G. Sarangapani
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கோ. சாரங்கபாணி
G. Sarangapani (Sarangapani Govindasamy) (April 20, 1903 - March 16, 1974) was a Singaporean community leader, identified as a journalist, writer and activist. He worked for more than 40 years for the betterment and unity of Indian community living in Malaya which was earlier a single country comprising Malaysia and Singapore. He was one of the pioneers in shaping modern Tamil literature and forging the roots of Tamil culture in Malaya. Celebration of Tamil Thirunal, which he initiated to promote the language and culture of Tamil people, paved the way for growth of Indian art and Tamil literature in Malaysia and Singapore. He leveraged Tamil Murasu that he started, as a medium for social development.
Private Life
G. Sarangapani was born on April 20, 1903 at Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. He was fluent in both Tamil and English. G. Sarangapani completed his final year education at Thiruvarur High School. He shifted to Singapore in search of a livelihood in 1924 at the age of 21. His daughter Rajam mentioned in an interview that he had only two dhotis and two shirts at that time. According to the books written about him, he began his career as an accountant in a shop owned by Singapore’s big businessman Market Street P. Ibrahim Shah and quickly elevated himself as a manager through his hard work and talent.
G. Sarangapani, an accountant and administrator, set up the Ashoka Trading Company on chiliki road shortly before 1930s for importing and selling energy drugs and tonics that were very popular at that time. G. Sarangapani was selling books as well as an agent for printing work. He purchased a printing press 'Star Press' located on chiliki road in 1933.
G. Sarangapani married Lim Boon Neo, a Chinese woman in Singapore in 1937. G. Sarangapani did not share the news of his wedding with his close friends too. The couple had four sons: Rajaram, Janakiram, Jayaram and Balaram, and two daughters: Radha and Rajam. After many years of community service, G. Sarangapani at the age of 71 passed away on March 16, 1974 at 4:00 a.m. at the Singapore General Hospital.
