3 - Introduction to Temple Management Affairs

Summary

When a Singapore Hindu, even a nominal one like VR, succeeds in his career or business, it is not uncommon for him, when he reaches the age of 50 or so, to seek social recognition of his success by getting involved in the management of some temple or other. But that is not how VR got involved in temple management. He was called to assist. That is how it began.

In Pasir Panjang, one of his neighbours was S Rasiah, who was on the committee of Ruthra Kaliamman Temple. The temple originally established on the grounds of Alexandra Brickworks had to be moved. The land was sold to the Port of Singapore Authority. The committee found temporary accommodation for the god forms (murthams or statues) at Manmatha Karunya Iswarar Temple, in Cantonment Road, which itself was under notice to vacate.

The Ruthra Kaliamman Temple committee was a well motivated one. The chairman was V Sivapragasam with Rasiah as vice-chairman and T Muthu Kumar, secretary. They found alternative land at Depot Road. However, building a new temple was a novel and challenging experience for them. Though it was the first new Hindu temple to be built in Singapore in 50 years, raising funds was not easy. Their target was $2.2 million. There was also the question of managing the financing and accounts.

Rasiah had heard how hard-working and diligent his neighbour VR, by then a senior officer of the Chartered Bank, was. He invited VR to join his team to help build the temple. VR was aware of the nature of contribution expected of him. He had heard that many Hindu temples were not in the habit of keeping proper accounts and that there had been a few scandals. If he joined Rasiah's team he knew he would have to spend considerable amount of time on temple-related work. His concern was whether he would have sufficient time for that since he had a demanding job and a young family. He consulted his wife. The wife's response was that one should never say “no” to any request to serve a temple. He said “yes” to Rasiah. VR was elected treasurer of Ruthra Kaliamman Temple in September 1979. VR took that responsibility as seriously as he had taken any assignment at the bank.