Mr.Thiraviyam(84), came to Malaya when he was 8 years old, Born in the year 1925 he was brought here by his father who came earlier (around 1910) to work for the british traders. In 1933 his father came back to India for a 6months holiday and brought him here. Kg.Buah Pala and the surrounding area was filled with thick jungle with no road facilities.Coconut and fruits are the two main commodities at that time, there were about 60-70 Indian labourers working as toddy collectors for the englishmen who owns the estate here. The labourers were working and staying in these estate and were given permission from Mr.Brown to build their huts in the place where Kg.Buah Pala is situated now. I got to know a british man and his wife by the name of Mr.Brown and Mrs.Brown who was the owner of these estates. Mr.Brown had told Mr.Thirayiyam who is well verse in english that he is a rich man from British and had helped funding the government during wars and this land is given to him complementary from the British Government for his contribution to the Empire. Mr.Brown came here as an English trader before becoming the estate owner adn involving into agriculture and plantation. Gelugor was a jungle and the natives here was a very shy people and wears only a mat kind of clothing made from the beetle nut palm, and will hide behind trees when they see strangers and outsiders,especially the women who are semi-naked all the time. Mr.Brown's estate is huge and the workers work from 7am upto 3pm only, they will continue with their own activities, such as farming and raring goats and cattle. Mr.Thiraviyam built the house that he is staying currently on his own, which was only a small hut and he expand it gradually. He built the house that existed now. Brown gave me this land, they (Mr.&Mrs.Brown) use to come and visit me, and "Brown can speak in Tamil abit" added Mr.Thiraviyam. Mr.Brown informed me that he is leaving to his country and mentioned that Malaya is on its own and independent now. Present USM Campus was a Military Camp consist of British and Indian Army together with some small Arm Force Groups. The land was given to the Army by Mr.Brown too. Mr.Thiraviyam recalled a bomb blast right in from the current USM campus on 8th Dec 1941. He went and saw the damages made from the blast and said, there was a hole as deep as his height. He was about 17 years at that time which is the era of Japanese invasion. The first aeroplane arrived on that day and one after another the following days. Soon after the bomb blast a van belongs to the British Army warn the public on not to be panick and the japanese only fighting with the British Army and not against the civilians, they advised the people to gather in a group and wave a white cloth to the Japanese aeroplanes to show that they are civilians, the japanese planes did not attacked them, while saying this, he laughed mildly while saying that they were all wearing a white vesti(Indian Traditional Costume) and they have no choice to wave it. The current Panang airport is the Military airfield and USM was the Military Camp fro British and Indian Army.
During the war they did not fear and was not under pressure as what he is going through now with the invasion by Nusmetro and the demolition threats! He is 84 years old and had helped in solving many village issues which was not published or said. He believe in helping people without expecting anything in return, as a Christian, he saved a small Hindu temple about 10 years ago, another person who present during our conversation, Mr.Siva quoted, he went all the way to Komtar by bicycle and discussed the matter to a Lady officer who had cancelled the demolotion process. This is one part of a wonderful life story that I heard from Mr.Thiraviyam and he said, he is fighting for the happiness and peace that he had enjoyed in this village for his grandchildren. Will they enjoy the same life anymore?
It's in the hand of LimGuan Eng to put a tiny signature in the development project now.
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices
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