Article 2 Anecdotes of my childhood days

The happiest days of my life were my childhood years when I was living with my Aunt Danibhai and Uncle Singaram Pillay.

I was born in Kamparmalim Estate in Perak in Oct 1946. My father, Karthigesu Naga Muthu  (aka K.N. Muthu) worked as a Conductor in the Rubber Estates of Malaya and was on the move constantly. In those days a Conductor was the most senior local person employed by the British owners of the numerous rubber plantations. I can still remember the Check Roll Book (a huge writing hard cover book the size of a tabloid newspaper) that my father carried to work everyday in which he would record names of all employees in the plantation and their personal particulars (including family members’ details) as well as their daily attendance and other valuable information so that salaries and allowances could be paid to these workers every week. He was a sort of “personnel officer”.

Because he was always moving from estate to estate, my mother and siblings ( 2 brothers and 2 sisters) chose to stay with our aunt (who was my mother’s younger sister) in Malacca.

I was very fortunate to have had the company of my cousins who lived in this big Peranakan terrace house along Bandar Hilir Road. The boys were a motley bunch of rascals who never failed to get the attention of the elders. The quietest boy was Thamboo, eldest son of my mother’s brother (Uncle David) and the notorious one was Selvam, my favourite cousin who always was punished for the “crimes” of the others. Selvam was four or five years old )same age as I) when I first got to know him.  We somehow worked very well together in roaming the kampong, stealing guava, mangoes and rambutans. The others like Danam and Terence ( Uncle Pancras’ son) came along for the kicks. They always got away from punishment though they sometimes committed worse deeds. There was one occasion when we were caught by the Chinese temple owner for stealing “kangkong” from his garden at the urging of  Terence and we had to go beg for ten cents to pay the grumpy old chinaman off. Otherwise he was going to complain to our Uncle Singaram (whom we really feared for our lives).

I can also recall the first time my father beat me when he came to visit us at Bandar Hilir. We the gang of four indulged in a dangerous game of placing sea shells in the middle of the road and taking turns to go touch the shells in between vehicles driving past. You can imagine the risks we took running across the 2 way street. Bandar Hilir was a main thoroughfare for vehicles going to Ujong Pasir and Port Dickson. We were caught by our family doctor, Dr Warner who happened to drive past the house at that time. He informed my Uncle and the next thing we knew, we were brought into the house and each cousin was caned by my uncle while I was punished by my father. It was an unforgettable experience. That was the first and last time we played such games on the street.

Sometimes my mother visited my father in the rubber estate especially when he was quite settled down. One such estate I can remember was Bukit Lintang estate near Alor Gajah. The conductor’s house was a large bungalow with many rooms. I remember feeling frightened especially at night when the kerosene lights are closed and mosquito nets cover the bed. During the day I had plenty to do, especially playing with “Mama” (my father’s brother –in-law) who always followed my father wherever he worked. One day I borrowed my mama’s bicycle (old apek bicycle) and went for a joyride. Imagine a four year old boy cycling a huge bike (putting my legs on the pedals within the triangular shaped frame and balancing the large handle with stiff brake levers. It was sure recipe for an accident. And that’s what happened as I started to speed confidently. A car was approaching on the opposite side on the laterite road and before I knew it I had landed on the drain beside the road, knees bleeding and hands lacerated. Honestly I was more worried about the consequences than the state I was in. Within minutes the estate people had informed my father who came immediately to take me to the “dresser” (a sort of medical person who performs triage services and dispenses medicine to the estate workers). After the treatment came the punishment. Surprisingly the punishment was meted out to my mama who was held responsible for the mishap. To me this was an adventure that was etched in my mind for a long, long time. 

The happiest moments of my childhood were spent in 67 Bandar Hilir Road and I always felt a special love and affection for the place and of course my Uncle, Aunt and cousins. Even now if I do go to Malacca, I would make it a point to pass by the house. Sadly, it has become a ruin as the present owners never took care of the place. I wonder how much pleasure we all had despite the little that we had by way of comforts and luxury. Luxury in the fiftees for me was getting 5 cents to go the small provision shop up the road to buy “Marie” biscuits for tea, and pleasure was to accompany my cousins, George, Indra, Shanta, Vasantha, Thamboo, Selvam and Danam to the CoronationPark to play on the swings or see-saw.

I am ever thankful to my mother, father,  Aunty Dhanibai and Uncle Singaram for making my early years so memorable. I know not everyone has had such a colorful and fulfilling childhood.