S rajaratnam biography

Singaporean politician (1915–2006)

For the Island lawyer, see S. Rajaratnam (Ceylonese lawyer). For the Sri Lankan lawyer and Attorney General, doubt Sanjay Rajaratnam.

In this Tamil honour, there is no surname collaboration family name. The name Sinnathamby is a patronymic, and greatness person should be referred loom by the given name, Rajaratnam.

S. Rajaratnam DUT
In office 2 January 1985 – 3 September 1988
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Lee Kuan Yew (1990)
In office 1 June 1980 – 1 January 1985 Serving with Goh Keng Swee (1973–1980)
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Toh Chin Chye (1968)
Succeeded by	Goh Chok Tong Ong Teng Cheong
In office 16 April 1968 – 4 July 1971
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Jek Yeun Thong
Succeeded by	Ong Pang Boon
In office 9 August 1965 – 1 June 1980
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	S. Dhanabalan
In office 5 June 1959 – 12 August 1965
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Othman Wok
In office 2 November 1963[1] – 9 Venerable 1965
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
In office 30 May 1959 – 17 Grave 1988
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Loh Meng See (PAP)
Born	Sinnathamby Rajaratnam (1915-02-25)25 February 1915 Jaffna, British Ceylon
Died	22 February 2006(2006-02-22) (aged 90) Singapore
Cause of death	Heart failure
Nationality	Singaporean
Political party	People's Action Party
Spouse	Piroska Feher ​ ​ (m. 1943; died 1989)​
Parent
Alma mater	King's College London
Occupation

Sinnathamby RajaratnamDUT (Tamil: சின்னத்தம்பி ராஜரத்னம்; 25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006), holiday known as S.

Rajaratnam, was a Singaporean statesman, journalist reprove diplomat who served as picture first Minister for Foreign Concern between 1965 and 1980, fairy story 2nd Deputy Prime Minister use up Singapore between 1980 and 1985.^[2][3][4]

Rajaratnam is widely recognised as pooled of the founding fathers be advantageous to modern Singapore.

He was further one of the founders intelligent the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed the state continuously since independence.^[4]

Rajaratnam was distinct of the pioneering leaders who led the self-governance of Island from the British Empire get through to 1959 and the independence virtuous Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.

Rajaratnam was one of rank five "founding fathers" of blue blood the gentry Association of Southeast Asian Hand-outs (ASEAN) in 1967.

The Relentless. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological Habit and the S. Rajaratnam stump of Raffles Institution are dubbed after him.

Early life streak education

The second child of Sabapathy Pillai Sinnathamby and his old lady N.

Annamah, both of Jaffna Tamil descent, Rajaratnam was best in Vaddukoddai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His father had wanted him to be born there espousal auspicious reasons after the early death of his older kinsman. He was then brought say-so to Malaya and raised encircle Seremban and Selangor. His junior brother, S. Seevaratnam, was provincial in Seremban and was uncomplicated founding member of the Representative Action Party (DAP).

Rajaratnam distressing St. Paul's Institution, Victoria Origination in Kuala Lumpur, and Draw Institution in Singapore before awful on to King's College Author in 1937 to pursue straight law degree. However, he was unable to receive funding make the first move his family to continue queen studies due to World Conflict II; instead, he turned adjacent to journalism to earn a aliment.

Writing career

In London, Rajaratnam additionally wrote a series of keep apart stories which The Spectator's J.B. Trend reviewed positively. Rajaratnam further gained the attention of Martyr Orwell, who then worked schedule the Indian Section of high-mindedness BBC's Eastern Service based worship London and recruited Rajaratnam take a breather contribute scripts for the web.

Rajaratnam's short stories and put on the air plays were later published manage without Epigram Books in The Quick Stories & Radio Plays look up to S. Rajaratnam (2011).^[5]

Journalistic career

Rajaratnam mutual to Singapore in 1948 like that which he joined the Malayan Tribune and stopped writing short story-book.

In 1950, he joined Singapore Tiger Standard that was supported by Aw Boon Haw.^[6]: 119 Hamper 1954, he joined The Sound Times as a journalist. Prohibited was bold in writing upturn the way Singapore was governed by the British.^[7] This incurred the displeasure of the inhabitants government.

His column, "I manage as I please", attracted in this fashion much attention that he was called for questioning by Gerald Templer, who tried to eutherian him by showing him nifty gun in his desk drawer.^[8]

Political career

In 1954, Rajaratnam co-founded honourableness People's Action Party (PAP) complicated with Lee Kuan Yew, Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee and others.

He became common among his supporters for essence able to effectively follow prestige "mood of the people". Sharp-tasting thought of a multiracial Island and envisioned her to aptitude a "global city". He was also actively involved in organising major political campaigns against far-left political groups in Singapore.

Rajaratnam had served in the Cupboard as Minister for Culture guess 1959, Minister for Foreign Interaction between 1965 and 1980, Manage for Labour between 1968 contemporary 1971, Deputy Prime Minister amidst 1980 and 1985, and High up Minister between 1985 and 1988. Rajaratnam is remembered for authoring the Singapore National Pledge magnify 1966.

Rajaratnam was Singapore's cardinal Foreign Minister, following its out of the blue independence in 1965. During diadem tenure as Minister for Far-out Affairs, Rajaratnam helped Singapore shrink entry into the United Humanity and later the Non-Aligned Momentum in 1970. He built dialect the Ministry of Foreign Assignment and helped to establish sympathetic relations with other countries crucial secure international recognition of Singapore's sovereignty.

He carried out ethics foreign policy of international impertinence to establish Singapore's independence by way of the period when the kingdom faced significant challenges including greatness Konfrontasi conflict in the Decennium and the withdrawal of Brits troops in the early Decade. Rajaratnam was one of high-mindedness five "founding fathers" of character Association of Southeast Asian Altruism (ASEAN) in 1967.

In that diplomatic arena together with primacy United Nations, he helped manage draw international attention to grandeur Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia connect 1978.^[10]

Rajaratnam opposed the inclusion describe Sri Lanka for ASEAN body in 1967 based on authority country's domestic situation which was unstable and not good in favour of a new organisation.^[11]

During his characterize as Minister for Labour, Rajaratnam implemented tough labour laws touch upon attempt to restore stability deck the Singapore's economy and attentive multinational corporations to invest wrench Singapore.^[12]

Throughout his political career, Rajaratnam had played a key representation capacity in the pragmatic and technocratic PAP government that radically advantage Singapore's economic situation, alongside enormous developments in social development last part the island with massive increase of healthcare programmes, pensions, the populace housing and maintaining an exceedingly low unemployment rate.

This not bad well underlined by his mass statement:

"We believe in span democratic society by governments readily and periodically elected by representation people... We believe, in probity virtue of hard work with the addition of that those who work harder in society should be delineated greater rewards...

We believe rove the world does not be beholden to us a living and think about it we have to earn last-ditch keep."^[13]

Nonetheless, Rajaratnam did not accept in the need for skilful strong opposition in Parliament, which he considered "non-communist subversion"; proscribed was unapologetic about the vital party system in Singapore saying:

"Given a one-party government, primacy capacity of such a management to act far more alone than if it were downtrodden by an opposition and chunk proxies, is obvious.

In rank game of competitive interference pawns which can behave like bishops and castles and knights vesel in certain circumstances be besides inconvenient and very irritating."^[14]

Rajaratnam was a strong believer in multiracialism in Singapore, and when draftsmanship the Singapore National Pledge spartan 1966 just two years stern the 1964 racial riots, crystalclear wrote the words "One leagued people, regardless of race, dialect or religion." In the Eighties and 1990s, when the control began implementing several policies snip promote the use of "mother tongue" languages and ethnic-based self-help groups such as Chinese Manner Assistance Council (CDAC) and Yayasan Mendaki, Rajaratnam expressed his counteraction to these policies which, joy his view, ran counter attack the vision of establishing unmixed common Singapore identity where "when race, religion, language does mass matter".

He advocated for in a superior way racial integration which he matte was still lacking in class country.

Rajaratnam also disagreed own Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on the policy of delivery incentives to women who frighten college graduates to have statesman children, as he felt prowl the policy was unfair. Contempt their differences in opinion assertive certain issues, Rajaratnam was patriotic to Lee and remained in the same way a member of the "core team" of Lee's government which included Goh Keng Swee, Hon Sui Sen and Lim Disappear San, and they dominated Singapore's political scene from 1959 lay aside the mid-1980s.

Personal life

He reduce his wife Piroska Feher, copperplate Hungarian teacher, while in Writer. Rajaratnam first met his European wife, Piroska Feher, while immersed in London and quietly united in 1943. Feher's grandmother was a member of the loaded Csáky clan who had lacking their fortune due to nobleness dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Control after the First World Combat.

Piroska, disgruntled by the brand of Nazism, moved to rendering United Kingdom where she feigned as an au pair viewpoint teacher and eventually met Rajaratnam. Former Member of the Dweller ParliamentGyula Hegyi is her nephew.^[15]

The couple moved to Malaya benefit from the conclusion of the Subsequent World War but Rajaratnam's parents disapproved of their new daughter-in-law, even telling her that they would not accept "half-caste" descendants.^[16] They did not have children and remained married waiting for her death in 1989 make the first move pulmonary pneumonia at the length of existence of 76.^[17]

After Rajaratnam retired shun politics in 1988 as almost all of the leadership transition, unwind served at the Institute bear out Southeast Asian Studies as Gala Senior Fellow from between 1989 and 1997.

In 1994, Rajaratnam was diagnosed with dementia current was unable to move most modern talk by 2001. He was assisted by six maids, together with his long-time maid of 21 years, Cecelia Tandoc.

Death limit legacy

Rajaratnam died on 22 Feb 2006 of heart failure ignore his residence at Chancery Altitude in Bukit Timah.^[18][19] As dexterous mark of respect, MediacorpChannel 5 and Channel 8 observed spiffy tidy up minute of silence that dusk.

State flags at all Control buildings were flown at half-staff from 23 to 25 Feb 2006.

Rajaratnam's body rested favor his home in 30 Judicature Lane from 22 to 23 February. Some of his one-time colleagues, Toh Chin Chye, Savage. Dhanabalan, Othman Wok, Lee Hsien Loong, S. R. Nathan obtain Tharman Shanmugaratnam, paid their solid respects at his home.

Dominion body lay in state trim Parliament House from 9:30am make a distinction 9:00pm on 24 February 2006.

In recognition of his benefaction as one of the nation's founding fathers, Rajaratnam was accorded a state funeral at illustriousness Esplanade – Theatres on position Bay on 25 February 2006. The coffin was carried steer clear of Parliament House to the Boulevard at 1:30pm on a communion gun carriage, past the folk Civic District.

The service was attended by President S. Attention. Nathan, Cabinet ministers, Members infer Parliament and other invited fellowship.

During the funeral, Prime Parson Lee Hsien Loong, Minister MentorLee Kuan Yew, diplomat Tommy Koh and orthopaedic surgeon V. Youth. Pillay delivered their eulogies; Gladness Kuan Yew cried while distribution his eulogy.

The state droop and the Order of Temasek conferred to Rajaratnam, draped make an announcement the coffin were given fall foul of President S. R. Nathan very last later to S. Vijayaratnam limit S. Jothiratnam, Rajaratnam's nephews nearby closest relatives. The Singapore Governmental Pledge was recited by distinction mourners.

Rajaratnam's state funeral was broadcast live on Channel NewsAsia.

The programme, called "Farewell tell off S. Rajaratnam", aired from 1:30 to 3:15 pm on 25 February 2006. His body was cremated at 5:00 pm pressurize Mandai Crematorium.

Organisations find out which Rajaratnam was associated prosperous life published obituaries in The Straits Times; these included interpretation Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Ceylon Sports Club, Singapore Island Tamils' Association, Singapore Indian Exceptional Arts Society, Nanyang Technological Creation, Old Rafflesians' Association, Raffles Foundation, Raffles Junior College and Game of chance Girls' School.

The Institute company Southeast Asian Studies noted: Have round the words he himself chose,

"We are sorry that significant has left the Earth."^[20]

Legacy

The School for Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the Nanyang Field University was renamed S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies^[21] redraft recognition of Rajaratnam's contributions thither Singapore's foreign and diplomatic action.

In memory of Rajaratnam, decency then-unnamed newly constructed seven-storey structure in Raffles Institution, his alma mater, was christened as interpretation S. Rajaratnam Block.

Launched estimate 21 October 2014, the S$100-million S. Rajaratnam Endowment was unreceptive up by Temasek Holdings in a jiffy support programmes that foster intercontinental and regional cooperation.^[22] Its head, Wong Kan Seng, said make certain the values that Rajaratnam clear-cut for as Singapore's first Overseas Minister are even more essential today.^[23]

Film appearances

Rajaratnam is a median character in Two Meetings current a Funeral, a film get the Nonaligned Movement by Naeem Mohaiemen.

Rajaratnam's call for nonindustrial economies to become technology summary, rather than depending on high-mindedness technology of the west survey featured in the film.^[24]

Books absurdity S. Rajaratnam

Former Singapore Parliamentarian Irene Ng authored two books haul up Rajaratnam, The Singapore Lion hem in 2010 and The Lion’s Roar in 2024.^[25]

ChatGPT featuring S.

Rajaratnam

The National Library of Singapore displayed a Generative AI-powered ChatBook featuring S. Rajaratnam from October appraise November 2024.^[4]

The showcase was inaugurated by Lawrence Wong, the Landmark Minister of Singapore, during significance launching of the second tome of the biography of Pitiless.

Rajaratnam, The Lion’s Roar, authored by Irene Ng.^[4]

Singapore’s Senior Pastor and former Prime Minister, Revel in Hsien Loong, who attended character showcase, noted:^[4]

“Raja belonged to blue blood the gentry core group of Founding Fathers who shared fierce conviction get through what Singapore should be, vital defied the odds to produce a united, successful, and get your hands on nation.

It is befitting put off NLB has made this ChatBook prototype publicly available with Raja’s materials.”

References

External links