Rev Michael Robert Doraisamy was born in India on August 19, 1886. His father was a pastor of the Madura Mission of the American Board of Commissioners. Young Doraisamy attended school near Theni in Madurai. His early adult years were spent working on a tea estate. He married Boosie Perinbam Baruch, whose father was M.P. Baruch, a Tamil preacher and theological school instructor in Singapore.
In 1919, Doraisamy decided to come to Singapore, a land with many openings for a young man. He worshipped at the Tamil Methodist Church whose services were then conducted at the Methodist Girls' School at Short Street.
Whilst working as a proofreader in a British printing firm, Doraisamy met the Rev J.S. Nagle, principal of the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) who appointed him as a teacher. So began his ministry with the Methodist Mission.
After his young family joined him in Singapore, they lived in the Race Course Road area. He was an active member of the Tamil Methodist Church and became the secretary of the Epworth League in 1912 and president in 1913. Epworth League was a training ground where men and women were recruited, enlisted, trained and commissioned.
He was keen on evangelism and was a local preacher, serving with J.A. Supramaniam amongst the Hindu Tamils.
As early as 1913, work was done among the Tamil workers in the Bidadari district where a "school" was organised. Further work was done in the Tanjong Pagar district. All meetings were held in the open air.
Doraisamy attended the Normal Class Training Course and became a teacher with a reputation for being strict but also kind and interesting. In his early years in Singapore, he had a dual career of teacher and preacher but he received a vision from Christ telling him not to delay in serving Him. So on January 31, 1920, he resigned from teaching to become a full-time pastor.
He was appointed pastor of the Tamil Methodist Church in 1919 and was ordained as a deacon on February 13, 1921. Rev Doraisamy served there till February 1924 when he was succeeded by Rev S.S. Pakianathan.
Rev Doraisamy read and applied John Wesley's teachings. Amongst his habits was to rise early for prayer and devotion. He was a lover of Tamil lyrics and music and when he was pastor of the Tamil Methodist Church, together with S.R. Williams and T.E.K. Retnam, he organised the first ever carolling party. A unique annual worship service was the “Gathering in Service” during which time worshippers gave sacrificially towards the church building fund.
During his pastorate of the Tamil Methodist Church, he also provided oversight to the Pasir Panjang Tamil Church which functioned as an outreach point of the main church in Short Street. Work was begun amongst the workers in the Alexandra Brickworks.
In 1925, after five years of hard work in Singapore, Rev Doraisamy was transferred to Telok Anson (now Teluk Intan) as the headmaster of the Telok Anson Anglo-Chinese School and pastor of the Tamil Church and Circuit, Telok Anson.
His second year in Telok Anson was described as "a golden year" as much activity, improvements and innovations were seen at the school and church. Rev Doraisamy had good relations with the then Raja Muda of Perak. He was secretary of the Committee on Public Morals which sought government help to reduce drinking and gambling in Telok Anson. Rev Doraisamy encouraged gifted teachers and church members to use their talents in raising funds for new school buildings both in Telok Anson and later Seremban.
In 1929, he was transferred to Seremban as pastor of the Tamil Church and vice-principal of ACS. The Seremban Tamil work grew at a fast pace as both Rev Doraisamy and Rev J.V. Ayaduray provided consistent pastoral work. (Rev Ayaduray served the Tamil congregation in Seremban between 1926-1931 and from 1934-1935.)
John J. Backus of Seremban stated that, "As he (MRD) was very saintly in his life, a revival took place in our Tamil church." Rev Doraisamy knew his congregation and counselled them wisely.
In 1931, Rev Doraisamy returned to Singapore to succeed Rev J.A Supramaniam as pastor of the Tamil Methodist Church. Due to ill health, he then went back to India on leave but returned to Singapore as pastor of the Tamil Methodist Church in 1933. He passed away on September 25, 1933 in Singapore.
Rev Doraisamy was recognised as an eminent and devoted servant of God whose example was followed by his son, Bishop Emeritus T.R. Doraisamy. In paying tribute to him, E.S. Lau, senior minister of the Methodist Church in Singapore, said: “His deep prayer life flowed through his preaching, radiating inspiration; and through his pastoral visitation he won the love of his people. He reached out to people including college students and labourers.”