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D. S. Ramanathan (Tamil: டி. எஸ். ராமநாதன்) was a Malaysian politician, mayor, teacher, unionist , Malayan Army and educationist of Ceylonese origin. He was a member as well as chairman of the Labour Party of Malaya, and subsequently joined the Malaysian Indian Congress. Besides that, Ramanathan also served as the first mayor for the city of George Town, and is credited for his pioneering efforts to set up a university in Penang.[1][2] The idea of a university in Penang was first mooted by him in 1959 in the State Assembly and later crystallised when he was nominated chairman of the Penang University Project committee.
D. S. Ramanathan | |
|---|---|
டி. எஸ். ராமநாதன் | |
| 1st Mayor of George Town | |
| In office 1958–1959 | |
| Mayor of George Town (2nd Term) | |
| In office 1959–1960 | |
| President of Malaya National Union of Teachers | |
| In office 1959–1962 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1908 Jafna, British Ceylon |
| Died | 1973 Kuala Lumpur |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Political party | Malaysian Indian Congress (November 1963-) Labour Party of Malaya (1953-4 June 1963) |
| Spouse | Ruth Vanniasingham |
The Universiti Sains Malaysia opened in 1969 and is today one of the leading tertiary institutions of learning in Malaysia
Early life edit
D. S. Ramanathan was born to Sri Lanka Tamil family. He later married to Ruth Vanniasingham. D.S Ramanathan work as teacher on early days before joining politics. The former teacher, who began his career in Perak, was the president of the National Union of Teachers from 1959 to 1962 as well as vice-president of the Malayan Teachers National Congress from 1961-1962.
During that period, he was also an active member of the National Joint Council of Teachers. Even, after finishing his term as mayor, he was appointed as the headmaster of the Penang Pykett Methodist School.[citation needed] He died in 1973 in Kuala Lumpur.
Memorials edit
D. S. Ramanathan Road edit
Scott Road, a small road off Air Rajah Road, has been renamed in honour of Ramanathan.[3]
References edit
- ^ "George Town's first mayor a fiery man".
- ^ "The controversy behind Jalan D S Ramanathan | Free Malaysia Today". Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Map of Scott Road (Jalan D.S. Ramanathan), Penang".