An Untold Story – A Remembrance

My Tata, Ragavan, was born to Great-grandfather Murugan and Great-grandmother Ellamal on 26th August 1924 in the small village of Utheramalur, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. He was the second child after his sister, Pachiammal and followed by his brother, SivapragasamWhen Great-grandfather Murugan passed away at a very early stage of his life, Great-grandmother Eellama made a bold decision to board a ship to the promising land, Malaya (today known as Malaysia). The ship docked at Carey Island, Port Klang. They lived there for some time before they found their way to a little town called Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur where she worked as a midwife as well as domestic helper for the upper class civil servant from the Indian community that worked for the Railway Department. They lived in a small house located at the present, Palm Court Condominium, Brickfields. Not long after that, Tata’s little brother was down with fever and passed away. He was buried at the present Fatimah Church, Brickfields.

Tata got his early education at Vivekananda Tamil School. He studied up to 7th standard and was unable to pursue his studies due to poverty. With his mother’s determination and acquaintances with the upper class civil servants, she managed to secure a job for Tata at the Telecommunications Department of Malaya, later known as Telekom Malaysia. However, fate was not on his side, and was bullied for a week by his superiors. He was forced to coat the pile of woods (used for the positioning cable), with hot tar, to prevent from being rotten. He came back home with blisters on his hand. Unable to bear the pain for her son, his mother marched to the officer, and demanded that he honoured his promise, i.e to employ Tata as “fitter”. By the time he retired, he moved all the way up to superintendent of workshop.

Fate was not on his side again with the arrival of the Japanese to Malaya. The British left, the telecommunication system was destroyed and the department became irrelevant. It was a tough time, he was jobless and survival was essential. There were many incidents but the one that Tata shared most was how he survived from the bomb blast just a couple of feet away from him, hiding under the tunnel by the Klang River near Kuan Cheng School, Brickfields. The only damaged to him was being unable to hear for some time due to the loud bang! He also managed to escape from being captured by the Japanese to be sent to build the Death Railway Track in Burma. Instead, he worked for them as a labourer, loading and unloading sacks of rice. He picked up Japanese language which he remembered for a long time. Unfortunately, he was unable to practice it as there was no one else who could speak the language.

Not long after that, the World War II ended and the British returned to Malaya. He managed to keep his position at Telecoms. Just when he thought life was improving, his mother became ill. Fear of leaving her son alone, Great-grandmother Ellammal spoke for the first time about her brother’s wife who lived in KL, with whom she had no contacts for a long time. Encouraged by the words of his mother, he tracked them down. With his determination, he found his aunt, living at the JKR Quarters at Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. Initially, his reception did not go well, but gradually he was accepted by his aunt.

Unlike my Tata, my Patti, Thanapackiam @ Packiam, was born here in Malaya to Kuppusamy and Chinamma, on June 1930 to a family of four, an older brother Arimuthu and her two sisters; Muniamma and Letchumy. Her father soon passed away after the birth of her youngest sister. She had her early education at a Punjabi-based school. Her school-free days were filled with taking care of her younger siblings and learning housework as well as doing handiwork such as knitting and sewing.

Tata was a handsome, good looking, sturdy man and had loads and loads of admirers. But, till his last breath he never talked about any lady but just one that touched his heart, the one that had beautiful long hair with flawless fair skin, smile of a gem and peeped from the tiny space in between the wall. They got married on 5th of September 1946 at the Mariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur.

They were blessed with their first offspring, Rukumani (named after her paternal aunt) on 17th June 1947. Shortly after that, Great-grandmother Ellamal passed away. Tata was devastated. His love for her was beyond words. But as time passed by, the wound healed. His second offspring Sivapregasam (named after his decease brother) was born, at the very same day of their wedding anniversary, 5th September 1949. This was followed by the birth of the third offspring, Yellammal (named after Great-grandmother Eellamal) on 18th June 1951 and fourth offspring, Sundra Mohan on 3rd July 1954.

Long after that, Tata and Patti with their 4 off springs shifted residence from Brickfields to Pantai Valley, today well known as Pantai Dalam. The best story ever told was how he built the house all by himself, with so many different technique and skills. It is said; nothing could move or break what Tata has produced. With the house in place, the offspring was born. Their fifth child, Kamalasegaran was born on 2nd Jan 1956 followed Santha Devi on 9th February 1958, Sargunavathi on 9 August 1959, Pushparani on 12 Feb 1961, Thilakawathy on 11June 1963, and last but not least Jothi Ganes, the youngest of the family born on 8th July 1966.

Tata and Patti struggled to raise their big family, yet they managed to educate all their children. Tata earned extra income by taking outstation jobs that requires him to be away from the family for days, while Patti managed the household on her own during his absence. To further cut down on expenses, food was grown at the backyard utensils were all hand made, from school bags to toys; plates to even cooking apparatus, all were Ragaven Brand. Everything was engraved with his signature, M.RAGAVEN.

His first happiness for a long time was marrying off his first born Rukumani in 1967 and by the time he retired in 1979, 3 of his children were married. Just few months before his retirement, he used his hard-saved money to buy a house at Kelana Jaya, SS5A/1. The family moved from Imbi Road to Kelana Jaya on May 1979. A beautiful 3 rooms house with ample of space at the corner of the house for gardens, where all our produce were grown. From long beans to ladies finger and tapioca, sugar canes, bananas and sour cherries. Every now and then we could here the clucking sound of chicken.

His retirement time was spent with is family and carpentry. He build many things all by himself. When he is not working, he spends time with his grandchildren. One by one his children married and moved out. Finally it was just them, living independently.

  

Patti and Tata were glue who cemented the family together, their home becoming the centre of gatherings. It was their ultimate wish that the family remained united, strong and happy forever. Patti passed away on 11th of April 2012 at Assunta Hospital, followed by Tata on 25th of July 2012 at University Hospital. Together, they left behind ten children, twenty-eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Written by Meerashini Mahadevan
Edited by Shubasini

Reedited by Thilakavathy

Notes:

Tata: Grandfather

Patti: Grandmother