K. R. Somasundram
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri Dato
K.R. Somasundram (born 13 March 1930) is a prominent Malaysian Indian.
Born in Teluk Intan
, Malaysia in 1930, he was the son of a grocer who gained prominence by heading the National Land Finance Co-Operative for the last two and a half decades.
at the age of 14 and later after World War II trained at the Tanjung Rambutan Training Camp where he gained Executive rank by the age of 20. He was then posted to the Azad School in Singapore for Combatant Training.
and by 1962 became the Estate Manager, one of the first non-British to be in such a position. He became Vice Chairman of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Kedah Branch and a member of the National Central Working Committee. In 1967 he was elected as a Senator for Kedah. Part of his role was to represent the Malaysian Government in the 1968 UN General Assembly.
V.T. Sambanthan, leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress touted the idea of a social co-operative to help plantation workers during the British land sell-off. Tun Sambanthan and Somasundram worked closely to purchase their first estate at Bukit Sidim in that same year. The co-operative was later called National Land and Finance Co-operative Society (NLFCS). Somasundram took over the Chairmanship of the company upon the death of Tun Sambanthan and still actively manages the co-operative.
He is also a strong advocate for Tamil
rights in Malaysia. He has been generous with the money of the co-operative he heads.
, property and banking. Somasundram is currently Chairman of NLFCS and has been for the last two decades.
(JP) in 1971, a Datoship
in 1988 as well as being conferred a PSM, bearing the title 'Tan Sri' in 1996. He is also an honorary Indian citizen as well as being conferred a Doctorate by the University of Newcastle
, Australia.
Somasundram is also the first Indian Chairman of a floated firm in Malaysia (Premium Nutrients, Bursa Malaysia
)
In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
by the president of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The award carries title of Padma Shree.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
K.R. Somasundram (born 13 March 1930) is a prominent Malaysian Indian.
Born in Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan
Teluk Intan（安順）is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia. It is the largest town in Hilir Perak district and third largest town in the state of Perak with an estimated population of around 120,000, about half of Hilir Perak district's total population...
, Malaysia in 1930, he was the son of a grocer who gained prominence by heading the National Land Finance Co-Operative for the last two and a half decades.
World War II
Somasundram attained basic education but this was interrupted with the advent of World War II. He joined the Indian National ArmyIndian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
at the age of 14 and later after World War II trained at the Tanjung Rambutan Training Camp where he gained Executive rank by the age of 20. He was then posted to the Azad School in Singapore for Combatant Training.
Political years
After his stint in the armed forces, Somasundram workelinged at Bukit Sidim Estate in KedahKedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
and by 1962 became the Estate Manager, one of the first non-British to be in such a position. He became Vice Chairman of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Kedah Branch and a member of the National Central Working Committee. In 1967 he was elected as a Senator for Kedah. Part of his role was to represent the Malaysian Government in the 1968 UN General Assembly.
Social influence
In 1960 TunMalay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
V.T. Sambanthan, leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress touted the idea of a social co-operative to help plantation workers during the British land sell-off. Tun Sambanthan and Somasundram worked closely to purchase their first estate at Bukit Sidim in that same year. The co-operative was later called National Land and Finance Co-operative Society (NLFCS). Somasundram took over the Chairmanship of the company upon the death of Tun Sambanthan and still actively manages the co-operative.
He is also a strong advocate for Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
rights in Malaysia. He has been generous with the money of the co-operative he heads.
NLFCS
Today NLFCS has 19 estates totalling 35000 acres (141.6 km²), as well as investments in palm oilPalm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
, property and banking. Somasundram is currently Chairman of NLFCS and has been for the last two decades.
Honours and achievements
Due to his contribution to society through the co-operative he manages, Somasundram has been honoured on numerous occasions. In 1965 he received the AMN (equivalent to the British MBE), a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(JP) in 1971, a Datoship
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
in 1988 as well as being conferred a PSM, bearing the title 'Tan Sri' in 1996. He is also an honorary Indian citizen as well as being conferred a Doctorate by the University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
, Australia.
Somasundram is also the first Indian Chairman of a floated firm in Malaysia (Premium Nutrients, Bursa Malaysia
Bursa Malaysia
Bursa Malaysia is an exchange holding company approved under Section 15 of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007. It operates a fully integrated exchange, offering the complete range of exchange-related services including trading, clearing, settlement and depository services.- History :Bursa...
)
In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is an award constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas , to honor exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field/profession...
by the president of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The award carries title of Padma Shree.