Leela's family's journey from Jaffna to Malaysia

LEELA Sydney, Australia Photo 1: Sydney, 2021 by Photo 2: Jaffna, 1976 Photo 3: Jaffna, 1977 Photo 4: Jaffna, 1948 (1/x) My father, his three brothers, and two sisters left Vaddukoddai (Jaffna) for Malaysia in the late 1800s, chasing the promise of a better future. They wanted to ensure their father (my grandfather) didn’t have to work in his shop in Mathavachi in his old age. My mother’s roots lie in Thunavai (Jaffna). After marriage arranged through a family connection, Malaysia became her new home as well. I have an enduring love for Malaysia - most of my family and friends still call it home. I cherish the country’s vibrant multicultural tapestry and the warmth of its community life. I completed Year 10 at St. Mary's School, where English quickly became my favourite subject; I consistently earned top marks on my essays. Growing up, English was the language of our household, and my mother would often recount how her own father insisted she speak formal English - addressing men as “Sir” - so that she would be able to find a suitable husband with a professional job. In 1937, when my father died at the age of 49, my eldest sibling was 13, and my youngest was 10 months old. My father worked as a private medical practitioner, and when he passed away, my mother found herself without a pension and suddenly responsible for feeding seven mouths and schooling growing children. The sudden loss brought our family into hardship. I still recall the times when there wasn’t enough sugar for our own tea, yet my mother always saved a pinch for guests. A modest lifeline came from the 50-acre rubber estate in Kolla Pilla (Kuala Pilah) that my father had purchased in my mother’s name, providing a small but essential stream of income that helped keep the household afloat. In 1941, when the Japanese swept into the British-ruled Malaya, our world was turned upside down again. The occupation lasted four long years, until the Japanese finally surrendered to the Allies. (continued i