Life during Japanese Occupation

Dear readers This is my life story of life during the painful Japanese Occupation and sweet memories after the war. Hope you enjoy reading it. It is a life of determination, hope,love,perserverrance and never give up attitude and appreciation of life because life is fragile. The journey we went through is one filled with fearful and heart thumping moments. My family and I, were one of those who were around and experienced World War II in Singapore. Based on real life incidents. My parents are P. Issrail and A. Samiadial. Both of them were from India. Upon getting married, my father was looking for job opportunities that would allow him to travel to Malaysia and live there. My first three siblings were born in India, of which my eldest sister passed away at the age of three. The second and third were named Ranjitham and Ponmani respectively. As my father wished, he received a job offer to work in the railways, which would require him to shift to Malaysia. He went there first alone without family, to settle down in his new job and arrange housing so that once the rest of my family arrive there, they could be comfortable. Back then, the most common way for us to travel from a country to another was by ship. It would take 1 week for my family to reach Penang from India. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, my parents had their fourth child on 7/06/1937. He was named Tharmaraj, my elder brother. I was the fifth, born in Perak on 19/09/1939. After some time, my father got offered a job in Singapore at Kampong Bahru Railways. Hence, we moved over to Singapore. In the railways, they used to transfer their employees frequently from place to place. We resided at the railway’s quarters which had many tapioca plantation and banana trees around. In 1942 the World War II begun. Even though my brother and I were little children, we had good memory power. Till to date, whenever we meet up we talk about all the incidence which occurred during the war. During the war days, there will be a siren when the fight is about to commence. That would alert the commoners. In order to make sure there was a safe place for commoners to take shelter at, there were many underground bomb shelters which were like holes on the ground. At the sound of the siren, all of us would go hide at one of those. Those bomb shelters will be pitch dark inside, and as a child I was very scared. The reason was not just the darkness, but the fear of the unknown. There might be anything in there, be it snake or lizard. No matter what, we had to get inside. My father had a lamp, which was for his work purposes. The one used at railways to signal to the trains, with green, amber and red light. We used to get into the shelters with only that light, which my father guiding and helping us. Each time we seek shelter, my mother would ask my father to stay with us. But upon making sure we were safe, he would leave to work. No matter what the reason was, my father never failed to fulfill the duties of his job. Not even the war and possible danger to his life could stop him. Once the fight for the day is over, he would come back to let us know and get us out. War time staple was tapioca. Mother used to cook it in a variety of ways. During the fighting period there were always ear piercing noises of guns and bombs being fired and blasted. My mother would be always praying for all of our safety. One night, 2 Malay brothers were saying “lambu tutop” outside the houses in the estate. Which meant “off the lights”. There were not supposed to be any areas with lights lit up, or else they would be at the risk of being bombed by the Japanese. During the course of the war, many fled away to Burma and Rangoon. Even my father suggested fleeing away but my mother refused to do so. When the war ended, we all were overwhelmed by happiness, especially my family. The reason was mainly as we pulled through the hard times and survived as a whole family. All the six of us were safe and sound. We supposed my mother’s refusal to flee away and take refuge at another country was not a bad decision after all, as God saved all of us. Once again, my father got transferred back to Malaysia. This time in Kota Bahru Perak. My brother joined the railways as well and was posted to Tanjong Rambutan in Malaysia. While being in Kota Bahru, my brother got married on 5/12/1964. He had two sons and three daughters and then left to Tanjong Rambutan with his family. I stayed with my parents in Kota Bahru when I got married to Mr. Stephen Monickam. He was a Tamil teacher and also a project director in his school. Upon getting married, I returned to Singapore on 22/08/1969. We were blessed with three children; a daughter and two sons. My first child, my daughter is a teacher. Second child, my son is a lecturer at Monash University in Australia and my last son is a pastor at Yishun church. My daughter has two sons and two daughters; second son has two daughters and last son has one daughter and one son. My beloved husband passed on, leaving beautiful memories of him with us on 24/10/1997. My family is one of those which survived through the hardships of Japanese occupation in Singapore. Today I am leading a happy and peaceful life with my beloved family of 3 children, children-in-laws, and grandchildren. They take good care of me and treat me like I am the apple of their eye. Thanking God to have blessed us to lead a peaceful life in Singapore. At the same time, I thank our first Prime Minister and Singapore’s father, late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew to have built Singapore to become safe day and night by leading the way to safety and success. To Singapore’s Prime Minister, the honorable Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, his family and to everyone who works hard to lead Singapore to greater heights, my family and I , including the future generations will be ever grateful. Thank you for taking your time to read this History of mine. Note: I have attached a Japanese note with this. It was passed down to me from my father when I was 20. I have safe guarded it for 55 years.