PERUMBULAVIL, Vilasini (Mrs)
The Public Service,
Accession Number 002437
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 26
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 12:51:24
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 26
Metadata
- 28 Sep 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) Family background. Father was a general practitioner.
(0:02:04) Family lived at Mackenzie Road, Paya Lebar Road, and Boundary Road.
(0:07:18) Father read widely with a keen interest in history, literature, and poetry.
(0:09:24) Cousin from India was taught by Miss Ruth Wong during the war.
(0:10:38) She and her cousin also had the opportunity to learn South Indian classical music.
(0:13:02) Thoughts of working in a National Library.
(0:15:43) Talked about her siblings and their education at Miss Buxton's Kindergarten at Gilstead Road in 1938. And then at Raffles Girls' School (RGS) from 1940 to 1941.
(0:18:02) Impression of her teachers and school activities.
(0:22:39) Anecdotes of being left alone at Victoria Street and Lily Dispensary.
(0:26:12) Joined Brownies at RGS. She vaguely remembers the activities that Brownies were involved in.
(0:27:45) Recollection of her friends at RGS.
Family background. Father was a general practitioner. Family lived at Mackenzie Road, Paya Lebar Road and Boundary Road. Father read widely. Cousin was taught by Dr. Ruth Wong during the war. Learnt South Indian classical music. Thoughts of working in a library. Siblings. Attended Miss Buxton's Kindergarten at Gilstead Road. Studied at Raffles Girls' School (RGS) from 1940 to 1941. Impression of her teachers and school activities. Anecdotes of being left alone at Victoria Street and Lily Dispensary. Joined Brownies at RGS. Recollection of her friends at RGS.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 26
Metadata
- 28 Sep 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Continued with her recollection of Subash Chandra Bose, Dr S. Lakshmi, and the Indian National Army (INA).
(0:02:48) Incident where the INA helped her family.
(0:05:21) How people cope with food supply and rations back then.
(0:08:12) Death of people through illness mainly due to lack of facilities during the war.
(0:10:10) Visit by General Hideki Tojo to Singapore.
(0:10:46) Studied Japanese and sewing at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (PLMGS). She also studied Hindi at home.
(0:13:16) A class teacher organised a tea party. Had a high-ranking Japanese soldier as a guest.
(0:13:56) Impression of a pretty Eurasian female student at PLMGS.
(0:15:44) Disappointment over the lack of information on Indian pioneers in Singapore.
(0:18:55) The Chettiar community’s contribution to the development of Singapore.
(0:21:41) Recollection of events which culminated in the Japanese surrender.
(0:26:39) Sent a telegram to India after the war, and the family was reunited in 1947.
Recollection of Subash Chandra Bose, Dr. S. Lakshmi and the Indian National Army (INA). Incident where the INA helped her family. Food supply and rations. Death of people through illness. Visit by General Hideki Tojo to Singapore. Studied Japanese and sewing at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (PLMGS). Studied Hindi at home. Party thrown by a teacher. Impression of a female student at PLMGS. Disappointment over the lack of information on Indian pioneers in Singapore. Recollection of events which culminated in the Japanese surrender. Sent a telegram to India after the war, and family was reunited in 1947.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 26
Metadata
- 28 Sep 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:41
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Talked about teachers at Raffles Girls' School (RGS) before and after the war.
(0:05:48) Students at RGS were sent to watch films and operas.
(0:07:47) She excelled in current events but did not do well in art.
(0:10:01) Reminiscence of several students at RGS.
(0:13:25) Recalled watching the plays "Macbeth" and "Richard II" – which made a big impact on her.
(0:18:17) Recollection of teachers, students and subjects when she did her post-school certificate at St. Andrew's School, 1952-1953.
(0:23:10) Subjects she took at the University of Malaya, 1953-1958.
(0:25:27) Completing her thesis in History at the university.
(0:29:20) Vague recollection of meeting Lee Kuan Yew during her university days.
(0:29:58) Recollection of her lecturers.
Teachers at Raffles Girls' School (RGS) before and after the war. Students sent to watch films and operas. Took up Current Events and Art. Reminiscence of several students at RGS. Recalled watching the plays "Macbeth" and "Richard II". Recollection of teachers, students and subjects when she did her post-school certificate at St. Andrew's School, 1952-1953. Subjects she took at University of Malaya, 1953-1958. Completing her thesis in History at university. Vague recollection of meeting Lee Kuan Yew. Recollection of her lecturers.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 26
Metadata
- 10 Oct 2000
Recording Date
- 00:31:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Recollection of her lecturers and students at the University of Malaya, 1953-1958.
(0:06:27) Rushing through assignments at university. She enjoyed her university years.
(0:08:24) Styles and outlook of History lecturers.
(0:10:02) She enjoyed Chikera’s lectures on Shakespeare.
(0:13:35) Other works she had to do apart from Shakespeare.
(0:18:51) She studied mainly Malayan and Indonesian history.
(0:25:32) Did not take part in campus activities. She deemed herself as a very passive person.
(0:27:13) Fellow students of her brother who attended the same university.
(0:27:50) Impression of ragging and why it was finally banned.
Recollection of her lecturers and students at University of Malaya, 1953-1958. Rushing through assignments at university. Styles and outlook of lecturers. Literature texts at university. Studied mainly Malayan and Indonesian history. Did not take part in campus activities. Fellow students of her brother at university. Impression of ragging.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 26
Metadata
- 10 Oct 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Continued with her impression of ragging at the University of Malaya.
(0:01:09) The reason she studied for a Diploma of Education in 1958.
(0:02:31) After completing her diploma, she briefly taught at Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School in 1959.
(0:05:06) Joined the National Library (NL) in October 1959.
(0:05:57) Graduates were beginning to join the NL as the library was opening its doors to them.
(0:08:20) Shifting to the new premise in 1960.
(0:09:40) Impression of the NL services in 1959 before the move.
(0:13:44) Impression of last expatriate Director L M Harrod.
(0:17:30) Archives kept in the NL. No microfilms back then.
(0:19:24) Book orders and selection. Harrod alone undertook the responsibility of choosing books.
(0:22:08) Consequence of the arrival of Colombo Plan scholars in 1961.
(0:23:42) Staff of the NL in 1960.
(0:26:25) Beginnings of Reference Services and how it expanded.
(0:28:02) Fiction books were about English society. The children’s section was given a complete overhaul.
Impression of ragging at University of Malaya. Why she studied for a Diploma of Education in 1958. Taught at Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School briefly in 1959. Joined the National Library (NL) in October 1959. Graduates were beginning to join NL. Shifting to the new premises in 1960. Impression of NL services in 1959. Impression of Director L M Harrod. Archives kept in NL. Book orders and selection. Consequence of the arrival of Colombo Plan scholars in 1961. Staff of NL in 1960. Beginnings of Reference Services. Fiction books were about English society.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 26
Metadata
- 10 Oct 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:41
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Developing the Reference Services at the National Library (NL).
(0:04:33) Other staff who were also helping in the Reference Services.
(0:07:10) Archives and the Microfilm Unit at the NL.
(0:10:54) Impressions of the staff and facilities of the New Zealand Library School (NZLS), where she studied in 1963.
(0:13:26) She explained the country library services concept in New Zealand.
(0:15:47) Lectures on library services at NZLS.
(0:17:42) Impression of the staff and services in the public libraries of Dunedin.
(0:22:39) Skills picked up in non-public libraries like Parliament Library and Library for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
(0:24:04) Her name was listed in the New Zealand National Bibliography as part of a major assignment she had to do.
(0:27:35) Accommodation in New Zealand. Impression of her landlords.
Developing the Reference Services at National Library (NL). Archives and the Microfilm Unit at NL. Impressions of the staff and facilities of New Zealand Library School (NZLS), where she studied in 1963. Country library services in New Zealand. Lectures on library services at NZLS. Impression of the staff and services in the public libraries of Dunedin. Skills picked up in non-public libraries. Assignment was listed in the New Zealand National Bibliography. Accommodation in New Zealand. Impression of her landlords.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 26
Metadata
- 10 Oct 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:09
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) Recollection of her landlords in New Zealand.
(0:02:18) Anecdote of a trip back from a Louis Armstrong concert.
(0:04:30) She kept in touch with her landlords even after she returned to Singapore.
(0:07:50) Talked about the loss of her travellers' cheques.
(0:10:55) Impression of New Zealand in 1963. Regretted not having Maori friends.
(0:12:46) She enjoyed studying children's literature at the New Zealand Library School (NZLS).
(0:14:55) How she came to work in the Children's Services after her return to the National Library (NL).
(0:18:11) She explained why is there a need for Children's Services at NL.
(0:21:13) Selection of authors for children’s books.
(0:23:13) Development of the Children's Services. The key people involved.
(0:26:32) Conducting book talks in schools when YP (Young People) Services started.
(0:27:49) Promoting reading for children.
Recollection of her landlords in New Zealand. Anecdote of a trip back from a Louis Armstrong concert. What happened to her landlords after she left New Zealand. Loss of her travellers' cheques. Impression of New Zealand in 1963. Regrets not having Maori friends. Enjoyed studying children's literature at New Zealand Library School (NZLS). How she came to work in Children's Services after her return to the National Library (NL). Need for Children's Services at NL. Authors of children's books. Development of the Children's Services. Book talks in schools. Promoting reading for children.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 26
Metadata
- 19 Oct 2000
Recording Date
- 00:30:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Beginnings and role of the National Book Development Council (NBDC).
(0:02:31) She felt that librarians should support the Library Association of Singapore (LAS). The LAS had very good participation from all types of libraries.
(0:04:43) Organisation of activities for children.
(0:08:15) Budgetary concerns for the National Library (NL) when setting up the Children’s Services.
(0:10:16) Parents' workshops in the 1970s.
(0:12:26) She spoke at length about her experiences collaborating with the Institute of Education and NTUC.
(0:16:58) Impression that advice from the staff of Children's and Young People's Services at NL was not taken seriously in the 1980s.
(0:23:00) Impression of Hedwig Anuar as Director of NL.
(0:24:23) Problems with books by English authors in Children's Services.
(0:26:59) Experiences with book illustrators. She emphasised that book illustration is a totally different art form.
Beginnings and role of the National Book Development Council (NBDC). Feels librarians should support the Library Association of Singapore (LAS). Organisation of activities for children. Budgetary concerns for National Library (NL). Parents' workshops in the 1970s. Impression that advice from the staff of Children's and Young People's Services at NL were not taken seriously in the 1980s. Impression of Hedwig Anuar as Director of NL. Problems with books by English authors in Children's Services. Experiences with book illustrators.
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