As today is the birthday of the undeniably vivacious but yet demure Yours Truly, a fabulous idea was born of Yours Truly’s mind. Why not a list of birthdays of the important and pivotal figures and events in Singapore’s history?
So what is exactly a birthday? Merriam-Webster defines it as,
1 a : the day of a person’s birth
1 b : a day of origin
2 : an anniversary of a birth
Well yes yes quite frankly a no brainer explanation. But you would be surprised that not everyone celebrates birthdays. In fact there are a couple of religious beliefs that oppose to having birthdays celebrated!
Anyway this is not about them. This is about important birthdays in Singapore history. And that is why Yours Truly had scoured through the dates in Singapore history during the last few visits to the museums and had personally handpicked out a list of birthdays that best exemplifies the nation’s flow of time.
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Sir Stamford Raffles – 6 July 1781 to 5 July 1826
If someone were to go back in time on 6 July 1781 to prevent the birth of this imminently prominent man, our entire history and present would have been very different. More accurately, Yours Truly and the rest of us might not have even existed, since it was the lure of our lucrative island that first enticed our forefathers to leave their ancestral country.
The influence and legacy Raffles left behind in Singapore is still very evident today with buildings, roads, institutions and many more bearing his name. For instance, Raffles Place MRT station, Raffles Hotel, Raffles Institution…etc
Incidentally do you also know that the largest flower in the world was also named after Raffles who had a passion for botany?
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Birth Of The Island – circa unknown
No this is not about the creation of the colony of Singapura by Raffles. This is about the actual geological birth of our island.
Nestled within the embrace of the calm and motherly landmasses of the Malaysia and Indonesia against the violent elements of the South China Sea, Singapore is fortunate to have been spared much of Gaia’s fury as She lashes out periodically. The island is also equally blessed as it straddles a much strategic albeit slightly historic trading route to and fro from India and China.
It is partly because of this advantage that we never had to set aside any contingency plans for any form of natural disasters, allowing us to progress unimpeded towards a better economical future.
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Singapore’s Independence – 9 August 1965
Every school kid in Singapore knows about the nation’s independence day, known as National Day, and how it came about.
Despite the despair and suffering inflicted to the island during World War II, specifically in the Japanese Occupation of Singapore period, ironically we owe our independence indirectly to the Japanese.
Think about it. If not for the Japanese who managed to conquer Singapore in within three months, we would not have realise that we cannot depend on the British if danger beckoned on our shores. That was the catalyst that would eventually lead towards the true independence of Singapore, free from British rule and the brief Malaya rule.
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Lee Kuan Yew – 16 September 1923
If Raffles were the founding father of modern Singapore, then Lee Kuan Yew would be the founding father of developed Singapore.
Lee Kuan Yew had successfully grew the tiny island nation from a poor, post war ridden developing country with no form of natural resources to the world’s 5th wealthiest country in terms of GDP(PPP) per capita.
Despite whatever flaws that Lee Kuan Yew might possess, his selfless endeavours towards the country has resulted in us being able to lead the kind of lifestyle that our parents would have dreamt of. As such, he is indeed a true Prometheus to Singaporeans and we should all be thankful to him that we are able to be the way we are.
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Merlion – 26 March 1964
Most countries have a visible iconic landmark that is used to identify itself when being represented elsewhere. The French have their Eiffel Tower, the Egyptians have their Giza Pyramids, the Chinese have the Great Wall of China… and so on an so forth.
Singapore? We have our Merlion.
Scoff as you may at the seemingly ludicrous notion, the Merlion is very symbolic of our Singapore history; the fish part represents the importance of our sea port, both historic and present, and the lion part represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, which means “lion city” or “kota singa” in Sanskrit and Malay.
The symbol was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board in use from 26 March 1964 to 1997.
It is perhaps one of the many icons that identifies as Singaporean in around the world, featuring in many forms of media.
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National Service – 14 March 1967
Considered by many males in Singapore as both a bane and enjoyment, the National Service act was passed as it was felt by the government that it was necessary to build some form of defense against any foreign threat.
It was also made compulsory for all males upon the age of 18, making it known affectionately among the males as “National Slavery”. Widely seen as a form of “passage to adulthood” by many men here, it remains a form of bond that transcends race, religion and even social status.
For those who persist in perceiving the negative aspects of conscription, there are perks too.
Yup.
Think of it… a shower room full of wet hot sexy men… hoo!!!
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SBC – 1980 to 1990
The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, or better known to us as SBC was born in 1980 from the Radio and Television of Singapore and has since entertained the many generations of Singaporeans with its homegrown artistes and drama series.
After all, who can forget about the unforgettable drama series “The Awakening” starring Huang Wenyong and the effervescent Xiang Yun?
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MRT – 7 November 1987
Who can ever forget their first ride in the MRT, especially those of the generation who were born before the inception of it in 1987. Yours Truly remembered the first time in the train as a child gazing out of the windows as it zipped across Singapore faster than the typical bus.
The MRT was conceived as an idea back in the 1960s by the government who had foresaw the need of a better public transport system by the 1990s. It finally received the green light and construction of the North South Line begun in 1983.
Today the MRT serves about 1.5 million passengers daily in their travels around Singapore and is one of the fastest and shortest, not to mention a cheaper form of transportation to get about.
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SARS – November 2002
The dreaded name SARS period still resonates deep within the hearts of every Singaporean, and despite it being over, it still strikes a chord of mortal fear in each and every one of us.
It struck Singapore sometime around in March 2003 and it caused quite a nationwide spread of hysteria and panic. It was possibly the first calamity since World War II that unified Singaporeans in an effort to eradicate the deadly disease.
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Me!!!!!
Yup. That is right.
Me!
The indomitably delicious Yours Truly who was born on 2nd October 19somethingsomething to a beautiful princess who was imprisoned in a white tower who was later rescued by a handsome prince.
Before any disbelieving readers attempt to cry foul and scream for a lynch mob to coalesce, think about this…
If Yours Truly were not born, and if Yours Truly were not important at all in the timeline of Singapore, would you even be reading about the fantastic articles generated by the exalted figure?
So yes… ME!
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And there you go, a list of the birthdays of important figures and events that chart our nation’s timeline!
Many here no doubt would be curious about the birth year of Yours Truly, but that would absolutely never ever be divulged. Haven’t you known by now never to ask a lady for her age, and that it is also a woman’s prerogative to be any age?
In any case, Yours Truly has been sweet 21 for the past few years, and it will most likely to remain so!
Till then, this is Yours Truly signing off and going to a birthday bash!
Happy Birthday Yours Truly, May there be more happy sweet 21s.
*giggles* Thanky Cuppy!