We have read many brilliant accounts of the late Mr S R Nathan’s unique life as President of Singapore, diplomat, seamen’s welfare officer and a loving husband, father and grandfather.
There is no denying he was multifaceted, amiable and approachable, but few know that his helping hand reached out to diverse cross-sections of the society.
There is the aesthetic side of Mr Nathan, a small glimpse of it was revealed when his favourite Tamil song Thanjavooru Manneduthu from the movie Porkkalam was played at the state funeral service.
Mr Nathan was fond of Tamil and Malayalam movies and their music, classical Indian dance and music, including Western music – a fondness that was shared to a great extent by Mrs Nathan as well.
From being the patron in-chief of the National Arts Council (1999-2011) to a true rasika of the arts, the arts community in Singapore will truly miss his presence as their favourite guest-of-honour.
tabla!, The Straits Times, The New Paper, Berita Harian
Many senior artists have acknowledged Mr Nathan’s initiatives as supporter of the arts, artists and institutions, as well as their future development.
My fellow compatriots in the arts and heritage sector warmly describe him as the true “patron” and “friend” of the arts.
Some of them were recipients of funds raised through the President’s Challenge.
Mrs Shantha Bhaskar of the Bhaskar’s Academy caringly remembers how he would go backstage to personally acknowledge and applaud the artists and stay on to take photos with each one of them.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Lyric Opera received continuous encouragement from him when he was its patron.
Through his initiative the President’s Young Performer Concert became an annual event since 2001, wrote The Straits Times reviewer, Dr Chang Tou Liang.
The Straits Times
In the heritage sector, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) and the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) in particular, have been fortunate in receiving his continuous and nurturing attention.
My own memory of interaction with him goes back to the late 1990s.
ACM was organising a vocal concert of ancient north Indian classical Dhrupad music, when one day, he called me from his office in the Istana requesting a recording of the concert.
His curiosity, deep interest in the classical and popular art forms and down to earth nature immediately drew my attention.
Thereafter, he continuously supported the South Asia gallery and its exhibitions and collection development, so much so that he launched ACM’s south Asia collection catalogue, The Divine Within written by me in 2007, at the Istana and wrote its foreword.
The Straits Times, The New Paper
Mr Nathan appreciated the mission of ACM, its storyline reflecting the ancestral cultures and heritage of Singaporeans and the uniquely pan-Asian perspective it encapsulated.
He visited it on many occasions with Mrs Nathan to view its permanent and special exhibitions, and supported its fund-raising galas.
He took personal initiative to raise funds and directed many visitors to the museum, recommending every new ambassador in Singapore to visit it.
“Mr Nathan was one of those unusual, exceptional VVIPs who had a wonderful personal touch and who could make the people who met him feel important rather than the other way round. He had a genuine soft spot for the museums, especially the ACM, and would take the trouble to pass me contacts and information he had gleaned on his official trips,” said Dr Kenson Kwok, former director of ACM.
I remember being called for a discussion on the thematic vision for the IHC at his Istana office way before it was envisaged, and as the project progressed he followed its every milestone.
On several occasions, he patiently guided the content team of the IHC on his vision for the centre between 2008 and 2013.
He generously donated his personal documents of the historic Indian National Army to IHC at its inception.
He was also catalytic in directing other high profile donations and loans to IHC which has contributed to raising its profile as a credible institution since its opening in 2015.
Mr Nathan’s passion for heritage spanned material culture, community history, environment and biodiversity.
His keen sense of recording every community’s contribution to Singapore’s nation-building efforts pervaded through research and publications.
He took keen interest in the Encyclopaedia of the Indian Diaspora (2006), Peranakan Indians of Singapore and Melaka (2006) and the most recent publications, Majulah! 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore (2016) and 50 Years of Indian Community in Singapore (2016), to name a few; recognising the “shared vision” and unrecognised community stories such as the Ceylonese, for example.
He even took the initiative to raise funds for the Singapore Biodiversity Encyclopaedia (2011) and the Lee Kong Chien Natural History Museum – another cause very close to his heart.
During his presidential term, the President’s Design Award was instituted. Many young, upcoming and established designers were recognised through this award.
Let us carry forward Mr Nathan’s far-sighted vision to support talent and excellence in the field of arts to strengthen and nurture their on-going contribution to Singapore and global art scenes.
Dr Gauri Krishnan is Director, Fellowship & Research at the Culture Academy, National Heritage Board
Get a copy of tabla! for more stories.
