A Nambiar clad in Chinese outfit
In the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur where diverse cultures blend seamlessly, a tall figure commands attention. With an unmistakable Chinese demeanour, he speaks fluent English and Malay, gives an impression that he is a global citizen. Yet there is something more—a deep, unexpected connection to India. His name is the only clue to his roots, the thread tying him to a place far away. Meet Venugopal Nambiar, founder director of Acre Works, a company established in 2001 and involved in heavy construction engineering in Malaysia and Singapore.
At first glance, Venugopal is an enigma—a simple, unassuming man whose soft spoken nature belies the weight of his responsibilities. His accent, tinged with Chinese, might mislead you, but his name, Venugopal Nambiar, offers a glimpse of the Indian within. As the saying goes, “You can take a person out of India, but you can’t take India out of a person.”
Venugopal’s story begins with his father, C. Govindan Nambiar, a man from Koodali in North Kannur, Kerala. Govindan Nambiar left India in the 1930s frustrated by the caste system and seeking a better life. He sought refuge in Kuala Lumpur. There, he worked with a British rubber factory and built a new life, marrying a Chinese woman and raising four children—three daughters and a son. Despite living far from home, he kept his connection to India alive by giving all his children traditional Indian names.
“My sisters have Indian names too— Ammujam, Kumudam, Lalitha—but their looks tell a different story. All of them are settled in Singapore now,” Venugopal shares with a nostalgic smile.
Venugopal often says with a smile that the only Indian thing about him is his name—a name he wears with pride. He himself has embraced the multi-cultural essence of Malaysia, building a career and family there. His wife, Ho Yuet Mee, also loves Indian culture, even though their last visit to India was over 15 years ago. In 2011, Venugopal traveled to Delhi to meet his cousin Sreedharan Nambiar and later visited Koodali in Kannur to reconnect with his extended family. “My wife and children, along with my sisters, visited our relatives and carried back fond memories. A grand sadya awaited us, and my family in Muttannur dressed my Chinese wife in a Kerala saree for the occasion,” he recalls. Those moments remain etched in his heart and one can understood this as he keeps going back to his roots during every conversation.
Just like his father, Venugopal chose to give his children Indian names despite living in a foreign land. His love for his father inspired him to give his own daughters Indian names, blending them beautifully with their Chinese heritage. The result? A unique combination that might surprise many. His daughters Shakira Su-Ching Nambiar and Laavynia Su-Lin Nambiar, carry names that tell a story of two countries. At first glance, their names might raise an eyebrow, hinting at the fusion of cultures. Yet, for Venugopal, these names are a bridge between his Indian roots and the life he has built in Malaysia.
Venugopal's father avoided visiting India often, fearing that the flood of emotions would overwhelm him. However, he did brief visits. Venugopal shares that his name often sparks curiosity among his colleagues and friends. They find it intriguing when his appearance doesn’t quite match his distinctly Indian name, often giving him puzzled looks at first.
Although Venugopal has paid quite a number of business trips to India, his personal visit to hometown remains a memory and when asked if he would come back to India, Venugopal’s eyes light up with a wistful smile. “It would be difficult,” he admits. Malaysia is his home now, a place where he has built his life and legacy. Yet, the name Venugopal Nambiar continues to carry the weight of his heritage.