Friday, April 8, 2016

The Casualties of Klang Strike 1941 - Rengasamy, Yellumalle (Elumalai), Mayandi, Angappan and Keneri (Konneri)

Finally, I managed to find out those names of labourers who were killed during the Klang Strike in 1941.

On 9th May 1941, Rengasamy and Yellumalle became the first causalities during the clash on Bukit Panjang Estate. Rengasamy was from Bukit Cheraka Estate and Yellumale (Elumalai) was from Highlands Estate (refer to my article http://www.malaya-ganapathy.com/2015/06/klang-strikes-causalities-rengasamy-and.html)

On 15th May 1941, Mayandi, Angappan and Keneri were killed when the British Indian troops opened fire to disperse some 900 labourers protesting on Brooklands Estate (refer to my article http://www.malayaganapathy.com/2016/04/klang-strike-1941-four-labourer-died-in.html)

(With this findings, only one labourer who died of bayonet wounds remains unknown and I am determined to find his/her name soon)

Out of all these names, the name "Keneri" sounds a little bit odd due typo-error. The actual name of the person was Konneri (கோனேரி) based on report published in Tamil Murasu dated 11th July 1941. It is also interesting to note few places in Tamil Nadu with reference to name "Konneri".  The name Konneri derived from two words "Kon" (கோன்) which means King and "Eri" (ஏறி) which means pond. There is alos a place by the name "Konneri Kuppam (கோனேரி குப்பம்)" or Konneri Village in Vellor district bordering to Andra Pradesh. There is also a place with a similar name - "Konnerirajapuram" in Kumbakonan district in Tamil Nadu, which the Temple Uma Mahewarar housed the biggest bronze Nadaraja statue in the world. In Thirupathi, there is a pond referred as "Konneri" (most probably used by the kings for their ritual purposes)

The Straits Times dated 9th July 1942, carried a news of the investigation findings of Brooklands Estate incident where the names of those killed in the gunfire Mayandi, Angappan and Keneri (Konneri) were mentioned. However, it did not mention about the fourth person who died due to bayonet wounds.

Raja Ayoub, the District Officer of Kuala Langat, found Major Howes Roberts of the Indian Army not guilty in ordering his men to open fire towards 900 plantation labourers in Brooklands Estate.

The Tamil Murasu reported that there were four eye-witness were called to give their statement in the inquiry. A research officer of Rubber Research Institute, J.F Dovey, Bandha Singh and Lieutenant F. Derrick and Inspector Yahaya from Klang Police Station, who identified the bodies.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor, A.J Graddon called upon four wounded labourers to give their statement before mentioning their criminal charges for taking part in the strike on Brooklands Estate, Banting on the 15th May 1941.  

According to H.E Wilson, the author of "Labour, Planter and Politics in Pre-War Malaya: The Selangor Riot, 1941", the inquiry was held after tremendous pressure from Government of India under Victor Alexander John Hope, the 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow as the Viceroy of India.  Wilson stated the "inquiries were limited to the question of whether or not the use of force has been justified, and on the basis of the evidence presented mainly by senior police and army officers and estate-manager."

The Straits Times 9th July 1941


Tamil Murasu - 11th July 1941

3 comments:

  1. I admire your tenacity. I, and i am sure many others, would be interested to know how you made this discovery. Do write about it. Salute!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Sir, I should say that things are a bit organised here in Singapore compare to Malaysia, that enable you to seek the right documents. Constant thinking of the subject matter would turned the mind to tune to that matter itself!

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  2. Great work Saminathan. It is very much appreciated. Many of those here do not care anymore for the sacrifices made by our fore fathers. But it is necessary that the brave acts of these heroes do not dissapear into oblivion. The way I see it, it appears only you are preventing it presently. Please keep up the good and all important work. The history of these brave pathfinders must never be erased.

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