912 Batu Road

by Viji Krishnamoorthy

The Iyers' and the Tans tranquil lives are shattered with the Japanese invasion of Malaya, and an unthinkable betrayal forces both families into a treacherous game of resistance and survival.

Juxtaposed against this wartime saga of two Malayan families is a modern-day forbidden love story between their descendants. As the third generation navigates work, love and relationships, their secret affair challenges traditional Brahmin beliefs and threatens to destroy and age old friendship.

Can past betrayals be forgiven and will the new generation find the strength to move beyond their families' long-buried pain?

Viji Krishnamoorthy's sweeping debut novel deftly weaves together vibrant fiction and meticulous research on the heroic exploits of Malayan wartime heroes - Sybil Kathigasu, Gurchan Singh and many others - who fearlessly fought for their beloved country.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels, Asia

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Athirah Idrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the book in exchange of an honest review. Here is my take on it.

Alternating the past and the present, 912 Batu Road tells the tale of three generations involving two families, the Iyers and the Tans. Their story goes back around the time of the Japanese occupation, between the heads of the families, Rangaswamy Iyer and Tan Chin Nam. The past tells us the relationship between the two, and how they navigate their lives when Malaya was occupied by the vicious Japanese army. Many years ahead, we are given an account of the modern day which portrays the forbidden love between their descendants, Geeta and Ken.

I love the portrayal of the clashing values between cultures and modern beliefs, these are very relatable. I echo Geeta’s sentiments and at the same time sympathize with the parents’ perspective. To a certain extent, we are a product of our generation and things change whether we’re willing to accept them or not. This is precisely the root of the tension in the relationship between the Western-educated Geeta and her conservative Brahmin parents.

Although the modern love story is the central plot, I must say that I am more drawn to the wartime saga. It is clear that the writer spends a lot of time researching her materials and builds them into the characters we meet in the book as well as the make-up of the old Malaya. I envy the relationship between Rangaswamy and Chin Nam, admire the resilience of Elaine and find myself cheering for Tochi and Gurchan.

The descriptions are beautiful and I especially like that the writer leaves certain things to our imagination. She leaves enough hints so that we can make a solid guess without explaining too much. However, having said that, there is one part I find a bit tedious – Geeta’s interior monologuing. I understand that this explains her state of mind but it feels a bit draggy after a certain point.

An enjoyable read, nonetheless! Read this to get a glimpse of the lives of our forefathers who lived during one of the most horrible periods in the history of this country and the sacrifices made to survive. Makes me appreciate our Independence so much more.

[GenevieveAudrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the beautiful cover. The soothing (dare I say) Tiffany Blue background with the white lilies and the colourfully decorated kalyana mandapam (i think!). Certain elements in the book nicely entwined in the border (the letters, the bicycle, the bloodstained bullet) hinting at what's been told in the story. Kudos to the illustrator for an illustration well done. The fact that it's set in Malaysia, tanah tumpahnya darahku, and about the Japanese occupation also appealed to me. This was a period in Malaysia's history that I am unfamiliar with; and reading it in August seemed appropriate since our Independence Day is later this month. 

Inter racial marriages are something all of us in Malaysia are familiar with since we are a multi-racial society, and we're all aware of the difficulties faced by inter-racial couples. This is because we all know of or have heard of someone who's faced familial resistance in wanting to marry someone who's of a different race from them. So the story of these families was a familiar, entertaining read. Viji Krishnamoorthy succeeded in bringing to life both the Tans and the Iyers. The vivid portrayals of Sunday afternoon lunches, the food, wedding ceremonies, early morning rituals were something I appreciated.

The juxtaposition between the past & present was also very nicely managed by Viji.  She's clearly put a lot of effort into researching the historical aspects of this novel. The information on the Japanese occupation was chilling and scary. Conversely, I loved trying to match the names & places of KL in the 40s with what I know. The fact that each chapter was dated made it easy to navigate between the now-story and the then-story.

The one fly in the ointment, for me, was Geeta. I just couldn't like her. She came across as petulant brat, stamping her foot in a hissy fit when she was unhappy about something. She just didn't endear herself to me.

The prose flows beautifully in the story with descriptive and lyrical phrasing that is so pleasant to read. 

Viji has excelled in bringing to life a delightful tale in her debut novel. 912 Batu Road is definitely a book I'd recommend everyone reads.

[Dharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow, this was so familiar. All the details about the Malaysian, South Indian family just resonated with me, because that is exactly what I come from. I knew everything they were talking about, such as food, language and clothes, as well as the obstacles that they faced.

I really appreciated how in depth the author went about the historical aspect of this story. It was fascinating to read, and the whole book combined so many different sides of people and their stories. It was really amazing.

[WN · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book. The premise is that it weaves back and forth between the past and present, telling the stories of two families who have been friends for three generations. The central conflict is modern-day Geeta and Ken’s relationship – an interracial relationship that Geeta’s traditional Brahmin parents are not supportive of.

The good parts of this book were some really beautifully written descriptive prose and the wartime stories, particularly those of Tochi and Gurchan. Swamy also deserves some special recognition for being arguably the strongest character in the book. There are some interesting history nuggets in here that I’d never learned (but have not fact checked either). Unfortunately, the parts I did not enjoy outweighed the good.

I found both Geeta and Ken unlikable. Geeta comes across as insufferable, and Ken’s reaction in certain situations just paints him in a poor light. Their relationship didn’t feel real, and that’s partly down to the writing style. Aside the aforementioned descriptive prose, most of the rest of the book suffers from one of two afflictions:
1) We are told what characters are doing, but not shown. This is especially true when time is passing in the story. Within a single line, anything from two weeks to three months have gone by.
2) Poor dialogue. The characters speak to each other in paragraphs. It lacks real interaction. Even the single scene where Chin Nam ‘interrupts’ Elaine wasn’t an interruption – Elaine had already said her piece. It got to the point where it was painful to read through yet another page of nothing but pure dialogue, written in long, long paragraphs. There were also several punctuation errors which made it slightly confusing to tell what was dialogue and what wasn’t.

Overall, I wish that more time was dedicated to the wartime story and fleshing out the characters there. It feels like we barely got to know Kah Hoe before we are treated to a chapter where he is tortured and dies, and it’s difficult to sympathize with Elaine when she’s off on her solo journey as we hardly get to know her before. There’s also no really significant reason for why past and present should intertwine. Yoshii appearing at the ending to change Geeta’s father’s mind was a stretch and clichéd. This would have been better served as two different books, with more space to let the characters in each story shine.

[Renuka Thuraisingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this lovely book. Viji Krishnamoorthy uses language so beautifully to evoke scenes and senses. For me, as a Malaysian, now living in KL, and originally from Penang, this book transported me to so many familiar places with ease. It's one of those books that you need to curl up with and lose yourself in over a weekend. More please Viji!

[Pree · Rating 4 out of 5]

912 Batu Road follows the story of families, connected through generations from British Malaya right up to present day Malaysia. It touches specifically on the Japanese Occupation, anti-Chinese sentiment, and the friendships among local and immigrants alike forged during a time of war. The book moves back and forth between the 20th and 21st century, playing on themes of love, loss, tradition, and obligation. Whether it’s Rangaswamy, Chin Nam, and Bob, or Tochi and Gurchan, or Geetha and Ken, I was reminded of the many ways my forefathers’ Indian identity blended and became a Malaysian one.

There were many aspects of family and cultural dynamics that stood out to me. In particular, Geetha and her mother’s relationship—that firm resistance to tradition and progressiveness, but at the same time a recognition that we are different parts cut of the same cloth. An acknowledgement that the tradition that bounds us sometimes remain, and it is how we choose to keep and let go of parts of it that makes culture that ever-changing construct.

Generally, just loved the representation and realness of the story! Came just as I watched Amma Chellam staged at DPAC, so feeling very seen in the arts I’m consuming. Also as a history nerd I loved reading it (for want of a better word, acknowledging the brutality of the Japanese and how tough 1940s were). I also sometimes wished there was more nuance in the characters, but for the most part I enjoyed it.

[Baljit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story that is set in Malaysia, alternates between the present and letters from the past. The family at 912 Batu Road lived through the horrors of the Japanese Occupation, but now they are facing modern day challenges. Will Geeta marry her true love or succumb to parental pressure?
It a good debut novel, the characters are well developed, but the ending is somewhat vague.

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely tribute to the communities that faught for freedom in Malaya by Viji Krishnamoorty.
[Commentary] Yet, decades later post-independence, we as a nation have forgotten that followers of different gods lived out their faith and prioritised humanity for its own independence. In the name of "preserving our own culture" we have divided ourselves again, breeding prejudice and separation. Do we ever only come together when tragedy strikes?

[Stephanie Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and a deeply moving story of friendship and the ties that bind all Malaysians together

[Sweetp-1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some lovely pieces of writing but overall needed some hard editing. I would have enjoyed it more if it had not jumped time periods/generations - at times the cast was just too huge and I was losing track of the characters. I did enjoy the parts set during the war, and the descriptions of places in Malaysia that I know.

[Rahdika K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is simple yet profound. Loved the author’s style of writing.

The plot revolves around modern day interracial couple’s obstacles in their path to lifelong commitments and also the past history of their families during the Japanese occupation in Malaya.

When I was reading this book; it rekindled my memories of history classes as well. The author also mentioned other unsung wartime heroes like Sybil Kathigasu and Gurcharan Singh.

It’s a bit saddening for us not to read about these heroes while we were in school in Malaysia. Hopefully the ministry can look into adding more substance that celebrates heroes from all races.

Overall the book was an enjoyable read. However, I felt that the ending was a little rushed. Otherwise, it’s a lovely read.

[Jens Hieber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good. I think if I'd read it a few years ago, it would have gotten 5 stars from me. Some aspects I really appreciated, like the multi-cultural realities of both contemporary and historical Malaysia, some of the character interactions, and the general premise around generational and cultural change and progression.

But, some of the characters didn't work as well as they could have (I found Geeta quite annoying by the end, which is unfortunate). The interplay between the two story-lines from 1940s to 2000s Malaysia felt tenuous for most of the text apart from the familial lineage (the letters felt more info-dumpy than subtle connection) and the ending (which felt abrupt and unexplored).

Maybe if I hadn't read 'The Gift of Rain', 'Green Island', 'Pachinko' or even 'The Rice Mother' this would have worked better for me. But still a worthwhile read.

[Yan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm in the minority here and the book would have been 2.5 stars were it not for the ending. Geetha is boring and her relationship with Ken reads like a teenage romance that I would have read when I was 16. The writing style did not engage me; I feel the author tried too hard to sound literary. The first page of the book literally had too many metaphors. The redeeming factor of this book for me is probably the chapters about the Japanese occupation. I would have DNFed this book if I didn't have to finish it for a book discussion. I skimmed through most of the present-day chapters as they seemed inconsequential and added nothing much to the story.

[Nadirah]

This book was another look into Malaysia during the Japanese occupation that I've read in the past few months, and it was an enjoyable one. We see the chapters through the "present" (2008-2010) and the "past" (Malaya during the Japanese occupation), and I liked the glimpses we got into the melee of casts and the chapters told in alternate timelines, but admittedly they got a little confusing for the first few chapters. Though I didn't get overly attached to any characters by the end of it all, ultimately I appreciated this for what it was.

Rating: 3.5

[Sarah Jiwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I would've put it down halfway through but what kept me going was learning about the history of the Japanese invasion and following the friendship of the 2 families.

The present day chapters were not written well and didn't progress quickly or dynamically enough in the same way the historical chapters did. The inner dialogues of the main character were too long, very repetitive and didn't really add any value.

[Joshua Ericsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I guess everyone has their blind spot. And for them, like my parents, it was race and religion. Man's greatest folly, that one people is less than another - less pure, less holy, less enlightened."

TW: depiction of violence, racism

Layered between present day Malaysia and pre WW1 Malaya, this story tells a tale of new beginnings, of war, of resilience and strength of the people of Malaya, of coming of age, and the clash of race and religion in the modern age.

The families of Rangaswamy Iyer and Tan Chin Nam while from different religions and cultures, share a bond of friendship, having gone through so much together during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya during WW1. In present day Malaysia, Rangaswamy's granddaughter Geeta is fighting her own battles not against the Japanese but against the confines of the Brahmin way. She is determined not to be part of any arranged marriage, against the wishes of her parents and a secret love with a familiar face, could shatter her whole world. in the depts of this she is given letters from her Tata (grandfather) kept by her favorite uncle. Through flashbacks and Tata's letter we learn of the story of the Iyer's and the Tan's.

This story is well crafted in a way that focuses on the emotions and thoughts of the characters rather then the events themselves. We get to peak into the thoughts of this characters, feel their emotions, their happiness, sadness and loss. The characters were so relatable as a Malaysian and I really enjoyed journeying through their life's in this book.

The story of the Japanese Occupation and the horrors of war was so deep and was so real that it felt like I was reading an account of the survivors of the war. There is much focus not on war but the irreparable damage that it causes, and the lasting scars it leaves. The research into this aspect of the book was in dept and there is much homage paid to many of the unsung heroes of Malaya such as Gurchan Singh or "Singha The Lion of Malaya" and Sybil Medan Karthigasu the only Malayan woman to be awarded the George Medal for bravery.

While a work of fiction this book reads like memoir and an ode to Malaya and her beautiful diversity.

[Ming Suan Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read of the intersection of an Indian Brahmin family and a Chinese family during the WWII and 2008-2010. It was nice to read of familiar places and people but I definitely enjoyed the historical parts better. Some real historical figures were interspersed throughout the narrative like Chin Peng, Sybil Karthigasu and Gurchan Singh but in a very fleeting manner so you don’t have any grasp of their personalities. There are also a lot of characters and I kept having to flip back to remind me of who’s who - a more detailed character sheet would have helped - as the story is mainly based around certain characters and the minor ones don’t feature enough for them to stick in your head but then pop up again later. I did not really enjoy the way the relationship between Geetha and Ken was written. I was never convinced of that great love and Ken was drawn very flatly with no sense of his character. I didn’t hate Geetha as much as some people and can def identify with her persuasions and lifestyle. There was an attempt at the end to convince the reader that Geetha married the Brahmin boy chosen for her so the epilogue was a bit confusing and not very satisfactory- felt very much like a neat rounding off. This is a debut so is a bit rough round the edges but still worth reading. But maybe next time don’t promote your husband’s restaurant in your book - that was a bit cringy.

[adeebate · Rating 3 out of 5]

as a form 4 student, i definitely liked it just for the fact that i recognise the names in this book "oohh gurchan singh! he's in my sejarah textbook!"

it's a well-researched and well-written book, making history interesting and exciting to read. the dual timelines had potential, but i do feel it doesn't really live up to it.

the war timeline was way better than geeta and ken's love story, and while i get that their relationship was to show the prejudice between the iyers and the tans, but like it wasn't that great??

geeta was so boring and i didn't really like her character, plus im pretty sure it was split halfway between both timelines, yet the war timeline definitely felt more polished. i think this book might've been better if it decided to solely focus during the japanese colonialisation period, rather than go back and forth.

to add, some characters/subplots could've been developed better and be shown instead of told, like elaine after visiting the grave and geeta suddenly marrying ken. bob's perspective was also something i could've read more. but still i would describe this book as a book that encapsulates malaysia.

[Alifia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished this book, I need to gather my thoughts and feelings about the book. The story somehow feels so familiar, yet so strange for me. As Indonesian, I’m no strange of the story of war and Japanese occupation. Yet, it feels strange to read story of another country being so much similar.

The book was written in a back-and-forth manner, entangled between war-time Malaya and present-day Malaysia. The first half of the book was slow-paced, makes me wonder when this two entangled stories will meet. However, when these two stories eventually collide, I can’t help myself but feeling the grief, regret, and relief. After the author pushed me back and forth between the past and the present, it took around 150+ pages for me to finally realize why this book was written in this manner—to show readers how war trauma could trascend post generations, and how closure is needed to heal that wound.

But this book isn’t just about healing war trauma, it’s also about embracing (and also not) traditions. Geeta is a testament of modern generations that put logic over customs and traditions. She refused to be dictated by archaic traditions; especially traditions that discriminate others. She’s headstrong and I can see myself in her.

I love how the author gives closure for all generations, for Swamy and Chin Nam, for Kah Sing and Ramesh, for Khrisna and Surinder, and also for Geeta and Ken.

[Louise Bureau · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
912 Batu Road alternates between telling of the events of World War II in Malaysia & a contemporary love story, both told across 3 generations of 2 families.
Wartime story - 4 stars
Love story - 3 stars

I loved the continuity of learning about the two families plus a wealth of other characters including some real life Malaysian heroes & heroines.
I felt the contemporary love story was a little cliché & could have been just as impactful if it had been edited a little more carefully. To non Malaysians the fuss about interracial marriage might seen over dramatic but in 2025 it's sad to say this can still cause no end of fuss & divide amongst families.

If any reader is keen to read more about Malaysia during World War II I highly recommend The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan, this story tells of the war from a very different aspect.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was compelling historical novel that captures the essence of Malaya's transition to independence.
Story set in a bustling Kuala Lumpur neighbourhood, the story entwine the lives of different characters, each representing their ethnicities and social strata against political upheaval and cultural change.

I loved the rich, atmospheric storytelling and immersing extracts in 1950s Malaya with its evocative descriptions of Batu Road. The characters are well described mirroring their struggles and tensions of a nation on the brink of freedom. I find themes such as colonialism, loyalties and identities are explored with nuance.

Overall, the book has an engaging narrative reflecting Malaysia's journey from smoky KOPITIAM chatter to political whispers in back alleys. A lyrical yet brisk prose!

[jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

912 Batu Road is such a refreshing, intriguing, and moving multi-generational story. We learn and sense so much about the history of Malaysia, particularly during the Japanese occupation. The author paints such a beautiful portrait of the challenges and blessings of the different families. We see how the pain and the shared bonds of family evolve and shift over time. I love the depth and richness of the characters, the stunning prose, and how love and honor are interwoven throughout the book. This book is a treasure - a must-read!

[mei gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was first attracted to the synopsis written at the back of the book, and its beautiful cover design. But I eventually realised I should (literally) not judge a book by its cover. While the premise it's set in is interesting and unique, considering it covers aspects of the Malaysian experience that can often go unnoticed, there is a lack of depth when discussing the cultural nuances. Geeta's character was at times unbearable, making it hard to empathise with her. While I think the book itself is a pleasant read, I wouldn't gravitate to it for a re-read.

[Stephenie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only thing I slightly liked about this book is the unexpected betrayal of the Japanese friend. Other than that, there is nothing at all to rave about this book. For me personally, this is by far the weakest Malaysian story I have ever read. The writing, character development, plot development, and cohesiveness are of poor quality. In addition, the short chapters of the book make me wonder if the author at any given time writing the book has lost creativity or ideas to put into the book. Then the sudden change in time and the sudden appearance of characters made the reading experience even worse. I sped read after 50% into the book just to finish it. I would have ditched it if not for my book club discussion on it.

[Timothy Tuan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow start that was accompanied by slow reading, but as I continued, I became entranced by Viji’s beautiful and arresting storytelling. As I read on, every sentence, every page turned became more gripping.

You could tell that Viji had put a lot of effort into her research as she wrote this story that celebrates the rich culture of Malaysia and pays homage to our ancestors who fought for our future. Although the juxtaposition of the wartime saga and modern day love story was rather confusing at first, as the characters became more familiar, so did the intertwining of the two time periods.

[Azam Baizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are Malay and you would like to see Malaysian history from different race pov I would suggest you to read this book. Yes it's a bit painful reading the Japanese atrocities during the WWII in this book but you will find the beauty of unity among other different races in this country in liberating the nation. And if you like the struggle of love story between different races this is the book for you too.

[Stefan Dion Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great family epic, and a great central character in Geeta, who has the complexity and moral wrangling that keeps the reader guessing as to where the story will go. I did not enjoy Ken, however, as he was underwritten and I would have liked many more scenes of flirtatious dialogue to see a little bit more of each character’s wit. The book sat somewhere between a romcom best seller like Crazy Rich Asians or a more literary novel. Still a page turner for me.

[Alice Yong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of the book are heart wrenching to read: the horrific events of Japanese soldiers torturing and killing civilians during WW2. Interwoven into this historical narrative is one of inter-racial love and the efforts of a Brahmin Indian girl trying to convince her parents to marry an ‘outsider’. Poignant and touching story.

[Dhevarajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the research that went into depicting a realistic wartime experience. The relationship between Chin Nam and Rangaswamy felt very real. I felt Geeta succumbed to parental pressure too easily at one point and her inner thoughts distract from the narrative sometimes. But overall a very impactful story.

[Rupa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read.
Thoroughly enjoyed the cross culture love story with the detailed and riveting aspects of the historical events and the impact of the Japanese occupation in Malaya.
The author's love for her heritage comes through beautifully.