Pakirisamy Pillay, V

Vayloo Pakirisamy Pillay (1894-1984), also known as V. Pakirisamy Pillay, was a leader and philanthropist of the 20th-century Singaporean Tamil community. In addition to his responsibilities to the Indian community, he also served as the Vice-President of the China Society. He advocated racial and religious understanding and tolerance as essential to Singapore's success and development.

Pakirisamy Pillay was born in Cairnhill, Singapore. His father, K. Velupillay, who was considered one of Singapore's Indian pioneers, wanted his children to receive primary education in Tamil. He therefore set up a private school at his own residence in Cairnhill and employed a Tamil teacher. Other students attended the school as well, since, at that time, there were no Tamil schools in Singapore. Pakirisamy Pillay joined the Anglo-Chinese School at the age of ten. While studying there, he concurrently learned typing, shorthand and business accounting for clerical work. Then, in 1915, he joined the government service as a clerk. The following year, he joined the famous private law firm of Allen & Gledhill and worked there as a clerk for 25 years till his voluntary retirement in 1941.

While working as a clerk, Pakirisamy Pillay assumed the administrative responsibilities of the Waterloo Street Sri Krishnan Temple in 1935. He was then appointed as one of the trustees of the Kallang Manmatha Karuneeswarar Temple in 1937. He donated a significant sum towards the reconstruction of the temple. He has also played an important role in the administration of three other temples: Sri Mariamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, and Sri Veeramakaaliamman Temple.

Pakirisamy Pillay served as a member of the Singapore Municipal Commission, was President of the Singapore Indian Association and Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Mission from the 1930s to the 1950s. He built a hall in his father's name at the Mission's headquarters on Norris Road. He was elected President of the Inter-Religious Organisation in 1951 and President of the Hindu Endowment Board in 1954. He played a key role in the registration of Hindu marriages and the enactment of the Registration of Persons Ordinance 1955. While serving as the first secretary of the Hindu Panchayat Sabha, he campaigned against housing shortages and black markets.

In recognition of his services, Pakirisamy Pillay was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1947. During the Emergency period in Singapore in 1948, he was the only Indian member in the Emergency Advisory Committee. For his loyal and distinguished service to Singapore and the Indian community, Pakirisamy Pillay was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1950 by King George VI. He also received the Singapore Government’s Public Service Star for long-term community and social service in 1970.



For more information
“Vayloo Pakirisamy Pillay.” Wikipedia. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayloo_Pakirisamy_Pillay.
“MR. V. Pakirisamy to Contest Seletar District.“ Indian Daily Mail, 6 March 1951. (From Newspaper SG)
“Golden Wedding Joy for Leader of Tamil Community.” Singapore Free Press, June 8, 1961. (From Newspaper SG)

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.