DATUK Rasammah Bhupalan, who was born in Ipoh in 1927, has been a freedom fighter, an activist and a dedicated teacher throughout her long life, joining the women’s wing of the Indian National Army against the British at just 16-years-old and serving in Myanmar.
Rasammah, who died today at 98-years-old, fought against the British and returned home two years later to eventually become a teacher.
She went on to form the Women Teachers’ Union (WTU) in 1960 and became the principal of the Methodist Girls’ School in Kuala Lumpur.
As founder president of the WTU, she fought for equal pay for women teachers and tried to bring disparate teachers' unions under an umbrella.
It was during this time that she was also an active proponent for gender equality in Malaysia and her efforts received recognition in 1986 when she was given the Tokoh Guru award.
She had said that WTU was the first of its kind “to cut across” all differences such as language and academic qualifications.
The former school principal was the first Asian representative of the World Confederation of Organisations of the Teaching Profession for two successive terms. She was also very active in the National Council of Women's Organisation (NCWO) and Pemadam.
She was also very active in the National Council of Women’s Organisations and the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).
She is also the founder of the YWCA Vocational Training Opportunity Centre for girls from lower-income households.
Beyond the education sector, Rasammah campaigned for pension packages and for the minimum wage to be raised, while speaking up against domestic violence and rape.
Rasammah was also full of praises for the father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman, whom she said made such an impact on her life and the lives of others in the nation.
Till her very last days, Rasammah continued to make an impact on many with her boundless energy and a vivacity absent in many her age.
She was conferred a Datukship by then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in 2008 and continued lending her considerable teaching experience to the present generation of education administrators and teachers.
Rasammah also worked closely with several other great women who include Puan Sri Sukumari Sekhar, a renowned women's and children's rights activist.
Sukumari was also the founder and first deputy president of Malaysia's National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO).
Rassamah was one of the NCWO council members at that time.
Another close friend of hers was Tun Fatimah Hashim a freedom fighter who later served as a minister in the Malaysian cabinet.
Describing her life as “wonderful,” Rasammah often thanked God for the blessings bestowed upon her, her late husband Dr Franklin Bhupalan, three children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. - May 13, 2025
