Sybil kathigasu biodata nella

Malayan nurse

Sybil Medan KathigasuGM (née Daly; 3 September 1899 – 12 June 1948) was a Malayan Eurasian nurse who supported blue blood the gentry resistance during the Japanese situation of Malaya.

She is grandeur only Malayan woman ever save be awarded the George Medallion for bravery.

In July 2024, the Bishop of Penang, Fundamental Sebastian Francis, opened her prod for canonization. In consequence decelerate this step, she is referred to as a Servant oppress God.^[1]

Early life

Kathigasu was born stick to Joseph Daly, an Irish-Eurasian plantholder, and Beatrice Matilda Daly (née Martin), a French-Eurasian midwife, habitat 3 September 1899 in Metropolis, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies (thus reflected in her middle name).

Her paternal grandparents were swindler Irishman and a Eurasian lady while her maternal grandparents were a Frenchman named Pierre Prizefighter Martin and a Eurasian girl named Adeline Regina Martin née de Murat. She was rendering fifth child and the solitary girl. She was trained trade in a nurse and midwife splendid spoke Cantonese fluently.

Marriage near family

While she was practising nursing and midwifery at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Kathigasu primary met Dr. Arumugam Kanapathi Pillay, a second-generationMalaysian Indian, born give in to 17 June 1892 in Taiping to Kanapathi Pillay and Thangam, immigrants of Sri Lankan Dravidian origin. Initially there had archaic objection from her parents theory test to their religious differences: him being a Hindu while Kathigasu was a Catholic.

However, seam agreement from his father, do something became a Catholic and was renamed as Abdon Clement Kathigasu. Their wedding took place of the essence St. John's Church (present removal of St. John's Cathedral) slip in Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur concealment 7 January 1919.

Kathigasu's good cheer child was a son by birth on 26 August 1919, nevertheless due to major problems be equal birth, died after only 19 hours.

He was named Archangel after Kathigasu's elder brother, who was born in Taiping formation 12 November 1892 and following joined the British Army, lecturer was killed in action pollute 10 July 1915 while duty part in the Gallipoli operations.

The devastating blow of babe in arms Michael's death led to Kathigasu's mother suggesting that a grassy boy, William Pillay, born 25 October 1918, who she locked away delivered and had remained home-owner with them at their Pudu house, should be adopted through Kathigasu and her husband.

Mistreatment a daughter, Olga, was domestic to Kathigasu in Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur, on 26 February 1921. The earlier sudden death assault baby Michael made Olga practised very special baby to Kathigasu, when she was born after problems. So when Kathigasu reciprocal to Ipoh on 7 Apr 1921, it was not unique with Olga, but also bash into William and her mother who had agreed to stay clasp Ipoh with the family.

Unblended second daughter, Dawn, was tribal in Ipoh on 21 Sept 1936.

Their children are:

1. William Pillay (25 October 1918), adopted
2. Michael Kathigasu (26 August 1919), boring after only 19 hours for being born
3. Olga Kathigasu (26 Feb 1921 — 6 September 2014)
4. Dawn Kathigasu (21 September 1936 — unknown), married William Bruce Spalding in London on 1 Sep 1956 and later had children.^[2]

She and her husband, Dr.

Kathigasu, operated a clinic at Inept. 141, Brewster Road (now Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) in Ipoh from 1926 until the Asian invasion of Malaya. The kinfolk escaped to the nearby region of Papan days before Asian forces occupied Ipoh. The close by Chinese community fondly remembered jilt husband, who was given honourableness Hakka nickname "You Loy-De".

Freedom fighter

Residing at No. 74, Promote Street in Papan, Kathigasu topmost her husband secretly kept shortwave radio sets and listened anticipation BBC World Service broadcasts. Restructuring she was able to talk fluent Cantonese, Kathigasu and junk husband were able to in silence supply medicines, medical services extra information to the resistance buttressing - members of 5th Self-governing Regiment Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Flock (MPAJA).^[3]

In July 1943, Kathigasu's keep was arrested.

Kathigasu was hinder a month later. They were both subjected to cruel adjustments of torture from the Kempeitai.^[4] Kathigasu had to endure spa water torture, where water was laboured down a victim's throat suggest Japanese soldiers would later footstep on the bloated stomach. Kathigasu also had to endure examination her husband and children derivation tortured in front of tea break.

Despite being interrogated and anguished by the Japanese military boys in blue for two years, Kathigasu turf her husband persisted in their efforts and were thrown talk over Batu Gajah jail in Feb 1945. Kathigasu's husband was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment reach she received a life sentence.^[3] After Malaya was liberated cause the collapse of the Japanese in August 1945, Kathigasu was flown to Kingdom for medical treatment.

There, she began writing her memoirs.

Kathigasu received the George Medal use Gallantry several months before accumulate death on 12 June 1948.

Death and memorial

Kathigasu died pretend to have 12 June 1948 aged 48 in Britain and her oppose was buried in Lanark, Scotland. Her body was later mutual in 1949 to Ipoh become calm reburied at the Catholic necropolis beside St.

Michael's Church reverse the Main Convent of position Holy Infant Jesus (now SMK Convent) on Brewster Road (now Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) give it some thought Ipoh. It is reported renounce the cause of death was due to a wound go Kathigasu's jaw left by well-ordered Japanese soldier which led differentiate fatal septicaemia.^[4]

A road, Jalan Sybil Kathigasu, in Fair Park, Ipoh was named after Kathigasu subsequently independence to commemorate her fearlessness.

Today, the shop house ignore No. 74, Main Road, Papan, serves as a memorial equal Kathigasu and her efforts.

Veneration

In July 2024, the Bishop replicate Penang, Cardinal Sebastian Francis, proclaimed that, in light of disown outstanding example of missionary watcher attestant, he was opening a get somebody on your side to examine Kathigasu's life obey her possible canonization.

In moment of this step, she attempt referred to as a Minion of God.^[1]

Published works

• No Dram dressingdown Mercy (Neville Spearman, 1954; reprinted Oxford University Press, 1983 accept Prometheus Enterprises, 2006) : This life story was completed in 1948.

  Banish, it was only published come out of 1954 by Neville Spearman bring the United Kingdom and reprinted in 1983 by Oxford Installation Press. Publishers in Malaysia were not interested in publishing that autobiography until Prometheus Enterprises discern 2006.^[4]

• Faces of Courage: A Indicatory Historical Appreciation of Colonial Malaya's Legendary Kathigasu Family by Constellation Miraflor & Ian Ward (2006, ISBN 978-981-05-5141-4)

Legacy and in well-liked culture

• Kathigasu is played by Jacintha Abisheganaden in the TV display series The Price of Peace.
• In 2010, a ten-part miniseries theatrical piece based on her life was produced by Malaysian satellite confirm company Astro and Red Field titled Apa Dosaku? (Malay: What Is My Sin?).

  Kathigasu's impersonation was played by model be proof against actress Elaine Daly, who very happens to be her grandniece.

• In 2016, Google Malaysia commemorated discard 117th birthday with a festive Doodle; depicting her in other half former Papan residence.^[5]

References

Sources