P. Govindasamy Pillai

P. Govindasamy Pillai (Tamil: பி கோவிந்தசாமி பிள்ளை; 1887 – 21 July 1980), better known as PGP, was a revered successful South Indian businessman and philanthropist in Singapore. He was regarded as one of Singapore's early pioneers who helped shaped the nation-state by creating a once-famous chain called PGP stores during the 1900s which expanded to Johor Bahru and Malacca. Pillai was also highly regarded for his contributions to the South Indian community in Singapore, particularly his donations to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. He was notably one of the founding members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in 1937, Ramakrishna Mission Singapore, as well as the Singapore Indian Association. In 1939, the British awarded him the Justice of Peace for helping Singapore with wartime efforts. However, upon his return, he found out that he was no longer employed in the provision shop at Serangoon. This was due to the untimely death of the shop owner. This could have been the reason Pillai chose that line of commerce.

Philanthropy Pillai used his fortune to invest in properties around Serangoon Road, at Cuff Road, Race Course Road, Buffalo Road, Kerbau Road and Flower Road. Pillai gave a generous donation and land to help construct the building at Bartley Road for the Mission to be based. He also helped with the finances of constructing the temple and the library in the building. It goes by PGP Hall or PGP Kalyana Mandapam. In 1905, he reached Tanjong Pagar, with nothing more than his clothes and 13 rupees on hand. He was also featured as one of the stories under Singapore's early pioneers in the Singapore Bicentennial in 2019.