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INPARAJ U CHINNIAH
1932-1980
For more than twenty years Inparaju Chinniah strode the Malaysian Bahá’í scene like a spiritual colossus. He was a valued friend to everyone who knew him and all were drowned in profound sorrow when he passed away suddenly on 5 February 1980. Two days later the following cable was received from the Universal House of Justice, describing his significant service to the Cause both in Malaysia and throughout the region of South-east
Asia:
DEEPLY GRIEVED UNTIMELY PASSING DEVOTED COWORKER INPARAJU CHINNIAH. ”HIS OUTSTANDING UNTIRING SERVICES IN’STITUTIONS FAITH BOTH MALAYSIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA SHED LUSTRE ANNALS CAUSE GOD ENTIRE REGION. PRAYING HOLY THRESHOLD PROGRESS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. MAY BELOVED FRIENDS MALAYSIA INCREASE FERVOUR SERVITUDE BAHAULLAH FOLLOW EXAMPLE DEPARTED FRIEND COMPENSATE HIS LOSS THEIR MIDST. ASSURE FAMILY FRIENDS SYMPATHY. ADVISE HOLD BEFI'I'I‘ING MEMORIAL MEETINGS.
Inparaju was his actual name but early in life he became known as ‘Inbum’, meaning ‘joy’, ‘sweet’ or ‘lovely’ in the Tamil language. Born on 9 March 1932 in Malacca, Malaysia, he was the second child of a school-teacher, Mr. J. V. Chinniah, who, like his wife Elizabeth Thyria Ratnam, was of Ceylonese origin. The family had a strong affiliation with the Methodist Church in Malacca.
We know little of Inbum’s childhood except
that he was a brilliant student and an active
sportsman. He was a keen scout and rose to
the rank of King’s Scout, representing Malaysia at a Jamboree in Australia in 1949. Although he did very well in his Cambridge
examination that same year, family circum
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stances prevented his pursuing his studies further. He started off his working life as a teacher in Malacca High School where his father had served earlier. In time Inbum rose to the post of headmaster of the Masjid Tanah Primary School. When this appointment was made in 1957, he was the youngest person ever to have been made headmaster in the State. At a later time he was appointed headmaster of a Secondary Continuation School in Jasin and, in 1965, headmaster of Sekola Menangah Jasin.
By 1954 Malacca had become a hub of Bahá’í activity. Among the many active workers there were school-teachers, one of whom was teaching in Malacca High School. Inbum attended his first Bahá’í fireside—a talk on ‘The New World Order’—and often mentioned that if it were not for Mr. Kumara Das he might not have accepted the Faith.
Inbum’s marriage in 1960 to the exuberant and radiant Chinese Bahá’í, Lily Leong, a fellow teacher at Masjid Tanah Primary School, drew considerable attention in Malacca where interracial marriages were still taboo. Four lovely children were born to them.
Early in his life, despite his quiet nature, Inbum’s qualities of leadership emerged and it
Inparaju Chinniah
THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
is not surprising that these characteristics were identified and made use of in his service to the Bahá’í Faith. He served on the National Teaching Committee in Peninsular Malaysia in 1962 and 1963. At the second National Convention of Malaysia in 1965 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly, serving as treasurer and later as secretary. He settled in Kuala Lumpur. His home at Setapak became, as it were, a mini-hostel, harbouring numerous students and Bahá’í youth. One youth who stayed with him remarked, ‘Inbum had the unique ability to tap the latent potential in each individual . . . many were the leaders who were nurtured and trained under his able hands.’ During his years as secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly important organizational improvements were effected in the office of that body.
In June 1972 the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir Visited Malaysia and while there encouraged Inbum to go to Africa as a travelling teacher. Inbum spent six months in Tanzania on leave without salary and made a valuable contribution to the work of the Faith there. A Malaysian travelling teacher who was in Tanzania in 1977 when Inbum was appointed to the Board of Counsellors for South-east Asia witnessed the great joy experienced by the African friends when they learned of his appointment. He had served ably as a member of the Auxiliary Board for protection since 1972 and now he threw himself wholeheartedly into his role as Counsellor, on one occasion travelling the distance of a thousand miles by bus in order to attend a meeting in Bangkok. He was a living example of forgiveness, patience and consideration; he saw the good in every individual and never spoke ill of anyone. He had a genuine humility and the gift of eXtending a tender and personal attention to those who needed his assistance. His ready wit lightened all hearts.
A sense of urgency was noted in the last few
months of his life. He often mentioned that
he looked forward to early retirement in order
to devote even more time to the Faith. In
December 1979 when news was received of
the untimely death of the Hand of the Cause
Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, although Inbum could
be seen consoling the Bahá’ís all across the
country, it was obvious that no one was more
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heartbroken than himself; it was as though a
lieutenant had lost his most admired general.
Thirty-five days later the lieutenant was to
join his loved commander in the Abhá Kingdom.
Inbum often jokingly remarked to his wife, ‘I may be poor in wealth, but I am rich in friends!’ The large gathering of mourners who came from all parts of the country to attend his funeral, and the torrent of telegrams and telephone calls that were received from all parts of the world, testify to what a rare friend he was. His INSPIRED SERVICES WERE TREASURES TO SOUTHEAST ASIA, the International Teaching Centre cabled at the time of his passing. Later, on 14 February, that institution wrote to members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors throughout the world: ‘The loss of this devoted servant of the Faith is indeed great because of his knowledge, wide experience, high efficiency and constancy, all sweetened by an unassuming and natural humility.’
(Adapted from Malaysian Bahá’í Bulletin)
