Ipoh World

In March 1985 Sinniah S/O Sinnathamby wrote his Last Will and Testament (the two images top left and centre above) and gave it to his son, Sunderalingam, for safe keeping. It is so interesting and educational that the text is reproduced below in full and as typed.

"May The Lord’s Name be Glorified. Salutations! In His Mercyes Grace Receive me and Grace me. You have kept me too long after Judgement send me to serve again and Realise Thee. After I leave this body let none grieve over me.

1. Do not keep the body for more than 36 hours.
   
   
2. Inform none. Sunderalingam and Annan will please bathe the body with plain water. No ceremonies please. Pandaram - Brahman not wanted.
   
   
3. Take the corpse with no unnecessary rites. Please do not place the body in any ready-made coffin. One made of plain planks only, if you don’t mind. If not just cover it up, wrap in white khader cloth. No metal. Nothing may be used - Nothing.
   
   
4. NONE should touch the Corpse except Sundram (Annan if she likes and if she is allowed).
   
   
5. Cremate the body. Cremation should be done by Sunderalingam only.
   
   
6. Make an announcement in the Straits Times. “Mr S Sinniah retired Educations Officer Perak (Inspector of Indian Schools, Perak) died on ……………….. Funeral will be at the Buntong Hindu Cremation Ground, Ipoh at ……. pm on ……. 19 . No wreaths Nothing more PLEASE.
   Also make a short announcement in one of the Tamil Newpapers) …………………………….
   
   
7. Send a cable to Panchalingam Colombu House Urumpirai South, Sri Lanka “Father Sinniah died” Inform Koddachy Tellipalai Kaithady, Colombo others “Sunderalingam”.
   
   
8. Inform Goo Periapillai, Thone.
   
   
9. Anybody, if he or she wishes may sing devosional songs on the way to the cremation ground.
   
   
10. Grand (Great) children, nephews, nieces, if the parents have no objection may please light candles to show me the way to the “home”. (Of course children will not do anything.)
    
    
11. On the 3rd day the cremation ground will be cleaned up with water, milk, coconut water etc.) Well part of the asches should be sent under Registered Insured parcel to Panchalingam Urumpirai. This will be buried next to the shed, in memory of my mother. He will be asked to put a small tomb (stone or bricks with cement) A slab with the inscription ………………… (date of death) should be inscribed. Sundralingam will remit the cash for the Burial of this aches and this tomb may not cost more than Rs. 10000 - 1050/- (i.e. $1,050.20) send the money in advance as he is not well off (definately he will not cheat)
    
    
12. On the 31st day Anthoriddy. Throw the balance of the aches into the Kinta River near the temple. If you can feed the poor it will be grand.
    
    
13. I have already asked and paid for the Koil for prayers at some of the temples or religious institutions.
    
    
14. All the wealth (clothes only should not be destroyed give (after washing etc.,) to the Old Folk’s home. Except the clothes I leave nothing.

These are the only things Sunderalingam will do. He will get his reward from GOD. I Strongly advise him to help Rose Ahthai, Annan if they need “Aid” Balance to the poor charity (Preferably in Sri Lanka. I am the Soul (not the boy) I’ll not die. After serving my sentence I have to come Back and repay those to whom I am indebted in service. etc. If Sunderalingam fails to carry out my wishes he will be punished by GOD.

IPOH 9.3.85

(Show this to any one who wants to go against my above wishes)"

Three years later on the 24th May 1988, Sinniah had another Will (the two images top right and bottom left above) drawn up to the same effect, with a few minor changes or additions to the terms of the earlier will written in 1985. This will, signed by A S Iaduray, an Ipoh Lawyer, and having been witnessed and marked by the appropriate fingerprints, is somehow less interesting than the first. The alterations in the second will are as follows:

1. In #1: Relations and friends, kindly attend my funeral if of convenient, when it occurs.
   
   
2. In #2: My corpse should be cremated within 48 hours.
   
   
3. In #3: Cremation ceremonies should be performed by my bachelor sons.
   
   
4. In #4: The estimated price of the coffin is set at $100/=
   
   
5. In #6: Putting rice inside the mouth should be avoided. The bachelor sons to keep tradition only may do it. Barber not necessary.
   
   
6. In the last paragraph of the first page it is mentioned, “No memorial, on your own you can do any form of charity you like. All material wealth, Krishna gave me should go to Sundralingam only and to nobody else. This is my will.
   
   
7. On the second page, it is written, “No rituals on the 3rd, 7th, 31st and annually. All this to be avoided.
   
   
8. Send cable to Nadarajah only. He will inform others in Ceylon.
   
   
9. 1st Anniversary only will be celebrated with feeding of the poor.
   
   
10. Do not use banana plant but arecanut plant.

To read about Sinniah S/O Sinnathamby, click here.