A solemn farewell unfolded on 26 December 2025 as hundreds gathered to accompany human rights lawyer M Ravi on his final journey.
The procession followed the sudden death of Ravi, who was found unresponsive in the early hours of 24 December at a flat on Upper Boon Keng Road. Police said they were alerted at about 5.40am and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Friends, family, neighbours, and admirers filled the void deck of his housing block in the late afternoon, forming a quiet and expansive community of remembrance. By 6.30pm, the scheduled time for the cortege’s departure, the crowd had grown visibly larger, some arriving in silence, others holding back tears.
Mourners passed through the area of repose with quiet reflection. Conversations were hushed but heartfelt, recalling Ravi’s courage, his advocacy, and the personal impact he had made on those around him.
Not all present had known him personally. Some had never met Ravi, but came simply to honour a man they felt had stood for justice and the vulnerable. The gathering was at once communal and intimate.
As the sound of traditional drums began, Ravi’s turquoise coffin was lifted and carried out, with petals strewed along the path. Pallbearers, in a rhythmic step, placed the casket in a golden hearse. Family members came forward for their final farewells. His sisters, overwhelmed with grief, wept openly and reached out for a final touch before the casket was closed.
Melodic music played as the procession began moving through the car park. One of Ravi’s sisters, in a wheelchair, held onto the coffin as the hearse moved forward slowly. Others followed in silence, many with tears in their eyes.
At the front of the hearse, a Singapore flag was draped above Ravi’s portrait—a symbolic recognition of his contributions to public life.
As the vehicle turned onto the main road towards Mandai Crematorium, a light drizzle began to fall. Mourners boarded buses or returned to their vehicles in quiet order, the rain adding a sombre rhythm to the moment.
The ride to Mandai was mostly silent. A few brief exchanges occurred between friends, but many sat still, looking out of the windows as the rain streaked across them.
Some mourners had gone ahead and were already waiting at the crematorium. They greeted those arriving, and the crowd filled the hall as Ravi’s hearse arrived. His coffin was carried in to the renewed beat of drums—deliberate, resonant, and defiant in tone.
Priests performed the final rites. A chant played softly in the background. The mood remained deeply reverent.
There were no speeches or public tributes. Friends had hoped to hear reflections on Ravi’s life, but the family, still immersed in grief, had chosen to forgo formal eulogies.
One by one, mourners came forward to place rice, flowers, and garlands into the coffin until it was completely covered. The casket was then taken to the viewing hall, where attendees witnessed the final departure behind glass as it moved into the cremation chamber.
Despite the turnout and public significance of the event, state media provided no coverage of the funeral.
Instead, coverage remained focused on the man alleged to have been with Ravi shortly before his death. The individual has since been charged in court for drug-related offences. According to multiple reports, it has been alleged that both he and Ravi had consumed drugs hours before Ravi’s death.
However, several of Ravi’s relatives and friends who spoke at the funeral rejected these claims.
Many stated they did not believe Ravi had consumed any drugs, and expressed concern that the police investigation was conducted hastily, with preliminary findings released prematurely.
“There was no need to speculate in public, especially when the facts were not confirmed,” said one family friend.
Another mourner said, “It’s hurtful that instead of honouring him, the focus has been on tarnishing his name.”
The Singapore flag on the hearse symbolised the sentiment shared by many—that Ravi was a national figure who had fought for justice, often at personal cost.
The absence of official tribute or mainstream coverage stood in contrast to the sentiments at the funeral itself. For those gathered, M Ravi was more than the allegations that surfaced in the wake of his death. He was remembered as a fearless advocate, a man of principle, and a voice for those who had none.
As the doors of the cremation chamber closed, so too did a chapter in Singapore’s public life—one defined by courage, conviction, and controversy. The silence that followed was as telling as the tributes that were never spoken.
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