KUMANAYAKE, D J A
Communities of Singapore (Part 2),
Accession Number 000417
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 14
Total Reels
- Daniel Chew (Dr)
Interviewer
- 06:41:29
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 14
Metadata
- 26 Mar 1984
Recording Date
- 00:28:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Family background. He came to Malaya in 1929. His career history. Parents' background. History of European colonisation of Ceylon. Siblings in family. Only eldest sister still alive. Size of village. After mother's death, stayed with mother's eldest sister, who later brought him to Malaya. His education in Ceylon. Living conditions then. Entertainment in village. Family discipline.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 14
Metadata
- 26 Mar 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:43
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Type of food served at home. Religious practices. Religion taught at school. Vesak Day celebration in Ceylon compared to that in Singapore. Grandmother's funeral. Weddings in village. His journey to Malaya by boat as deck passenger. Disembarked at Penang; travelled to Kuala Lumpur by train. How he felt on leaving Ceylon. Life on board ship.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 14
Metadata
- 7 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Studied in Ipoh from 1929-32. Impression of Ipoh. Went alone to Singapore in 1932 when sister and brother-in-law transferred there. First impression of Singapore. Stayed at brother-in-law's railway quarters at Tank Road. Sister died. Shifted to quarters at Kampong Bahru - site of new Railway Station. Transportation then: trolley bus, rickshaw. Fares charged. How he got himself admitted to Victoria Bridge School.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 14
Metadata
- 7 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:28:55
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Joined Standard 7. His teachers in school. After Junior Cambridge, brother-in-law sent him back to Ceylon. How he returned with classmate's help to finish Senior Cambridge. His livelihood that year. After graduation, first worked in rubber estate; taught at Mercantile School, then as proof-reader in Japanese printing firm. Joined Custom and Excise in 1941 as temporary clerk. Comparing his salary to that of other jobs.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 14
Metadata
- 7 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Jobless after British Surrender. Stayed with friend at Harbour Board quarters. Later found job as receptionist in motorcar workshop in Johore Bahru. Organisational structure. Relationship with Japanese boss. Wages not sufficient; did black marketing. How he commuted daily to Johore. No social activities then. Learned Japanese for 2 years and later taught at workshop. How Japanese treated Indian community.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 14
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:27:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How other communities were treated. Chinese suffered most. How he was aware of decline in war effort. Workshop closed. B29s came to bomb daily. Witnessed Allied forces landing in harbour. Re-posted back for duty at City Hall. Nature of job in Food Control Division. Insufficient food. Black market. Heard of revenge killings. How Japanese Occupation affected him. Later returned to administration work in Customs Department.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 14
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:27:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Comparison of service and conditions of permanent and temporary clerks. He became champion of rights for temporary clerks. Temporary clerks required to pass exams to become permanent. Made permanent staff in 1955. In 1959 promoted to Executive Officer service. No vacancy in Customs, transferred to Marine Department. Senior clerks there resented his presence.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 14
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1984
Recording Date
- 00:27:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Transferred to Mercantile Marine Office in 1968 as acting Higher Executive Officer. Nature of job there. Had only one clerk to assist him. Stress in his job. Incident of being attacked by a seaman once. Another incident of his clerk forging his signature and also case of senior expatriate officer being caught for taking bribes. Relationship of locals with expatriates.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 14
Metadata
- 8 Mar 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Career history. His various promotion in Customs and Excise Department. Retired in 1972. Further elaboration of frustrations encountered in Mercantile Marine Office. Family life. Married at 33 years. Arranged marriage to girlin Ceylon. Wife's background. Simple wedding in Singapore. No customary temple ceremony for Sri Lanka Buddhists. His children. Social values he imparted to them.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 14
Metadata
- 8 Mar 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Religious upbringing. Sent to Sunday School in temple. Difficulty faced in getting monks. Need English-speaking monks; Sinhalese children do not know Sinhalese. No where to learn Sinhalese except in temple. His views that Sinhalese community would become extinct. Acivities of Sinhalese Association and Singapore Sinhala Buddhist Association. Ceylon pioneer corps came in 1946; donated money to buy land for temple.
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