The Tamils Representative Council (Tamilar Pirathinithithuva Sabai) was founded as a non-profit social organization on 1 Aug 1951. It was initiated by Govindasamy Sarangapany, a renowned Indian Community leader and a few well known personalities who got together and formed a council to unite the Tamils and the Tamil organizations that functioned on a sectarian basis (Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Buddhists) in Singapore.

30 years later, in 1980 the association was revamped under the leadership of the late Mr. G Kandasamy, and its Tamil name was changed from Tamilar Pirathinithithuva Sabai to Tamizhar Peravai while the English name of “Tamils Representative Council” was retained. G. Kandasamy, a veteran and respected unionist gave this organization a new focus and purpose and attracted professionals and the large number of English speaking Tamils who until then remained in the periphery. The Tamils Representative Council, or “TRC” as it was better known among households, focused on a single mission of uplifting the educational, economic and social status of Tamils. It believed that educational achievements would lead to economic success and quite naturally raise their social status in Singapore.

TRC launched an island-wide educational assistance scheme using schools as Tuition Centres on Sundays, with the help of the education ministry, and its services became within the reach of Indian children. It also attracted hundreds of volunteers who sacrificed their weekends to coach these children in the core subjects, English, Mathematics, Science and Tamil. Soon, TRC came to be regarded as the apex organization as it continued to extend its tuition services to thousands of children. Its activities then extended to cultural and youth activities, national dinners and all these were organized regularly and on a national scale.

TRC also networked with government agencies and received all forms of other support ranging from sharing of information on the top Indian students at PSLE, GCE “Ordinary” and “A” levels to receive TRCs Recognition Awards and to motivate other children; institutionalizing the teaching of Tamil as 2nd language in premier schools like Raffles Institution; and rescheduling key examination dates to avoid clashing with major festivities so that Indian children are not in any way disadvantaged.

This brought TRC to its next phase where it set-up separate funds for Education, Culture, Building and Administration to allow the public to support these initiatives by way of membership and contributions through GIRO, a regular and convenient way of building the funds. From $29.50 cents that TRC had when Mr G.Kandasamy started, the funds grew to an all-time high of half a million dollars. Its membership grew – the number of organizations affiliated to this central organization stood at 18 and the life and ordinary members was close to 1000. TRC then formed the TRC Multi-purpose Co-operative Society, as an economic arm, to encourage Indians and specifically Tamils, on thrift and to offer low interest loans to its members to support them.

In 1994, G.Kandasamy handed his leadership to the next generation leaders. Mr P Kesavan served as President from 1994 to 1999 and Dr R.Theyvendran, an entrepreneur from 2000 to date. Since then the number of organizations affiliated to TRC has grown to 37 signaling its close link to the grassroots and the recognition of community organizations to synergize their independent efforts to achieve the same goals.

TRC under the able and strong leadership of Dr R Theyvendran PBM, is heading in the right direction as it endeavors to bring up the economic, social and educational level of the Tamil Community.

In the past 2 years TRC has been actively involved in a multitude of activities in its continued effort to promote the Tamil Language, enhance the economic and social status of the Community and improve the educational performance of our students. TRC has continued awarding bursaries to about 200 needy students annually. This year about $20,000 was raised and presented at the Joint-Bursary Awards ceremony held together with SINDA and SIET. The tuition programme first started in 1983 continued into its 22nd year. More than 30,000 students have passed through this programme. This year about 200 students have enrolled for the programme.

TRC supported PA Narpani Pearavai in its appreciation dinner for PM Lee Hsien Loong by raising some $38,000 through contributions from TRC, TRC Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, MDIS, TCC and Stamford Press. TRC was also actively involved in the thank-you dinner for SM Goh Chok Tong, organized by the Indian Community under the Chairmanship of Dr Theyvendran.

TRC Contributed $10,000 to the ‘Sarangapani Educational Trust Fund’ launched by our President S R Nathan in January 2004. TRC has also continued with its support and contributions to the annual Tamil Teachers Awards hosted by Tamil Murasu, Pradhana Vizha hosted by Vasantham Central and the Sorkalam series by PA Narpani Pearavai. Apart from these, TRC has also continued to support its 29 affiliated organizations.

To raise the social status of the Tamils, TRC continues to foster close relationship with SINDA, Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET), Singapore Tamil Teachers Union (STTU), Tamil Language Council (TLC) and People's Association (PA). In partnership with MDIS and MMI, TRC has also nominated deserving children of its members for scholarship awards for further studies.

Our financial arm, TRC Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Ltd was established by TRC leaders in 1994. It has grown from strength to strength under capable TRC leaders with vision and foresight who saw the need for a community organization with a business objective.

Under TRC’s umbrella and with TRC’s goodwill in the community, TRC Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society continues to help Indian families cope with financial pressures in Singapore and provides a safe place for their nest egg.

Members and the Community can be rest assured that TRC under a fresh, youthful and vibrant management is ready for the challenges ahead as it undertakes to uplift the Tamil speaking community as a whole!. TRC recognizes the increasing roles of other like-minded organizations like SINDA, to serve for the well-being of Indian Singaporeans, and now focuses on what each does best so as to optimize the resources among Indians. It will continue in its mission to uplift the educational, economic and social status of the Indian Tamil Community.