By Evelyn Samuel
We would be seated around the huge wood oval table in the boardroom and with due deference I would say, “Datuk Rasammah,…“
She would sharply spit back: “Yes, Ms Samuel?” It was her way of reminding me not to use honorifics when addressing her!
That was the humility of this legendary bastion who espoused her beliefs without grandeur and insisted that those on her support teams did likewise.
But we who saw her work tirelessly found it difficult to treat her as a colleague, even though she insisted we did so – because none of us were any match for her numerous and varied accomplishments over her active life.
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In 1960, Rasammah co-founded the Women Teachers’ Union to address pay disparities between male and female teachers. Under her leadership, the union campaigned for equal pay, achieving success in 1964 when women teachers received the same salaries as men. This was a major step forward in the quest for gender equality in Malaysian education.
As co-founder of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), Rasammah played a key role in championing women’s rights. Her tireless advocacy contributed to the passing of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, strengthening the legal rights of women in Malaysia.
Her mental, emotional and physical energy were extraordinary as her clear thoughts formulated practical strategies for efforts which she not only delegated but also monitored with a keen eye. This was her unique secret to success and the legacies she left behind.
Rasammah had such a burning passion for providing the underserved with the best that society could offer that it was a stretch to meet the high standards she set for herself as well as for the many projects she was involved with.
One of them was the YWCA Vocational Training Opportunity Centre, which she established in 1998 to empower young women from low-income households. By providing them with vocational skills and opportunities, the centre has contributed to the financial independence of over 1,800 women.
Rasammah generously funded many causes for social justice from her personal wealth. She was also prudent in overseeing the management of funds that had been donated for charity.
I recall going through the financial statements for several previous years when the economy was shrinking and the board was relooking at budgets, only to find that Rasammah had left reserves of a couple of million ringgit to provide for expenses during tough times.
She managed to achieve this because she had the favour and backing of many influential people who believed in her stellar work and whom she could call on to fund projects which catered to the greater good.
The beauty of this was that they did so gladly because of the stellar reputation of the projects she championed. Funders were not only Malaysians of all ethnicities and faiths but also expats who were committed to building up this country.
Regardless of whether they were members of the royalty who graced and endorsed her events, bishops (she was a strong supporter of the Methodist church and its educational fundraising projects), captains of industry, politicians or anyone else, when Rasammah asked for an appointment, she always got to see them. She would invariably persuade them to support her project of the moment. In this, she was indomitable in the most charming of ways.
Part of that charm was seen when she entertained us in her home over a meal or coffee and tea. Ever the gracious hostess, she would ensure that we had coffee and tea poured in cups from a matching teapot. Alongside were sweet and savoury delights she would personally have shopped for, not to forget her special home-made egg sandwiches.
Conversations would sometimes be injected with the pride she had in her children and grandchildren (whom she introduced when they visited her) and with anecdotes of her beloved late husband, whom she affectionally referred to as Bhupie, who apparently adored her, as her parents did too.
At her 90th birthday party, she basked in the pleasure of having the company of those near and dear to her in her home. Rasammah was someone who loved people and cared deeply for all strata of society.
She loved having visitors and at her table, we would hear tales of her childhood, her siblings and her personal adventures as a teenager in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s wing of the Indian National Army that fought against British colonialism in the region. Indeed, she was one of the earliest women involved in the struggle for Malayan independence.
Rasammah’s anecdotes covered the fullness of the life she lived with gusto. As she graciously held court at her dining table, she would be seated at the head of the table facing a window that overlooked the National Palace in Bukit Damansara. Yet, the conversation would never stray too far from some people-oriented project or other and its progress, and of the old times too.
When she finally retired at the insistence of those who were concerned for her wellbeing, Rasammah would keep in touch with international politics and would want to hear the opinions of her guests, even while offering her own.
My impression was that she would rather have been discussing educational and social projects in her beloved Malaysia, though.
Memories of the person of Rasammah Bhupalan will remain unforgettable to those who knew her and who worked with her. Malaysia’s education and social sectors will continue to bear evidence of the legacy of her tireless efforts.
Evelyn Samuel shares her first-hand reflections in this article honouring a great woman, with additional input from Aliran. Evelyn herself is an educator whose passion lies in contributing to the growth of individuals seeking to better themselves. She can be found on LinkedIn and can be contacted at [email protected]
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
