Generations on, influence of Chinese philanthropist remains

After Japan launched its invasion of China in 1937, business pioneer and philanthropist Tan Kah-kee delivered passionate speeches to rally overseas Chinese scattered across Southeast Asian countries for funds and manpower to "help the motherland in her hour of need".

Patriot overseas

"Deep down, he was a patriot. He felt very strongly about supporting not just the motherland, but the entire Chinese race with its 5,000-year-old history ... His appeal was emotional, straight from the heart," recounts Tan's granddaughter, Peggy Tan, from her home in eastern Singapore.

For Tan, it was very important that the Chinese civilization was not endangered by foreign invaders. "It was a do-or-die situation," his granddaughter says.

Although Tan's descendants are now living in different parts of the world, Peggy Tan believes that her grandfather had always hoped to go back to China in his old age, after a lifetime of toil.

Tan settled down in China after the founding of the People's Republic of China and was buried in his southeastern hometown of Xiamen, Fujian province, following his death in 1961.

Born in Ji Mei village in Xiamen in 1874, Tan later moved to Singapore to join the family's rice trading business. He soon rose to prominence as a respected entrepreneur, social reformer, political activist, philanthropist, community leader and educationist.

From as early as 1917, Tan led fundraising efforts for the Tianjin Flood Relief Fund, set up by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an extensive campaign involving various sectors of the Chinese community in the city state.

He was well-known for heading the Singapore China Relief Fund and raising money to support the Chinese against the Japanese invasion. He mobilize over 3,000 local drivers and technicians in Singapore to help transport war supplies to China.

He also led an overseas Chinese group to China to convey their condolences to war-ravaged China, during which time he met with then Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong, who later appraised him as the Banner of Overseas Chinese and the Glory of the Nation.

After Singapore fell into Japan's hands on Feb 15, 1942, Tan became a prime target during the Japanese occupation because of his social status and involvement in opposing the Japanese.

Tan avoided capture and escaped to Marang, East Java, Indonesia. While in hiding, he started writing Memoirs of Nanyang Overseas Chinese.

Peggy Tan says her grandfather likely penned the memoir in a bid to document both the thinking of Chinese politicians at that time and his personal observations, as he felt that these records would prove useful to future generations.

Family values

Apart from his political activities, Tan was also a savvy businessman, expanding his commercial empire to include rice mills, rubber production, shipping and brickworks, among other ventures.

Despite the wealth he accumulated, Tan was a frugal person, recalls Peggy Tan. He preferred simple meals, used simple appliances and seldom entertained friends with lavish meals at home.

Peggy Tan also recounts how her grandmother was not given any money to buy food during a period of financial difficulty for her grandfather. "As children, we heard stories of how she had to go to Tan Kah-kee's warehouse to beg for rice from the foreman!" says Peggy.

However, Tan was always generous to others, even during hard times.