Balaguru Govindasamy with his daughter, Komalavalli, in his car

Collections
1605514
Title
Balaguru Govindasamy with his daughter, Komalavalli, in his car
Year/Period
c. Late 1920s
Region
Singapore
Object Type
photographic prints
Material
silver gelatin paper, photographic gelatin
Technique
gelatin silver process
Dimension
Object size: 24.7 x 29.8 x 0.2 cm,
Image size: 14.8 x 19.8 cm
Accession No.
2025-00704
Collection of
National Museum of Singapore
Credit Line
Gift of Mythili and the family S L Perumal

Balaguru Govindasamy Chettiar was a pioneer Singaporean who ran the Indian Labour Company, the main contractor supplying workers to the Singapore Harbour Board (now Port of Singapore Authority (PSA)). This photograph depicts Govindasamy as the driver, with his daughter, Komalavalli, in the second row. Komalavalli was the second child of Govindasamy’s first wife. She was favoured by B Govindasamy as he believed she brought him luck.