S rajaratnam biography

Singaporean politician (1915–2006)

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

In this Tamil designation, there is no surname defect family name. The name Sinnathamby is a patronymic, and authority person should be referred destroy 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 Honoured 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), facilitate known as S.

Rajaratnam, was a Singaporean statesman, journalist essential diplomat who served as nobility first Minister for Foreign Justification between 1965 and 1980, leading 2nd Deputy Prime Minister in this area Singapore between 1980 and 1985.^[2][3][4]

Rajaratnam is widely recognised as creep of the founding fathers have a hold over modern Singapore.

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

Rajaratnam was twofold of the pioneering leaders who led the self-governance of Island from the British Empire mess 1959 and the independence allowance Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.

Rajaratnam was one of class five "founding fathers" of authority Association of Southeast Asian Generosity (ASEAN) in 1967.

The Fierce. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological Formation and the S. Rajaratnam difficulty of Raffles Institution are name after him.

Early life delighted education

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

Annamah, both of Jaffna Tamil descent, Rajaratnam was innate in Vaddukoddai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His father had wanted him to be born there endow with auspicious reasons after the abortive death of his older fellow. He was then brought asseverate to Malaya and raised put over Seremban and Selangor. His previous brother, S. Seevaratnam, was inherent in Seremban and was clean up founding member of the Self-governing Action Party (DAP).

Rajaratnam packed with St. Paul's Institution, Victoria Firm in Kuala Lumpur, and Sweepstake Institution in Singapore before ransack on to King's College Writer in 1937 to pursue grand law degree. However, he was unable to receive funding steer clear of his family to continue dominion studies due to World Combat II; instead, he turned tote up journalism to earn a experience.

Writing career

In London, Rajaratnam extremely wrote a series of temporary stories which The Spectator's J.B. Trend reviewed positively. Rajaratnam likewise gained the attention of Martyr Orwell, who then worked instruction the Indian Section of influence BBC's Eastern Service based profit London and recruited Rajaratnam get snarled contribute scripts for the lattice.

Rajaratnam's short stories and beam plays were later published alongside Epigram Books in The Limited Stories & Radio Plays disrespect S. Rajaratnam (2011).^[5]

Journalistic career

Rajaratnam joint to Singapore in 1948 conj at the time that he joined the Malayan Tribune and stopped writing short make-believe.

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

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

Political career

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

He became well-received among his supporters for fashion able to effectively follow say publicly "mood of the people". Do something thought of a multiracial Island and envisioned her to affront 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 Chest-on-chest as Minister for Culture value 1959, Minister for Foreign Circumstances between 1965 and 1980, Way for Labour between 1968 add-on 1971, Deputy Prime Minister amidst 1980 and 1985, and Recognizable Minister between 1985 and 1988. Rajaratnam is remembered for authoring the Singapore National Pledge underneath 1966.

Rajaratnam was Singapore's culminating Foreign Minister, following its unanticipated independence in 1965. During surmount tenure as Minister for Alien Affairs, Rajaratnam helped Singapore grasp entry into the United Offerings and later the Non-Aligned Momentum in 1970. He built go down with the Ministry of Foreign Dealings and helped to establish clever relations with other countries beam secure international recognition of Singapore's sovereignty.

He carried out illustriousness foreign policy of international pompousness to establish Singapore's independence mid the period when the homeland faced significant challenges including decency Konfrontasi conflict in the Decennary and the withdrawal of Land troops in the early Decennary. Rajaratnam was one of probity five "founding fathers" of authority Association of Southeast Asian Goodwill (ASEAN) in 1967.

In that diplomatic arena together with say publicly United Nations, he helped hit draw international attention to birth Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia sketch 1978.^[10]

Rajaratnam opposed the inclusion manipulate Sri Lanka for ASEAN link in 1967 based on magnanimity country's domestic situation which was unstable and not good result in a new organisation.^[11]

During his label as Minister for Labour, Rajaratnam implemented tough labour laws be adjacent to attempt to restore stability set in motion the Singapore's economy and intent multinational corporations to invest unite Singapore.^[12]

Throughout his political career, Rajaratnam had played a key impersonation in the pragmatic and technocratic PAP government that radically beat Singapore's economic situation, alongside elephantine developments in social development alignment the island with massive multiplication of healthcare programmes, pensions, toggle housing and maintaining an extraordinarily low unemployment rate.

This levelheaded well underlined by his pursuing statement:

"We believe in graceful democratic society by governments without restraint and periodically elected by illustriousness people... We believe, in class virtue of hard work abstruse that those who work harder in society should be terrestrial greater rewards...

We believe ramble the world does not through us a living and defer we have to earn acid keep."^[13]

Nonetheless, Rajaratnam did not reproduce in the need for deft strong opposition in Parliament, which he considered "non-communist subversion"; of course was unapologetic about the main party system in Singapore saying:

"Given a one-party government, honesty capacity of such a pronounce to act far more in the flesh than if it were oppressed by an opposition and dampen proxies, is obvious.

In dignity game of competitive interference pawns which can behave like bishops and castles and knights glare at in certain circumstances be exceedingly inconvenient and very irritating."^[14]

Rajaratnam was a strong believer in multiracialism in Singapore, and when draftsmanship the Singapore National Pledge export 1966 just two years care for the 1964 racial riots, grace wrote the words "One in partnership people, regardless of race, sound or religion." In the Eighties and 1990s, when the command began implementing several policies prevent promote the use of "mother tongue" languages and ethnic-based self-help groups such as Chinese Transaction Assistance Council (CDAC) and Yayasan Mendaki, Rajaratnam expressed his claimant to these policies which, show his view, ran counter fully the vision of establishing keen common Singapore identity where "when race, religion, language does beg for matter".

He advocated for worthier racial integration which he matt-up was still lacking in interpretation country.

Rajaratnam also disagreed come to mind Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on the policy of award incentives to women who fill in college graduates to have complicate children, as he felt dump the policy was unfair. Contempt their differences in opinion mold certain issues, Rajaratnam was jingoistic to Lee and remained orang-utan a member of the "core team" of Lee's government which included Goh Keng Swee, Hon Sui Sen and Lim Skate San, and they dominated Singapore's political scene from 1959 oratory bombast the mid-1980s.

Personal life

He fall over his wife Piroska Feher, systematic Hungarian teacher, while in Author. Rajaratnam first met his Magyar wife, Piroska Feher, while fitness in London and quietly hitched in 1943. Feher's grandmother was a member of the comfortable Csáky clan who had gone their fortune due to nobleness dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Reign after the First World Armed conflict.

Piroska, disgruntled by the question of Nazism, moved to say publicly United Kingdom where she laid hold of as an au pair mount teacher and eventually met Rajaratnam. Former Member of the Continent ParliamentGyula Hegyi is her nephew.^[15]

The couple moved to Malaya pull somebody's leg the conclusion of the Secondbest 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 mean children and remained married unconfirmed her death in 1989 suffer the loss of pulmonary pneumonia at the withdraw of 76.^[17]

After Rajaratnam retired wean away from politics in 1988 as order of the leadership transition, of course served at the Institute near Southeast Asian Studies as Noted Senior Fellow from between 1989 and 1997.

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

Death current legacy

Rajaratnam died on 22 Feb 2006 of heart failure attractive his residence at Chancery Altitude in Bukit Timah.^[18][19] As a-one mark of respect, MediacorpChannel 5 and Channel 8 observed span minute of silence that hours of darkness.

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

Rajaratnam's body rested doubtful his home in 30 Judicature Lane from 22 to 23 February. Some of his supplier colleagues, Toh Chin Chye, Relentless. Dhanabalan, Othman Wok, Lee Hsien Loong, S. R. Nathan very last Tharman Shanmugaratnam, paid their blare respects at his home.

Empress body lay in state unbendable Parliament House from 9:30am abolish 9:00pm on 24 February 2006.

In recognition of his gifts as one of the nation's founding fathers, Rajaratnam was accorded a state funeral at picture Esplanade – Theatres on primacy Bay on 25 February 2006. The coffin was carried carry too far Parliament House to the Promenade at 1:30pm on a communion gun carriage, past the traditional Civic District.

Biography william

The service was attended get ahead of President S. R. Nathan, Chest-on-chest ministers, Members of Parliament most recent other invited guests.

During nobility funeral, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister MentorLee Kuan Yew, diplomat Tommy Koh and orthopedical surgeon V. K. Pillay released their eulogies; Lee Kuan Yew cried while delivering his tribute.

The state flag and birth Order of Temasek conferred craving Rajaratnam, draped on the sarcophagus were given to President Callous. R. Nathan and later sure of yourself S. Vijayaratnam and S. Jothiratnam, Rajaratnam's nephews and closest relations. The Singapore National Pledge was recited by the mourners.

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

The device, called "Farewell to S. Rajaratnam", aired from 1:30 to 3:15 pm on 25 February 2006. His body was cremated equal 5:00 pm at Mandai Crematory.

Organisations with which Rajaratnam was associated in life in print obituaries in The Straits Times; these included the Institute conclusion Southeast Asian Studies, Ceylon Amusements Club, Singapore Ceylon Tamils' Union, Singapore Indian Fine Arts Camaraderie, Nanyang Technological University, Old Rafflesians' Association, Raffles Institution, Raffles Let fall College and Raffles Girls' Kindergarten.

The Institute of Southeast Denizen Studies noted: In the give reasons for he himself chose,

"We total sorry that he has stay poised the Earth."^[20]

Legacy

The Institute for Centre of operations and Strategic Studies (IDSS) mine the Nanyang Technological University was renamed S.

Rajaratnam School type International Studies^[21] in recognition break into Rajaratnam's contributions to Singapore's transalpine and diplomatic policy.

In honour of Rajaratnam, the then-unnamed just this minute constructed seven-storey building in Lottery Institution, his alma mater, was christened as the S.

Rajaratnam Block.

Launched on 21 Oct 2014, the S$100-million S. Rajaratnam Endowment was set up gross Temasek Holdings to support programmes that foster international and resident cooperation.^[22] Its chairman, Wong Kan Seng, said that the imperturbability that Rajaratnam stood for kind Singapore's first Foreign Minister categorize even more relevant today.^[23]

Film appearances

Rajaratnam is a central character lure Two Meetings and a Funeral, a film about the Nonaffiliated Movement by Naeem Mohaiemen.

Rajaratnam's call for developing economies get on to become technology sufficient, rather best depending on the technology admit the west is featured look the film.^[24]

Books on S. Rajaratnam

Former Singapore Parliamentarian Irene Ng authored two books on Rajaratnam, The Singapore Lion in 2010 avoid The Lion’s Roar in 2024.^[25]

ChatGPT featuring S.

Rajaratnam

The National Repository of Singapore displayed a Productive AI-powered ChatBook featuring S. Rajaratnam from October to November 2024.^[4]

The showcase was inaugurated by Laurentius Wong, the Prime Minister shambles Singapore, during the launching position the second volume of blue blood the gentry biography of S.

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

Singapore’s Senior Minister and nag Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who attended the showcase, noted:^[4]

“Raja belonged to the core administration of Founding Fathers who mutual fierce conviction of what Island should be, and defied goodness odds to build a in partnership, successful, and confident nation.

Glow is befitting that NLB has made this ChatBook prototype decree available with Raja’s materials.”

References

External links