Article about Mother Mangalam, one of the recipient of Merdeka Award for 2010. From the Star.
At 84, Mother Mangalam is still busy solving problems and helping the less fortunate. Sunday Star catches up with the recipient of this year’s Merdeka Award in the education and community category and finds out what makes her so unique.
DATIN Paduka Mother A. Mangalam is totally surprised at being named as one of the recipients for this year’s Merdeka Award.
“I never expected this. Why me, of all people?” asks the 84-year-old who is shy of publicity of any kind.
As president and co-founder of the Pure Life Society (PLS), which provides shelter for needy children, Mother Mangalam has selflessly dedicated her life to the welfare of the less fortunate. With her faith in God and a never-give-up attitude, she has helped to provide a better life for the 2,000 children who have passed through the home.
Mother Mangalam: ‘People give love for many reasons, but he (Swami Satyananda) told me that true love is simply given for the sake of love, and not to ask for anything back.’
Although a teacher by profession, Mother Mangalam has always been a spiritual person, and she cites her father as well as founder-president of the PLS Swami Satyananda, whom she considers her spiritual mentor, as the two people who have influenced her the most.
“I was born into a Hindu family, but my father was a practising Catholic. On Sundays, he used to take me out marketing, and we would go to church too.”
She remembers the first prayer he taught her when she was seven.
“It went, ‘Oh my god, give me the true love of thee.’
“People give love for many reasons, but he told me that true love is simply given for the sake of love, and not to ask for anything back. That idea has stuck with me.”
She met Swami Satyananda when she was nine and recalls how, at one point (soon after World War II), she wanted to go to India to join a nunnery. But the Swami advised her against it.
“He reminded me that I was the eldest in my family of seven, and that I had to help my brother and sisters who had been affected by the war. He told me I must obtain my parents’ blessings before going into religious life.”
The war, she recalls, also had a great impact on the way she approached life.
“It put me into deep thought, and I used to reflect a lot about life and death during that time. Life was full of difficulties – poverty was all around and people barely had food to eat. Death was everywhere.”
It was then that she resolved not to marry and have children, as she felt that there were so many others who needed her help.
In the years after the war, many orphans came into the care of Swami Satyananda, and he used to place them with families.
“I used to go around with Swami and we would visit children whom he had left with associates.
“During those visits, it was so sad to see the children’s faces – they were very withdrawn and inexpressive. Furthermore, some foster parents would complain about the child right in front of them, and that hurt me a lot.”
After a visit one day, she blurted to Swami that they should start a home for them.
“He asked me who would look after them, and I remained silent. I had parents to look after, and to get away (from her responsibilities) was not easy.”
But the thought must have been working in his mind, and one day he asked not to be disturbed for three days and nights.
“He did not say why but after three days, he opened his door and said: ‘I have got the green light. How are you people going to help me?’”
That led to the PLS being set up and officially registered on July 15, 1952.
But it was also the start of more trials and tribulations.
“Funds were hard to come by and we used to live on porridge every night. We found it very difficult to get milk. I used to practically beg for milk from Nestlé and Dutch Baby (now Dutch Lady) and we would mix the two for taste.”
Despite all the difficulties she had to face, Mother Mangalam remained confident because of her belief that God would always provide.
“I never lost or gave up hope. Miracles happen all the time and the divine power is ever present.”
She recalls another time in the 1970s when her life was in turmoil – torn between her work and her own family’s needs.
She was the head of a school and also heading the PLS. Conditions at the home then were very cramped.
“We started getting many anonymous letters which were highly critical of the home – saying that the children were packed in like livestock.
“At the same time, I had my sisters to take care of. My brother had lost his job and they all turned to me. So I had to hold on to the school job.”
The pressure on her was overwhelming and one day, she broke down in tears and prayed for one of the burdens to be lifted from her shoulders.
“Two weeks later, my mother called me and said my father had won a RM400,000 lottery!”
She says the windfall allowed her to take optional retirement and concentrate on her work at the PLS.
So what keeps her going at an age when most people would have been retired for 30 years?
“Look at the needs of the nation – when I read the newspapers I get so involved in the problems. Why do religions rise up against each other, or try to dominate another? This all means people are not thinking in the right way. We are all of one God, of one Mother Earth, and there is only one race – the human race. People are made to look different, like the different flowers on earth, to make life interesting.”
To many, Mother Mangalam is synonymous with the PLS, a perception she has no control over.
“I’ve been in it from the beginning and people see Pure Life Society written all over me. I wouldn’t encourage this, and I feel odd when people say it.
“The society is the product of the many hands that have served through thick and thin – especially the staff. This type of work will go on.
“I’m still looking for someone who will be able to carry on the work. This was started after prayer and meditation, and it is all God’s will.”
A NATIONAL treasure! This is how Dr Amir Farid Isahak, chairman of the Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship (INSaF), describes Mother Manga lam whom he first met 11 years ago.
He says there is much wisdom the 84-year-old Pure Life Society (PLS) president can impart to the people.
“Malaysians should know more of her. I think more communities outside of the PLS should hear her message of oneness of religious purpose, tolerance and understanding.”
Their acquaintance, he relates, was not by chance.
They met in 1999, on the eve of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Prior to that, he had only heard of her but never met her personally.
“During prayer time, I asked God if he had any instructions for me. When I finished, and returned to the hall, Mother Mangalam approached me and said she wanted me to lead INSaF, the inter-faith programme of the Pure Life Society.
“So mentally, I said to God ‘Instruction received’, and have been chairing it ever since.”
He explains that the PLS was set up as a multi-faith spiritual organisation.
“INSaF is a gathering of spiritually-inclined people of all faiths, including representatives of the major religions. Mother is our adviser and provides us much spiritual advice, guidance and motherly love. She reminds us of the need to be loving and caring in our everyday life, and to be God-conscious at every moment – and she recites beautiful prayers and poems!”
Dr Amir says Mother Mangalam respects the spiritual essence of all religions, that God is one but understood differently by different religions.
“The message of oneness, respect and learning from each other is an important message. This can help bring down barriers, and foster stronger bonds of friendship and understanding – this should be shared with all Malaysians.”
Dr Amir has a strong affinity and fondness for Mother Mangalam, and says she treats him like a son, which he reciprocates.
“She is a pillar of patience and wisdom. She is strong-willed and determined, but rarely shows her anger whenever something upsets her. She is always composed, and in that way her thoughts and decisions are never clouded by emotions.”
He says that he tries to follow her lead.
“She has taught me to be patient, and to be disciplined in all aspects of life. What I have yet to try to emulate is never to be angry!”
Shelter Home for Children executive director James Nayagam, who has known Mother Mangalam for more than 30 years, says she is thoroughly deserving of the Merdeka Award.
“We can see how the Pure Life Society has progressed under her leadership.
“It requires dedication and commitment to face the challenges, and she has been there throughout. She has dedicated herself to providing children a safe and wholesome place to stay,” he adds.
Nayagam feels that the dedication Mother Mangalam displays is lacking in the young. She can be a role model to many who want to take up social work, he says.
“Time and age has not been an issue for her, and she looks upon it as a service to the country, and that is why she is recognised.”
Nayagam remembers meeting her when he was 25, and he asked her how she could manage such a difficult job.
“She told me that one must always be in control, and that stuck in my mind.
“You cannot find another Mother Manga lam – she has her own unique appearance, character and personality. She is one of a kind.”
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