Tribute - Mag's Tribute to her Father - Mr. N. A Dass

Date: 21/12/2000

Topic of Tribute: 

A tribute to Appa: Five loaves and two fishes

Five loaves and two fishes... this was the text chosen for the Memorial service of my Appa, this text (father in Tamil). If I recall memories of my growing up years with Appa, this text would speak well of how I would describe him. I always remember him as the "unionist"...the "human rights" person sensitive to the needs of those who needed help, be it at his workplace or in the Church.

Appa worked with the British Army as the wireless man for ____ years. He was awarded the __________________________________________ in recognition of his outstanding services with the British Army. With independence Appa found employment with the Malayan Railways. The unionist trait in got him involved in the R.U.M. ( Railway Union of Malaya ), of which he was union president from _______ to ______. I remember very well the year they ere fighting for better pay for the railway workers in ______. There was a big worker's strike and I remember Appa spending most of his time at the R.U.M. House, just across the street from where we lived in Sentul. Amma would cook his meals and my sister and I would carry a "Tiffin" to him at the union House. This unionist trait of course meant he spent quite a bit of his time outside of the home.  This left Amma to the management of the household affairs and welfare of children.  But Appa would never fail, when he was home during the weekends, to look into our progress in school.  I remember have not to line up with my brothers and sisters and each had a 'running through' of their school bags with Appa.  If there were any remarks from the teacher in our notebooks - we were assured of a little 'rotan' session but I believe he had our best interest at heart in the matter. As president of the Railway Workers Union, in _____he was invited to attend an International Conference of leaders of Railway Workers Unions from all over the world, held in London from _____ to _____.  Going overseas was a big thing at that time.  There was a little  write up in the newspaper where Appa's name was mentioned along with others.  Amma diligently cut it out and it still sits in the family album to this day.  Almost all in the family clans from both sides were present at the Subang International Airport to bid him farewell and a safe journey.  I remember the lovely postcards we would longingly await from him. (Ref. to _____).  Appa took advantage of his trip to London to also visit Paris, Lourdes and Germany.  Appa was also a very active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Joseph's in Sentul.  He was the Secretary from ____ to ____.  I have fond memories of the annual family trips they used to organize to Port Dickson and the great bunch of  Christmas Carolers complete with a live "Baby Jesus in the Manger" scene on wheels - I vaguely remember it being a bullock cart decorated and lighted up as a manger with the respective characters seated inside!  Of course they were a feast for the mosquitoes!

Appa comes from a close-knit family of ___ and he was the eldest.  (Refer to photo_____).  Most of his siblings and relatives lived in Ipoh and Penang, which brought us often to spend our end of the year long school holidays, mostly in the north.  Amma was from Taiping, and so we had a whole gamut of relatives to visit and spend good times with.  Because Appa worked at the Railways, the free passes and discounts he was allowed enabled us to travel as a family without being burdened too much with financial constraints.  On arrival in Penang, I always looked forward to the jolly little ride in the 'rickshaw' to wherever we were going to stay.  As usual the first layer was the adults and bigger children, the second layer the smaller children and on top of that went all the baggage, up to our noses!  Still I managed to peak through the gaps to drink in all the life and excitement of the streets in Penang.  As a child, Penang for me was like being in another world!  St. Amma's feast was also an event that often brought us to Penang as a family.  I specifically remember the great rambutans Appa used to treat the whole family to, sold by small farmers from around Bukit Mertajam, all along the road to St. Ann's Church. They sold at 1 cent per fruit!  So you could buy a bunch of about 100 fruits for a mere RM1.00!  And I could say they were the best I've had so far!  Then there was also the bunches of fresh lotus pods filled with succulent lotus seeds inside!

In the home Appa was quite good at little maintenance and repair jobs around the house.  And of course there was the Big Grandfather's Clock, which was his passion!  He would regularly bring the big clock down from the wall and diligently spend hours dusting, cleaning and oiling the various parts meticulously.  No one else was allowed to touch it!  It was a grand clock that gave a lovely chime every quarter hour.  You know what they say about clocks that stop when the owner dies?  Well ours did just that!  It stopped around 12.30 in the afternoon, about the same time Appa passed away on that day.  Strangely enough we were never able to get it going as it used to before.  And now it has retired!  Appa was also good with his hands and I remember him working on some beautiful wooden fretwork frames which we had used as an altar piece for many years.  I always remember Appa as someone who dressed smartly, spoke well and carried himself with an air of confidence. He never smoked but enjoyed an occasional beer when he had good company.  One phrase he often used and that I fondly remember of his is "It's a humbug!"

Appa had a stroke in 1969 and he was medically boarded.  He however managed to recover the full use of his faculties and went about taking care of himself quite well.  Then he had a relapse in 1970 that left him paralyzed on the right side.  For someone who kept himself so actively occupied, he must have felt really incapacitated, having lost the proper use of his faculties.  This time, he pr5actically had to be cared for like a child.  That must have been a very, very humbling experience for him.  I was only fifteen when Appa passed away.  Now in my adult years, there is so much I would like to ask him and talk to him about, but the time has passed and he is no more.  All I have left now are memories of Appa, a few painful ones but mostly good ones.  Still somehow I feel he is always there, gently teaching and guiding me along the path of life.

Wherever you are Appa, I love you! 

Always!