chapter 7 1928-1931 Student, Raffles College– Chapter 9 1931 Teacher, Radin Mas School– Chapter 10 1932-1941 Teacher, Raffles Institution– Chapter 11 1942-1945 WORLD WAR II– Chapter 13 1945-1953 Teacher, Raffles Institution– Chapter 16 & 17 Jan […]
Having departed from the Ministry of Education, I began my life “in retirement” without pre-laid plans. I was pleased to find I had made more truly genuine friends than I had anticipated. Several of them, who were my former colleagues, dropped in for a chat and demonstrated their regard for me. New work opportunities During […]