After receiving his scholarship, Mr Santhiran Ezhavarasan met Mr S R Nathan. The chat he had with the former Singapore president made him realise the importance of education.
Mr Nathan had encouraged Mr Santhiran, then an Institute of Technical Education (ITE) student to get a place in a polytechnic. When he was given the scholarship from the S R Nathan Education Upliftment Fund, the 23-year-old Santhiran was in his final semester of ITE.
“A month after my father passed away, I received the scholarship. It helped pay for my school fees and also have some pocket money,” said Mr Santhiran at the Indian Community’s Tribute event for the late Mr Nathan organised by the Hindu Endownment Board (HEB), Narpani Pearavai and Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) on Sept 8.
“Two weeks ago, I was confirmed a place in Republic Polytechnic to pursue Diploma in Sports Coaching. But unfortunately Mr Nathan is not around to share my joy. He will always be remembered,” said Mr Santhiran in his tribute.
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He was one of seven speakers at the event at PGP hall in Sri Srinivasan Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road. Mr Nathan died at the age of 92 on Aug 22.
Former Minister S. Dhanabalan related how he was surprised to hear Mr Nathan speak in fluent Japanese in the days when the Japanese wanted to invest in Singapore.
He also listed the positions Mr Nathan held in the various ministries and how he never failed to acknowledge others with a handshake and smile.
Said Dr Uma Rajan, lovingly called the dancing doctor by her medical colleagues: “Mr Nathan is the reason for the big scale health carnivals held for the Indian community in the temples these days.”
Chairman of Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League A.R. Mashuthoo, and President of Singapore Khalsa Association Mohinder Singh said in their eulogies how Mr Nathan was very supportive of their community activities. Both said Mr Nathan had attended many events held by the two communities, which served as a great encouragement to them.
Member of the Hindu Advisory Board and Sinda Term Trustee K. Kesavapany recalled how, when Mr Nathan was the Chairman of the Seamen’s Registry Board back then in 1968, he asked a seaman whether he had taken his lunch while he approached Mr Nathan for help regarding work-related problems.
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“What struck me was the priority that Mr Nathan gave to an immediate human need – hunger, and not to systemic issue of man’s problem, which was subsequently and swiftly resolved,” said Mr Kesavapany.
Chairman of HEB, Mr R Jayachandran, mentioned how Mr Nathan helped HEB in various ways.
Mr Nathan’s wife Urmila, son Osith and daughter Juthika were among those who attended the event.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister of Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Law Indranee Rajah, MPs Janil Puthucheri and Darryl David, also took part in the tribute ceremony. DPM Tharman presented Mr Nathan’s family an album containing about 80 photos which showed Mr Nathan’s involvment in the various Indian organisations over the past decades.
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wsilas@sph.com.sg
Wilson Silas David is a journalist with Tamil Murasu.
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