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Allocating space for The Overseas Chinese Commerce Association of India in (19??) within the compound of the Chinese Tannery Owners Assoc.
Allocating space for The Overseas Chinese Commerce Association of India in (19??) within the compound of the Chinese Tannery Owners Assoc.


* Launched the Overseas Chinese Commerce newsprint, a local Seong Pow Chinese newspaper to disseminate community announcements, local and overseas news.
* Launched the Overseas Chinese Commerce newsprint, a local Seong Pow Chinese newspaper to disseminate community announcements, local and overseas news in (1969).


The New Pei May School (19?)
The New Pei May School (19?)
Line 47: Line 47:
* Acquired the land, built and founded the New Pei May High School for the growing education needs of the community young generation.
* Acquired the land, built and founded the New Pei May High School for the growing education needs of the community young generation.


A community arbitrator or 'judge': As young man how his first hearing out a dispute and the way he resolved it between two warring parties, the news spread, and he gained respect. More people brought their problems to him, he heard it out before the gathering and gave his judgement. Daily there would be an audience not only at his office at the Chinese Tannery Owners Association, but there would also be others who followed him when he returned home. "As a man, he avails himself everywhere with little to no time to spend with his family." This complain was voiced by his wife.
The community bestowed on him the role of a mediator. As young man how his first hearing out a dispute and the way he resolved it between two warring parties, the news spread, and he gained prominence. More people brought their problems to him, he heard it out before the gathering and gave his judgement. Daily there would be an audience not only at his office at the Chinese Tannery Owners Association, but there would also be others who followed him when he returned home. "As a man, he avails himself everywhere with little to no time to spend with his family." This complain was voiced by his wife.


The community would come to him to settle their grievances. He was a man of great mind, an intellect with good judgement settling hundreds of disputes. For which he most often received great admiration and appreciation from the community at large but also had a few fall-out with his judgement. Lee was a man of conviction. When an inaccuracy in a bookkeeping of another was reported to him, he questioned their record keeping. In turn, he was accused by them.
The community would come to him to settle their grievances. He was a man of great mind, an intellect with good judgement settling hundreds of disputes. For which he often received great admiration and appreciation from the community at large but also had a few fall-out with his judgement. Lee was a man of conviction with a conscientious mind. When an inaccuracy in a bookkeeping kept by another was reported to him, he questioned their record keeping. In turn, he was accused by them and there was yet another fall-out.


His oldest son, Lee Hok Seong, an educated young man with a promising future was assassinated by a grenade thrown on his back (1969). Shortly thereafter, another assassination on his body was attempted when a youth was sent to his house on a pretext to deliver him a personal letter. He survived the knife attack. A criminal case was filed by him on the death of his son. Speaking no English or [[Bengali language|Bengali]] himself and with his 'right hand man' son gone, he had trusted a friend with his court case. Kept in the dark about upcoming court dates whenever he asked, he would later be stunned to learn that the court had dismissed his case for three times of no show at court.
His oldest son, Lee Hok Seong, an educated young man with a promising future was assassinated by a grenade thrown on his back (1969). Shortly thereafter, he survived an assassination attempted with a knife when a youth was sent to his house on a pretext to deliver him a personal letter. A criminal case was filed by him in court on the death of his son. Speaking no English and little [[Bengali language|Bengali]] himself and with his 'right hand man' son gone, he had entrusted a friend with his court case. Kept in the dark when asked about upcoming court dates he would later be stunned to learn that the court had dismissed his case for three times of no show at court.


Lee Youn Chin<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Rajdeep Datta |date=2008-07-26 |title=News from Tangra |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TirR2KGKv23EAopEbHSnUP/News-from-Tangra.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Mint}}</ref> a conscientious man was not thwarted by adversaries nor sought for accolades. He continued his life’s journey in honor, valor, grace, wisdom, courage and strength.  He left behind a legacy of distinguished works both within the Hakka community and to his children. In his lifetime the community grew strong to over 15,000.
Lee Youn Chin<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Rajdeep Datta |date=2008-07-26 |title=News from Tangra |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TirR2KGKv23EAopEbHSnUP/News-from-Tangra.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Mint}}</ref> on a journey to complete the tasks before him was not thwarted by adversaries nor sought for accolades. He continued his work intertwined with community service and personal life in honor, valor, grace, wisdom, courage and strength. His conscience with him from the beginning to his end. He left behind a legacy of distinguished works both within the Hakka community and to his children. In his lifetime the community grew strong to over 15,000.


=== Sino-Indian war repercussion on the community ===
=== Sino-Indian war repercussion on the community ===
When the [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian]] war broke out in 1962, the livelihood of a few thousand Chinese were disrupted. The Indian government rounded up those Chinese who were considered stateless and sent them to concentration camps in the west coast of Deoli in [[Deoli, Rajasthan|Rajasthan]], India. <ref>{{Cite web |last=gateway |date=2017-11-01 |title=Indian Chinese diaspora: from Calcutta to Toronto |url=https://www.gatewayhouse.in/indian-chinese-diaspora/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Gateway House |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Sanchali |title=DIASPORA AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: LOCATING THE INDIAN CHINESE IN A POSTCOLONIAL NATION |url=https://www.academia.edu/12465704}}</ref> Lee for long through his son had been helping the community with their applications filing, submission and follow-up when the war broke out. Himself and a large number of the community were not rounded. The community went through some of its most disruptive and damaging time under this internment.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2017 |title=Charting Ethnic Violence through the Lens of Heritage: Engaging with the Indo-Chinese Population of Kolkata |url=https://www.academia.edu/37399797 |journal=Prace Etnograficzne |volume=45 |issue=2 |issn=2299-9558}}</ref> After the war, the community returned to restoring their homes and business and thrived the twenty years until Lee's death in 1991. Another harassment on the community came by the order of the Supreme court 1995 to relocate the Kolkata tanneries<ref>{{Cite web |last=GB Get Bengal |first=Information Desk |date=2019-02-20 |title=How did the Hakka Chinese Community learn Bengali |url=https://www.getbengal.com/details/how-did-the-hakka-chinese-community-learn-bengali |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=GB Get Bengal}}</ref>, further caused more Chinese community to leave India. An unofficial census in 2020 estimate the remaining Hakka Chinese to over 2000.
When the [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian]] war broke out in 1962, the livelihood of a few thousand Chinese were disrupted. The Chinese in Calcutta were eyed with suspicion by the Indian government. Those Chinese who were considered stateless or with Chinese documentation were caught and sent to camps in the west coast of Deoli in [[Deoli, Rajasthan|Rajasthan]], India. <ref>{{Cite web |last=gateway |date=2017-11-01 |title=Indian Chinese diaspora: from Calcutta to Toronto |url=https://www.gatewayhouse.in/indian-chinese-diaspora/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Gateway House |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Sanchali |title=DIASPORA AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: LOCATING THE INDIAN CHINESE IN A POSTCOLONIAL NATION |url=https://www.academia.edu/12465704}}</ref> Lee for long through his son had been helping the community with their application submission and follow-up years before when the war broke out, had their Permanent Indian Residency papers and were not rounded. The community went through some of its darkest and disruptive time under this internment.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2017 |title=Charting Ethnic Violence through the Lens of Heritage: Engaging with the Indo-Chinese Population of Kolkata |url=https://www.academia.edu/37399797 |journal=Prace Etnograficzne |volume=45 |issue=2 |issn=2299-9558}}</ref> After the war, the community with resilience, returned to restoring their homes and business and thrived the twenty years until Lee's death in 1991. Another harassment on the community came by the order of the Supreme court 1995 to relocate the Kolkata tanneries<ref>{{Cite web |last=GB Get Bengal |first=Information Desk |date=2019-02-20 |title=How did the Hakka Chinese Community learn Bengali |url=https://www.getbengal.com/details/how-did-the-hakka-chinese-community-learn-bengali |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=GB Get Bengal}}</ref>, further caused more Chinese community to leave India. An unofficial census in 2020 estimate the remaining Hakka Chinese to over 2000.


Lee You Chin, together with a team of selfless contributors had the longest and most influential impact on the Hakka Chinese and its community. Under his leadership the Hakka Chinese Community saw its height of growth, prosperity and stability in Kolkata, India.
Lee You Chin, together with a team of selfless contributors had the longest and most influential impact on the Hakka Chinese and its community. Under his leadership the Hakka Chinese Community saw its height of growth, prosperity and stability in Kolkata, India.

Revision as of 19:26, 17 March 2023

Lee Youn Chin

Lee Youn Chin
Born1903
Guangdong, China
Died1991/10/07
Kolkata, India
Burial placeBaptized a Christian. Chinese Cemetary Kolkata India
CitizenshipIndian
Board member ofThe Chinese Tannery Owners Association

The Overseas Chinese Commerce Association of India Seong Pow - Overseas Chinese Daily Newspaper

The New Pei May High School, Kolkata India
SpouseKoo Tek Siu
ChildrenLee Shiu Fong, Li Chun Fang, Lee Yam Fong, Lee Sin Fong, Lee Siu Fong, Lee Tung Hsing (son), Li Kin Fang
Lee Hok Seong (son 1935-1969); Lee Jun Fong (daughter deceased 1992); Lee Chun Hsiang (son deceased 2010)
ParentLee See Shan (father) Choo Kyuk Yin (mother)
Relatives(Uncles) Lee See Kam, Lee See Sham, Lee See Lim, Lee See Chim

Lee Youn Chin (1903 - 1991) was a visionary and a distinguished Chinese Hakka community leader for over half a century in India. Born in the Hakka village of Meixian in Guangdong, China. At eighteen together with the next wave of migrants he embarked on a voyage to British India’s east coast of Bay of Bengal, Queen Victoria crown city Calcutta then (Kolkata). He went back to China one last time to wed his wife Koo Tek Siu and returned with her to Kolkata. From very early on his great mind, his intellect was noticed by a few elders who would seek his advice. Slowly in time his reputation and popularity within the community grew and quickly, he found himself to become their voluntary leader for over fifty years. He was instrumental in initiatives that would have a profound impact for the Hakka Chinese settlement in India, until his death in 1991 (age 88).

His Life

Lee Youn Chin was born in 1903 in Guangdong, China. The fourth of five children of Lee See Shan and Choo Kyuk Yin, consisting of one older sister and four brothers. At six years of age his father died, and he was raised by his humble mother and relatives. He was a man of books but could not continue further after high school, as he was encouraged to join the next wave of migrants to British India. At eighteen he embarked on a sea voyage arriving in the Bay of Bengal capital, Calcutta then (Kolkata). With confidence he disembarked and set foot on foreign soil. The Hakka community had earlier pioneer to India and was thought to have been Yang Tai Chow. 

Lee Youn Chin had uncles already settled in Kolkata who gave him shelter. At his uncle’s shoe shop, he worked and also took other apprenticeship. He saved enough money in a few years to visit China and married his wife Koo Tek Siu. The young couple labored, and his wife proved to be of great help in their merchandise business. With their savings he purchased a large plot of marsh land. This marsh was transformed to dry and raised over tons of poured dirt. He built his house where he raised ten children of seven daughters and three sons. He later built and established his company, the Lee Youn Chin Tannery beside it.[1] His mother Koo Tek Siu joined him arriving on a flight and she lived in his care to a ripe age of a hundred.

In 1947, the British Raj was over with an independent young India. In 1950s, he applied and was granted Indian citizenship. His oldest son, by now a well-read young man fluent in English and Bengali, was a tremendous help to him and to the community in filing for the Indian Permanent Residency Permit or Indian Citizenship Application.

Community Leader

Lee Youn Chin[2] managed on the board of The Chinese Tannery Owners Association[3]; The Overseas Chinese Commerce Association of India[4] and the local Chinese Seong Pow newspaper. When the old Pei May school outgrew, he leased the land and built a bigger The New Pei May[5] Chinese High school. The need for the community burial land was also bought.

Acquiring a track of land and built the Chinese Tannery Owners Association in (19?)

  • Centralizing a tanner market for owners to benefit in the procurement of the highest market price for finished leather.
  • Introduced carbon footprint (recycling) ahead of his time by reducing the collective byproduct wastage of hide shavings, by curing it and selling it for profit.

Allocating space for The Overseas Chinese Commerce Association of India in (19??) within the compound of the Chinese Tannery Owners Assoc.

  • Launched the Overseas Chinese Commerce newsprint, a local Seong Pow Chinese newspaper to disseminate community announcements, local and overseas news in (1969).

The New Pei May School (19?)

  • Acquired the land, built and founded the New Pei May High School for the growing education needs of the community young generation.

The community bestowed on him the role of a mediator. As young man how his first hearing out a dispute and the way he resolved it between two warring parties, the news spread, and he gained prominence. More people brought their problems to him, he heard it out before the gathering and gave his judgement. Daily there would be an audience not only at his office at the Chinese Tannery Owners Association, but there would also be others who followed him when he returned home. "As a man, he avails himself everywhere with little to no time to spend with his family." This complain was voiced by his wife.

The community would come to him to settle their grievances. He was a man of great mind, an intellect with good judgement settling hundreds of disputes. For which he often received great admiration and appreciation from the community at large but also had a few fall-out with his judgement. Lee was a man of conviction with a conscientious mind. When an inaccuracy in a bookkeeping kept by another was reported to him, he questioned their record keeping. In turn, he was accused by them and there was yet another fall-out.

His oldest son, Lee Hok Seong, an educated young man with a promising future was assassinated by a grenade thrown on his back (1969). Shortly thereafter, he survived an assassination attempted with a knife when a youth was sent to his house on a pretext to deliver him a personal letter. A criminal case was filed by him in court on the death of his son. Speaking no English and little Bengali himself and with his 'right hand man' son gone, he had entrusted a friend with his court case. Kept in the dark when asked about upcoming court dates he would later be stunned to learn that the court had dismissed his case for three times of no show at court.

Lee Youn Chin[6] on a journey to complete the tasks before him was not thwarted by adversaries nor sought for accolades. He continued his work intertwined with community service and personal life in honor, valor, grace, wisdom, courage and strength. His conscience with him from the beginning to his end. He left behind a legacy of distinguished works both within the Hakka community and to his children. In his lifetime the community grew strong to over 15,000.

Sino-Indian war repercussion on the community

When the Sino-Indian war broke out in 1962, the livelihood of a few thousand Chinese were disrupted. The Chinese in Calcutta were eyed with suspicion by the Indian government. Those Chinese who were considered stateless or with Chinese documentation were caught and sent to camps in the west coast of Deoli in Rajasthan, India. [7] [8] Lee for long through his son had been helping the community with their application submission and follow-up years before when the war broke out, had their Permanent Indian Residency papers and were not rounded. The community went through some of its darkest and disruptive time under this internment.[9] After the war, the community with resilience, returned to restoring their homes and business and thrived the twenty years until Lee's death in 1991. Another harassment on the community came by the order of the Supreme court 1995 to relocate the Kolkata tanneries[10], further caused more Chinese community to leave India. An unofficial census in 2020 estimate the remaining Hakka Chinese to over 2000.

Lee You Chin, together with a team of selfless contributors had the longest and most influential impact on the Hakka Chinese and its community. Under his leadership the Hakka Chinese Community saw its height of growth, prosperity and stability in Kolkata, India.

Notable Hakka Community Team

His team loyalists journeyed with him in the vested interest of the community. Just to name a few are:

Lee Youn Chin's collaborators
Chen zhan Sin Chung Yit Shing Chung Lee Ming Liu San Nyan
Chung Kwi Sheen Lee See Yim Lee Van Yao Liu Dhou Nyan

References

  1. ^ Bureau, India Labour (1958). Large Industrial Establishments in India. Manager of Publications. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Is this the end for India's last Chinese-language newspaper?". TODAY. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. ^ Pathak, Nilima (2018-01-01). "Chinese newspaper that's Made in India". Gulf News. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Staff, Homegrown. "Kolkata's Tannery Neighbourhood Is Home To India's Only Chinese Language Newspaper". Homegrown. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  5. ^ Gupta, Abir (2016-06-30). "The Story of Chinese People in Kolkata and How it Gave Us Our Favorite Chinese Food". StoryPick. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  6. ^ Roy, Rajdeep Datta (2008-07-26). "News from Tangra". Mint. Retrieved 2023-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ gateway (2017-11-01). "Indian Chinese diaspora: from Calcutta to Toronto". Gateway House. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  8. ^ Ghosh, Sanchali. "DIASPORA AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: LOCATING THE INDIAN CHINESE IN A POSTCOLONIAL NATION". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Charting Ethnic Violence through the Lens of Heritage: Engaging with the Indo-Chinese Population of Kolkata". Prace Etnograficzne. 45 (2). 2017. ISSN 2299-9558.
  10. ^ GB Get Bengal, Information Desk (2019-02-20). "How did the Hakka Chinese Community learn Bengali". GB Get Bengal. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
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