Eulogy: Pastor Indra Shan RIP

Eulogy written for Pastor Indra Shan's Memorial book

Pastor Indra Shan not only shares the first name with the lady who was an iconic figure of the 20th century and the former prime minister of the biggest democracy in the world - Indira Gandhi but her dynamism and ability to lead any organisation out of the doldrums.

My earliest encounter with my aunt (Pastor Indra), as far back as my grey matter can bring me, was when I spent a good one whole month during the year-end school holidays in December 1970. We (my sisters and I) were awed by the appearance of her bungalow in Malacca. It was furnished with exquisite furniture, carpets, and the accessories that went with it. I particularly remember a large aquarium in the living room with a fish named 'Oscar'! To complement this entire bourgeois ambience was an orchid garden and a walk-in bird cage with parakeets, sparrows and parrots.

My parents told us to emulate our cousins, who were rattling off in impeccable English and were also musically inclined. They were particularly impressed with Indra's way of nurturing her kids. She used to draw out a duty roster for the children to help her with the chores and running the house. I suppose she was trying to provide what she had missed while growing up. She was strict, a disciplinarian and a no-nonsense lady. She will constantly go after her children to study and play their piano. She was like a military task master!

After that fateful vacation, we used to see Indra and her family on their biennial 'pilgrimage' to Penang. Boy! That was indeed a milestone in our lives. There were the long chats into the wee hours of the mornings and the many pranks that my cousins, sisters, and I did. The memories of these will forever give us a pleasant feeling which will last a lifetime, carving a smile on our faces every time we think of those days.

As we grew older and more commitments set in, the visits became less often. She finally settled in Kuala Lumpur in the 1990s, and our meetings became more frequent. Despite her busy schedule trying to establish Mercy Home and help the needy, she still found time to spend time without fail on Deepavali day with my family. Even if she is enticed with a sumptuous spread of mouth-watering delicacies on such celebrations, she would be adamant about continuing her fast and prayers. She found joy in working for the marginalised souls of society and not self-glorification. True to her belief, she led a simple life.


*The above picture was taken during (what was supposed to be) her surprise 70th birthday held in G and J's home. We were actually more surprised when she said, "...but I am already 71!" Nobody bothered about registering dates and remembering birthdays those days! She was supposed to be born on the year her grandmother died (a few days before or after?). She is said to be the reincarnation of her grandmother!