Episode Details

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Veteran editor P.N. Balji traces his memories to the Naval Base and specifically Delhi Road where his family lived. His younger brother was Sivaji, former national coach of Singapore football. Balji tells the story of his father Poravankara Narayanan Nair as a stowaway from Kerala and how he dropped his caste name ‘Nair’ in Singapore. Poravankara Narayanan was involved in the (1956?) Naval Base strike against the Admiralty and when the British forces left, used his gratuity to buy a house in Sembawang Hills Estate.

Part 1 | https://youtu.be/D4EgSkOEK9A

Part 2 | https://youtu.be/vmtT1HTdvPA

00:00 Introduction

01:25 ‘I will take the memories to my grave’

06:23 Blk 9 Room 8 Delhi Road

08:08 P.N. Sivaji & the Malaysia Cup

18:23 My Father, Poravankara Narayanan Nair

23:05 My Caste Name

28:38 The British Pullout & Father’s Gratuity

31:46 Naval Base Strike

34:41 Importance of Malayalam

The Reluctant Editor, https://epigrambookshop.sg/products/the-reluctant-editor-1

Transition: The Story of PN Balji, https://epigrambookshop.sg/products/transition-the-story-of-pn-balji

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. This is Dr Loh KS, the people’s historian, and I speak to people on their memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Do like the video and subscribe for future episodes. This will help the channel a lot.

Write to lkshis@gmail.com if you have any of these stories:

• Old places or kampongs.

• Communities – their way of life & culture.

• Childhood & schools.

• Work or business.

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