Abstract
Abstract In 1905, Ambi was born to a dirt-poor family in the arid Jaffna peninsula in North Sri Lanka. At his death […]
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Prologue
SNAKES AND LADDERSOF MY LIFE An Autobiography V. AMBIAVAGAR 1905-2002 My Father My beloved father, Ambiavagar, wrote his autobiography in spurts of […]
Chapter 1
Jaffna: Childhood Insecurity 1905-16
Born in 1905, I spent the first decade of my life in a village in the arid peninsular of Jaffna in northern […]
Chapter 2
Reflections: Life In Jaffna
Life in my home village of Sandilipai North The sand lane beyond our compound on the left fizzled into two broad paths […]
Chapter 3
Migration: New Horizons, Fresh Sorrows 1916 – 17
Migration After his wedding, Kumarasingam arranged for my mother and me to return to Kuala Lumpur with him. We were to go […]
Chapter 4
Teen Years Experiences and Escapades: Without Family or Fixed Abode
Ambi walked down memory lane to view the flat above the Kajang post office My teen years From the age of 11 […]
Chapter 5
School Years: Boyhood Mischief and Sports Craze Methodist Boys School
Methodist Boys’ School (MBS), Kuala Lumpur Incorrect date of birth In September 1916, my uncle, Ponnampalam, who didn’t know my date of […]
Chapter 6
The Watershed Years of My Schooling: 1923-24
66 years later Ambi visits the MBS class where Proebestel profoundly influenced his life Dr. Proebestel enters my life Late in 1922, […]
Chapter 7
My Beginnings as a Teacher. 1925-28
Click here to view the school history Experiences in applying for jobs While awaiting my Senior Cambridge results, I returned to Kuala […]
Chapter 8
Episodes and Encounters that Shaped My Life
Ambi on his 75th birthday with Pathmanathan and Prof Sandosham. Episodes and Encounters that Shaped My Life Editor’s note: This chapter contains […]
Chapter 9
Trials of Life: Joys of Raffles College 1928-31
I begin a graduate programme but the scholarship is a pittance I responded to a circular inviting applications from trainees and teachers […]
Chapter 10
Dawn of a Lifetime Passion: Life as a Teacher 1931-32
My disappointment at returning to Primary School Radin Mas I started my qualified teaching career with an unexpected obstacle. Since I was […]
Chapter 11
Raffles Institution – My Spiritual Home 1932-41
Teacher in Raffles Institution (R.I.). After a full week of holidaying, I returned to Singapore to prepare for work and cricket. The […]
Chapter 12
Adjusting to Marriage 1933-41
Marriage? While most of my colleagues prepared for marriage, I saw no prospect of it for myself for various reasons. I would […]
Chapter 13
Perils and Survival: THE WAR YEARS. 1942-45
Japanese Invasion World War II caught us by surprise. Putting things in perspective and reflecting on history, it seems to me that […]
Chapter 14
The Context of Post-War Changes in Singapore
Post-war Education saw a succession of changes. It would be appropriate to interrupt the chronology of my story. I want to summarise […]
Chapter 15
The Post-war Years: Domestic Adjustments. 1946-52
The emerging new State of Singapore provided a dynamic backdrop to my life. Three parallel threads characterised my life. Firstly, my family […]
Chapter 16
The Post-war Years: Rehabilitation and Re-establishment of Raffles Institution 1945-54
The reopening of English Schools 1945. Immediately after the liberation of Singapore, a number of expatriate British officers, released from war prisons, […]
Chapter 17
Post-war Years: Triumph in campaigning for Parity. 1946-53
Success in our fight for Back Pay: 1947 I was the chairperson of the Singapore Teachers’ Association. In that capacity, I became […]
Chapter 18
Rapid Promotions, Achievements and Frustrations 1955-61
My career milestones 1925-1928 Student, Teacher Training College (Normal) – Chapter 7 Jan 1927 Student teacher Radin Mas School– Chapter 7 1928-1931 […]
Chapter 19
My Years in Retirement 1961-2001
Having departed from the Ministry of Education, I began my life “in retirement” without pre-laid plans. I was pleased to find I […]