Episode Details

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. P.N. Balji recalls the rich cultural life of the Naval Base – the Malayalam plays that his father performed in and celebrations of Onan, the harvest festival. His mother Narayani was very protective of her son and his father’s love of language rubbed off on Balji’s long career in journalism. Balji also talks about his schooldays, the villages of Chong and Sembawang outside the Naval Base and the question of integration with recent migrants from India.

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

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

00:00 Journalism & My Love of Words

08:08 My Mother, Narayani

11:56 Malayalees of the Naval Base

16:32 Malayalam Plays

23:17 The British Legacy

24:57 Schooldays

28:54 Chong Pang & Sembawang Villages

34:25 CECA, Recent Migrants & Integration

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. I am Dr Loh KS, the people’s historian, and I document people’s 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.

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG

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