(In this write-up by Ravindran Raman Kutty, an award-winning communications practitioner and a fellow of the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia, sings the praises of Mother Mangalam, who is known for her selflessness and service to the poor)
KUALA LUMPUR — “I was delighted to receive an invitation from the Pure Life Society to attend Datin Paduka Mother A. Mangalam’s honorary doctorate award presentation ceremony. The award was conferred on her by Taylor’s University at its recent 16th convocation ceremony. It was indeed a wonderful recognition of the services rendered by the ‘Florence Nightingale’ and ‘Mother Teresa’ of Malaysia.
Born in Singapore in 1926, her lifelong ambition was to serve destitute children and to teach the poor. She was my English teacher and headmistress of both Sekolah Rendah Dharma and Sekolah Menengah Dharma in Puchong, Selangor, where I studied. She was the teacher who once threw my English exercise book away and it hit the blades of the classroom fan – all because of my English grammar mistake.
Any noisy classroom would instantly fall silent when the children spot a petite lady dressed in a white Punjabi suit walking past – it was of course none other than Sister Mangalam, as she was known as then. At times she would walk around with a cane in her hand but I never witnessed her caning any student in my nine years of being a Dharma student.
For an estate boy who had to walk more than 10 kilometres to get to school every morning, I was extremely naïve and knew nothing but to play. I found Sister Mangalam’s Monday morning assemblies rather unique as all the students would be engrossed listening to her speak about human values and good behaviour. We also learnt to do breathing exercises and understand the importance of prayers.
She never once promoted any religion but highlighted salient points like “Religions are like rivers leading to an ocean called God”. The Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists would happily recite and abide by her human value verses every day. No bias, no segregation, no arguments.
Sister Mangalam was then involved in the day-to-day activities of a home for orphans and homeless children run by the Pure Life Society while serving as a full-time teacher. In 1961, she became the life president of the Pure Life Society following the demise of its founder president H.H. Swami Dr Satyananda, who had been her mentor and source of inspiration since she was 11.
The spiritual values practised by Mother Mangalam, who is now 92, have multi-religious settings as she has equal respect for all religions.
The Pure Life Society’s premises in Puchong is the only place where we can find a temple that is an abode for all religions. Besides her role as the life president of Pure Life Society, she has also carved a name for herself in the inter-faith efforts and writing.
In 1994, I had the rare opportunity to serve the Pure Life Society as its secretary and it was an extraordinary task to serve under Mother Mangalam. She was always proactive and thinking 100 miles ahead of you.
For instance, I would be struggling to write the minutes of a meeting and Mother Mangalam would be asking me if I had already distributed them. One rainy night, she appeared in front of my gate asking if I had completed the minutes of the society’s annual general meeting. I froze for several seconds before inviting her and her assistant into my humble home. While my wife entertained them and served them a hot drink, I quickly completed the minutes.
Mother Mangalam is a caring woman who gave and is still giving love in abundance to all. She is strict yet kind and loving yet focused on bringing thousands of destitute children to greater heights. Many of them are now leading useful lives and working as doctors, engineers, pilots and in other disciplines.
This seed of love was sown by Mother Mangalam in that wonderful cottage called Pure Life. She not only gave food and shelter but above all taught values to these children who were impoverished. She practised and embraced peace, compassion and love and preached the same values to her wards and students like me.
While I congratulate Mother Mangalam for this well-deserved doctorate award in humanities, I would also want to thank and commend Taylor’s University for their notable and laudable decision to confer the award on this great person of our era.
She went beyond race, religion or economic status to cheer up the needy. We may not see another Mother Mangalam in this era and let us not ever forget this frail yet strong woman. She is the beacon of hope for the poor.
The late Mother Teresa served the poor far away in Calcutta, India, but in Malaysia, we have our own Mother Mangalam, who is still serving the poor, needy and the penniless.
It was an honour for me to attribute a poem to this great woman on the conferment of the doctorate award. It is also a great joy to count my many blessings for having had the opportunity to be guided and taught by Mother Mangalam.
Let’s value and cherish this beautiful and caring individual for all her laudable service to Malaysians.”
– BERNAMA
(Editor’s Note: Yang Bahagia Datin Paduka Mother A. Mangalam was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate In Humanities by the Taylor’s University on the 6th of October 2018)
