 | The text below this notice was generated by a computer, it still needs to be checked for errors and corrected. If you would like to help, view the original document by clicking the PDF scans along the right side of the page. Click the edit button at the top of this page (notepad and pencil icon) or press Alt+Shift+E to begin making changes. When you are done press "Save changes" at the bottom of the page. |
CHELLIE JOHN SUNDRAM
1920—1993 Dr. Chellie John Sundram was born
on December 11, 1920, in Singapore. His father, Mr. S. Meenakshi Sundram, was the first Asian headmaster of the AngloChinese Primary School, a Christian mission school. His mother, Jessie Govindan, died during the birth of their third child when Chellie was a two—year—old toddler, and his elder brother, Monie, was four years old. His father remained a widower and cared for the three boys.
A brilliant student, Chellie excelled in his studies and in extracurricular activities. During weekends he attended Sunday classes at the Methodist Church where he met his future bride, Shantha Davies.
Upon completion of his secondary schooling he joined the King Edward VII Medical College majoring in dentistry. Just
[Page 43]
IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 43
C/Jellie fo/m Sundmm
as he was about to graduate, the Second World War started, and Singapore was invaded by the Japanese. During the war years Chellie and his colleagues served as doctors and dentists at local government hospitals. They continued to study as best they could, and at war’s end they took their exams and secured their degrees.
It did not take long for the British authorities to discover the talents of this bright and hardworking dentist. In 1950 Dr. Sundram was selected by the Director of Dental Services to organize a dental training program for nurses, based on a New Zealand model. He traveled to New Zealand to study it, and upon his return he proposed to the government the establishment of a training school, not for nurses but for dental auxiliaries. He was strongly opposed by those who feared that under—qualified personnel would enter the profession. They also feared that their own status as dentists would be jeopardized if a new group ofauxiliaries started performing their duties. Dr. Sundram impressed upon
his colleagues the need for auxiliaries and succeeded in convincing the authorities to establish the school, which was then left entirely in his hands to accomplish. The Dental School in Penang became the first such institution in the Asia—Pacific region and the second in the world. Training students from throughout the Pacific and Africa, the school not only pioneered the concept of dental auxiliaries but also the practice of a global outlook.
Dr. Sundram took upon himself the task of making dental visits less stressful for children. He filled his school walls with paintings and murals, many of which he painted himself after office hours. Dental nurses were taught to be more loving and sensitive to the needs of children, and their training included the making of hand puppets and toys for them. Graduates were sent to all parts of the country to work in government clinics as well as those set up in the schools. Through his efforts Malaysia and Singapore became the first countries after New Zealand to use school dental nurses in the public health services system. Thousands of children owed their dental health to Dr. Sundram.
In 1958 Mrs. Shantha Sundram showed keen interest in the Bahá’í Faith and inquired earnestly from visiting traveling teachers, Mrs. Margaret Bates and her daughter, Jeanne Frankels. These American pioneers were on their way to the Cocos Islands when they arrived in Penang and were forced to wait there for a ship. Shantha accepted Bahá’u’lláh, and Dr. Sundram followed. Through this simple act his life and that of this family were transformed. At the time the Bahá’í Faith was very new in Malaya (presently Peninsular Malaysia) with fledgling communities in Singapore, Seremban, and Malacca. Just days after their acceptance of the Faith, Dr. Sundram was elected chairman of the Local Spiritual
[Page 44]
44 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
Assembly of Penang Island, and Shantha was elected secretary.
The Sundrams went on a world tour when Dr. Sundtam, who had been serving on the Expert Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO), was invited to present a paper at a WHO Dental Conference in Geneva. During the tour they met with many well-deepened Bahá’ís such as Mrs. Mildred Mottahadeh, and the Hands of the Cause Mr. Faizi and Mr. Ugo Giachery—people who helped them to strengthen their Faith. The Sundrams also Visited the Holy Land, and after their return their large government house at 42 Peel Avenue became the focal point of Bahá’í activities in Penang, as well as a stopover for Bahá’í visitors from all corners of the earth.
In 1961 the Malaysian Government decorated Dr. Sundram with the royal AMN (Ahli Mangku Negara) award in recognition of his meritorious services to the country. He also received the JSM (Jasa Mangku Negara) award from the King of Malaysia.
Dr. Sundram brought the administrative expertise he had gained in government service to the Faith in Penang and later to the rest of the country when, in 1965, he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Malaysia and served as its chairman.
The newly formed National Assembly was soon tested when the state government of Selangor proposed a bill to ban the Bahá’í Faith. The National Assembly quickly established a Bill Committee with Dr. Sundram as its chairman. Documents were gathered from around the world to prove the independent character of the Faith, and a lawyer was appointed to defend it. Consequently the proposed bill was not taken up for second reading by the government.
As Bahá’ís are obliged to obey civil law and must give consideration to the prevailing customs and traditions of their countries so that their actions will not reflect upon the Faith in an adverse way, they were strongly encouraged to refrain from teaching Muslims in the country where Islam is a state religion and apostasy laws are applicable. This decision, scrupulously followed by the Malaysian community, proved to be a protection when the Faith was confronted by similar threats.
In 1968 Dr. Sundram was among the first group of Continental Counsellors appointed by the Universal House ofjustice to serve the South East Asian Zone. During the following four years he worked closely with the Malaysian National Assembly to ensure the triumphant completion of the Nine Year Plan.
Dr. Sundram was also a visual artist—a photographer and a painter. During the Intercontinental Oceanic Conference in Singapore in January of1971, he mounted an exhibition on the Faith at the Victoria Memorial Hall.
Dr. Sundram decided to retire from government service in that year and joined the World Health Organization as a dental consultant covering thirty—two countries in the Asia—Pacific region, and for the next twelve years he traveled extensively.
Dr. Sundram had a strong sense of reverence for the Hands Ofthe Cause of God. He fondly recalled a lesson in humility he learned from Dr. Rahmatullah Muhájir:
Dr. Muhájir used to frequently visit us in Singapore and Malaysia from 1962 onwards. One incident which happened in 1968 will always be foremOSt in my mind. When I heard that Dr. Muhájir was in Singapore for 3 days, en route
to Thailand, I telephoned him from
[Page 45]
IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 4;
Penang, and asked him ifI should fly down to Singapore to meet him as he was not planning to visit Malaysia. He assured me that it was not necessary for me to do so.
From Thailand a few days later a cable was received from Dr. Muhajit for me to meet him in Bangkok immediately. I took leave from my government job for seven days, arranged for my visa, and caught the next day’s flight to Bangkok. Dr. Muhájir was at the airport in Bangkok all smiles. He gave me a bear hug as usual and took me to the hotel where he had arranged for a room next to his. For six days he took me wherever he went, spoke to the Persian pioneers and listened to their problems in Farsi, then translated every word for me into English, embarrassing me with his intense courtesy. He informally chatted with me about the problems that the Faith faced and will face in time to come. On the night of the sixth day in Bangkok, I timorously mentioned to Dr. Muhájir that I was due to leave Bangkok the next day; was there anything urgent or important that he wanted me to do? “Yes," he said without a moment’s hesitation, “we have accomplished together what I wanted.” Seeing the puzzled 100k on my face, Dr. Muhájir added very softly with much tenderness in his voice, “The Guardian said that we must fully learn to draw on each other’s love for strength and consolation in time of need. I am going to a country now on the instructions of the Supreme Body that requires all my strength and, more importantly, Divine assistance.”
In the plane at 30,000 feet in the sky, returning to Penang, I felt humbled as I pondered over what the Hand of the Cause of God had said the night
before in Bangkok. Many times during the course ofmy duties as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, I have remembered Dr. Muhájir for his humility, for his deep understanding of the mysteries of the Faith and above all, for encouraging us to appreciate the necessity of learning to fully draw on each other’s love for strength and consolation in time of need.
In April 1989 Dr. Chellie Sundram suffered a stroke, which deprived him of the use of much of his brain as well as the power of speech. It was a painful period for the friends to see him struggling to express himself. With extreme effort he learned enough words to communicate, and he began to paint again. On the night of February 22, 1993, following a short bout ofpneumonia, he died suddenly and peacefully. The Universal House OFJustice, hearing of his passing, sent the following message the next day:
Saddened learn passing Dr. Chellie Sundram, stalwart servant Baha’u’llah, whose loving nature, academic achievements and sincerity won for him recognition and opportunities render distinguished services through World Health Organization.
His indefatigable services Cause God, including two decades as member Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia, until ill health forced his retirement, lent lustre t0 the Faith and ate lovingly remembered.
Convey his clear wife, members his family and friends, particularly the beloved Malaysian community, deepest love and sympathy,
[Page 46]
46 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
assurance prayers Holy Shrines progress his soul ail worlds of God.
Adaptedfiom an article by R. Ganesa Murt/ai
