Suppiah A C

Annamalai Chidambaram Suppiah, widely known as A C Suppiah (1881–1955), was a social reformer, pharmacist, linguist, writer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of the Tamils Reform Association (TRA) for about 20 years, and he also made a significant contribution to the reformation of the Tamil script. Born in Singapore, Suppiah received his primary education locally up to the fourth standard. In 1894, he accompanied his parents to India, where he developed various skills, including sculpting, painting, astrology, and pharmacology. He trained in herbal medicine under the guidance of the prominent Ayurvedic pharmacist, Sadaanantha Swami. Upon returning to Singapore in 1902, Suppiah took on various jobs, from bullock cart driver to sculptor. During this time, he became actively involved in Singai Ahampadiyar Mahajana Sangam, an organisation for lower-caste Tamils, eventually rising to the position of chairman by 1923. Around 1928, he established the Ghanda Rasam Company pharmacy at 233 Serangoon Road. Ghanda Rasam, a medicated oil, could be considered an equivalent of the present-day Axe Brand Universal Oil, used for general ailments. His business success allowed him to acquire multiple properties over time.

Suppiah was a follower of E V Ramasamy, also known as Periyar, a social reformer in Tamil Nadu. Inspired by his role model, Suppiah sought to implement several social reforms in Singapore, including promoting women’s equality and eradicating caste-based discrimination. At a time when toddy drinking was prevalent among Tamils, he led by example, remaining a teetotaller throughout his life. In addition to his social reforms, Suppiah often helped poor Tamils in their daily lives. For instance, in 1933, he petitioned the British authorities to mandate that pawnshop receipts be issued in both English and Chinese, rather than just Chinese, to prevent the common exploitative practices by pawnshop owners. This regulation came into force in 1935, mandating the use of English on receipts. When the TRA launched Tamil Murasu, now Singapore’s only Tamil daily newspaper, in 1935, and the monthly Seerthirutham in 1939, Suppiah, as President, played a key role in the initial stages, along with G Sarangapany and other members of the association. Sarangapany later bought the publications from TRA. Suppiah authored a few books, including Tamil Varivadiva Aaraichi (1935) and Sundara Murthi Naayanar Criminal Case (1948). He also wrote several articles under the pen name "Sadaananthan," likely in honour of his Ayurvedic guru. His 1935 book, which translates to Research into the Tamil Script, was a compilation of his articles advocating for the modernisation of 13 Tamil letters. During Periyar’s visit to Singapore in 1930, Suppiah shared his research with him, and Periyar later popularised these 13 letters in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government eventually formalised this revised writing system in 1978, and Singapore, with official acceptance by the Ministry of Education on 26 September 1983, introduced it into school curricula in 1984.

Suppiah assumed leadership of the TRA around 1934 and remained in this role until his death. Before his passing, he donated $10,000 for the renovation of the Association's building at 125 Serangoon Road. An additional $9,000 was contributed from his estate, as he had promised earlier. When the renovated building was formally opened in 1956, the hall was named the Anjalai-Suppiah Hall in honour of him and his wife. After his passing, Suppiah was often referred to as Malaya Periyar or Singapore Periyar. Suppiah made a lasting impact on the Tamil community and the Tamil language, both as an individual and as a leader. His legacy continued through Sarangapany. In recognition of Suppiah’s contributions to the history of Singapore and the Tamil language, his book Tamil Varivadiva Aaraichi won first prize in the 1989 Heritage Hunt organised by the National Heritage Board.

For more information
Kirupanantha Kumar S/o Palaiyan. A Biography of A. C. Suppiah. Singapore: National University of Singapore - Department of History, 1998.Unpublished bachelor’s thesis

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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.