S. R. Nathan

Sellapan Ramanathan (a.k.a. S. R. Nathan or popularly "S. R.") (b. 3 July 1924, Singapore -) became the second elected President of Singapore on 1 September 1999, the sixth and the oldest local president to hold this appointment of leadership. He had previously held key positions in security and intelligence, served as diplomat to Malaysia and the United States and chaired various boards in both public and private companies.

Early Life
Nathan was conceived soon after his mother's pilgrimage to the holy site of Rameswaram, India, and he became a treasured son as his brothers before him had died in early childhood. He was brought up in Muar, Johor, in a home by the seaside, although he moved to Singapore when, with the crash of the rubber industry, his father lost his job as a clerk in a Johor legal firm. Tragedy struck when Nathan was only eight, when his father killed himself as he was unable to make ends meet for the family.

Nathan stayed with his uncle in Singapore whilst studying at Anglo-Chinese Primary School, proceeding to Anglo-Chinese Middle School and later to Victoria School. After an argument with his mother, the 16-year old Nathan ran away from home and landed a job as an office boy at a Swiss firm, Arbenz & Co. before moving back to Muar where he worked as a clerk. Whilst working, he studied for an equivalent of an 'A'-levels certificate. It was only 4 years later before he returned to his mother in Singapore.

During World War II, Nathan met Urmila, his future wife. Through the gift of an English-Japanese dictionary, he gained an understanding of the Japanese language which landed him the position of translator, then interpreter and finally a post linked to a top official in the Japanese civilian police.

At 28, Nathan pursued a university degree. With a S$2,000-a-year Shell bursary, he became one of eight undergraduates to form the first batch of students in the Social Work course in the Economics Department, University of Malaya - a course set up to fill senior civil service posts in the welfare departments of Malaya. During his practical placements, he found himself hacking through jungle paths in Malacca and wading through rice-fields in Kedah. He graduated with a distinction in his Diploma in Social Studies in 1954.

Career
As Director of the Security and Intelligence Division, he dealt with various terrorist acts in Singapore. They included the hijacking of Air Vietnam in October 1977 and the hijacking of a Vietnamese freighter in 1978. Most noted was the Laju hijacking where Mr Nathan made his first public appearance.

Upon his retirement from the Civil Service in the 1980s, Nathan headed the Singapore Press Holdings, serving first as chairman in both the Straits Times Press and the Times Publishing Bhd., then overseeing their merger in 1984 to become the Singapore Press Holdings.

His positions as High Commissioner in Malaysia and as Ambassador to the United States were undertaken during times of tension. In the former, he took on the appointment soon after the visit of Israeli President, Chaim Herzog, which had led to tensions between Singapore and Malaysia. Whilst serving as Ambassador to the US, he dealt with the caning of Michael Fay and the controversial anti-PAP remarks made by lecturer Christopher Lingle, both of which drew strong criticism from the American media.

Timeline
1940 - 1941 : Office boy and various odd jobs
1955 - 1956 : Medical Social Worker, Singapore Civil Service with stints in Woodbridge and the Leprosy Centre
1956 - 1962 : Seamen's Welfare Officer, Ministry of Labour
1962 - 1964 : Assistant Director, Labour Research Unit, Ministry of Labour
1964 - 1965 : Director, Labour Research Unit, Ministry of Labour; later the Ambassador to Egypt in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1966 : Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rising to the rank of Deputy Secretary
1971 : Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
1971- 1979 : Director, Security and Intelligence Division, Ministry of Defence and serving as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence
1973 : Chairman, Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries (Pte.) Ltd. 
1979 - 1982 : First Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1980 - 1988 : Director, Singapore National Oil Company
Feb 1982 - 1988 : Executive Chairman, Straits Times Press (1975)
Apr 1988 - 1990 : High Commissioner to Malaysia
Jul 1990 - June 1996 : Ambassador to the United States
1996 - 1999 : Ambassador-at-large
15 Jul 1996 : Director, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, NTU; the first for the institution.
18 Jul 1996 : Pro-Chancellor, National University of Singapore
1 Sep 1999 : President of Singapore, 2nd elected into this position and 6th local president.

Social Contribution
His contributions to the Hindu community include initiating fund-raising for the Sri Sivan Temple which was relocated from Dhoby Ghaut to Geylang East, starting the first Tamil-English kindergarten, and starting a family counselling unit for needy Indian families.

Jan 1982 - May 1983 : Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board
May 1983 - Apr 1988 : Chairman, Hindu Endowment Board
Aug 1991 - Aug 1993 : Term Trustee to the Board of Trustees, Singapore Indian Development Association.

Awards
1963 : NTUC medal for helping in the growth of a non-communist labour movement
1964 : Public Service Star
1967 : Public Administration Medal (Silver)
1974 : Meritorious Service Award with particular mention of his work towards "healthy, non-communist trade unions" and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in building "a new ministry, give shape to its fundamental policies and also set up some of our first diplomatic missions abroad"

Family
Wife: Urmila Nandey. Although they had been neighbours as children, they only met during the war years. As Urmila's Bengali parents had opposed the marriage, they courted for 16 years and married only when Nathan was 34 and she was 29. She worked as a teacher and had a teaching stint at the School of the Deaf.
Daughter: Juthika, civil servant who is married to Cheong Gay Eng, a lawyer.
Son: Osith, business and financial consultant
Grandchildren: Kiron, Monisha both children of Juthika.

In 1991, Nathan underwent a by-pass operation

Quotable Quotes
"Every community here of Singaporeans belongs to my parish" said on 18 August after he was confirmed President of Singapore.



Author
Bonny Tan



References 
Turnbull, C. M. (1995). Dateline Singapore: 150 years of the Straits Times (pp. 334, 337-339, 341). Singapore: Times Editions: Singapore Press Holdings.
(Call no.: RSING 079.5957 TUR)

(1995, May 20). The Straits Times.

(1978, October 2). The Business Times (Singapore).

He ran away from home when he was 16. (1999, August 22). The Straits Times, Home, pp. 24-25.

Mr S. R. Nathan. (1979, September 1). New Nation.

S. R. Nathan to join board of STP (1975). (1982, February 8). The Business Times.


Further Readings
Nathan sworn in as 6th President. (1999, September 2). The Straits Times, p. 1. 



The information in this article is valid as at 2000 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Nathan, S. R., 1924-
Presidents--Singapore--Biography
Politicians--Singapore--Biography
Law and government>>Political process>>Leadership

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