NEELAKANDAN Retnam
Communities of Singapore (Part 2),
Accession Number 001163
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Rajandran Supramaniam
Interviewer
- 01:59:58
Total Running Time
- Tamil
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 14 May 1990
Recording Date
- 00:30:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Personal background. Father a farmer; mother housewife. Nine children in family. Mother brought him to Kuala Lumpur at infant stage. Attended school; subjects studied. Twenty years stay in Malaysia. Worked as shop assistant in provision shop. Experience in selling and dealing with customers became a permanent career later.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 14 May 1990
Recording Date
- 00:30:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Lived in Kuantan during Japanese Occupation. Living conditions: poverty, food shortages, looting prevalent. Many horrendous incidents such as brutal murders of Chinese particularly by Japanese. Sister's husband killed. Those seen in streets in groups shot to death. Spot checks and curfews from time to time. Worked as peon and protected by a Japanese official's Chinese mistress.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 14 May 1990
Recording Date
- 00:30:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Came to Singapore in 1963. Salesman at Kishan Departmental Store, High Street. Salary $400 for 3 months. Joined Patan Departmental Store, High Street. Earned salary $900 when he left service. Sales supervisor for 10 years. The Thakarals and Natwarnis were Sindhi business entrepreneurs. Joined V K Kayana Sundram & Sons until now at Serangoon Plaza. Married in 1964; his family. In 1963, lived in Hindoo Road, later Kampong Bahru and now Yishun Ring Road.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 14 May 1990
Recording Date
- 00:29:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Daily routine - reading religious books, ancient classics, reciting religious hymns and mantras in prayers. Believes that one can purify oneself and be protected by God. Active member of Sri Mariamman Temple. Raised fund of $6,000 in 1984. Daily visit to Veerama Kaliamman Temple. Fastings on Mondays for Lord Shiva, Tuesdays for Lord Murugan and Fridays for all deities. Only vegetarian diet on these three days.
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