S. R. Nathan

Sellapan Ramanathan (b. 3 July 1924, Singapore–22 August 2016, Singapore), commonly known as S. R. Nathan, served as the sixth president of Singapore from 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2011. He was Singapore’s longest-serving president. Prior to his presidency, Nathan held key positions in security, intelligence and foreign affairs, and chaired various companies and academic institutions.¹

Early life and education
When Nathan was a child, his family moved to Muar, Johor, where his father held a clerical job in a legal firm servicing rubber plantations. However, his father lost his job when the rubber industry declined in the 1930s, and the family moved back to Singapore. His father worked a number of odd jobs but found it difficult to provide for the family, and killed himself when Nathan was eight years old.²

After the family tragedy, Nathan’s family resided with his uncle, and he studied at Anglo-Chinese Primary School, Anglo-Chinese Middle School, Rangoon Road Afternoon School and later Victoria School.³ At the age of 16, Nathan was alleged to have stolen his schoolmate’s books and was sacked by his principal. Not wanting to hurt his family further, he ran away from home. He felt that he could only return after he obtained success in life.⁴ He found a job at architectural firm, Arbenz & Co.⁵ Two months later, he moved to Muar to work as a clerk.⁶ Four years later, he returned to Singapore and reconciled with his mother and family.⁷

During the Japanese Occupation (1942–45), Nathan received an English–Japanese dictionary as a gift and learned the Japanese language. He excelled as a translator and interpreter, and eventually worked for the top official in the Japanese civilian police.⁸

After the war ended, Nathan took a hiatus from his job as a clerk at the Public Works Department to pursue his studies. With the assistance of a bursary from Shell, he became one of eight undergraduates in the pioneer group of social work students at the University of Malaya. He graduated with a distinction in diploma in social studies in 1954, after which he worked as an almoner and later Seamen’s Welfare Officer with the Marine Department.⁹

Career
In 1962, Nathan was seconded to the Labour Research Unit (LRU), an autonomous body created by the government to assist the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) with research and industrial negotiations during a time of industrial unrest and frequent strikes. He joined as an assistant director and was later promoted to director.¹⁰

Nathan was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1966, and served as the director of the Security and Intelligence Division (SID) between 1971 and 1979.¹¹ During his tenure as SID director, Nathan dealt with a number of acts of terrorism in Singapore, one of which was the hijacking of the Laju ferry in 1974.¹² During the incident, Nathan negotiated for over eight days with four hijackers from the Japanese Red Army and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine for the safe release of the ferry’s crew. He then led a 13-official delegation that accompanied the hijackers on a flight to Kuwait as guarantors of their safe passage after they had released the hostages.¹³

In 1982, Nathan became the executive chairman of Straits Times Press and then Singapore Press Holdings in 1984.¹⁴ In 1988, Nathan was appointed as the high commissioner to Malaysia before becoming ambassador to the United States two years later.¹⁵ Both appointments took place against a backdrop of strained bilateral ties. In the case of the former, he took on the appointment soon after then Israeli president Chaim Herzog visited Singapore, which led to tensions with Malaysia.  While serving as ambassador to the United States, Nathan dealt with American diplomatic pressure to prevent the caning of American citizen and convicted vandal Michael Fay.¹⁶

In the 1990s, Nathan took on the posts of Singapore’s ambassador-at-large, director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies and pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore.¹⁷

Presidency
In July 1999, then president Ong Teng Cheong declared his decision not to seek re-election. After being asked to consider running for office by several public figures including then senior minister Lee Kuan Yew and former president Wee Kim Wee, Nathan announced his candidacy for the presidential post on 6 August.¹⁸ He was the sole eligible candidate after two other potential candidates failed to meet constitutional criteria for the post. Nathan was sworn into office on 1 September.¹⁹ On 17 August 2005, he was re-elected for a second term without contest, as there were no eligible challengers.²⁰

Nathan founded the President’s Challenge in 2000, a series of community-based fundraising events for charity.²¹ Between 2000 and 2011, the President’s Challenge raised more than S$100 million for more than 500 beneficiary organisations.²² In 2001, Nathan also created the President’s Social Service Awards to recognise achievers in fields such as nursing, social work and environmental activism.²³

In 2009, Nathan approved the government’s use of S$4.9 billion from the national reserves to fund antirecessionary measures in the light of the economic downturn then. This marked the first time the government applied to use part of the reserves, which requires the approval of the president and the Council of Presidential Advisers.²⁴

During his two terms as president from 1999 to 2011, Nathan hosted about 50 heads of state and over 100 prime ministers and important delegations on official visits to Singapore.²⁵ He made state visits to around 30 countries, including eight capital cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).²⁶ Political observers have noted that Nathan’s prior stints in the foreign ministry helped strengthen diplomatic ties and facilitate trade links with many countries.²⁷

In July 2011, Nathan announced that he would not seek a third term as president. He stepped down on 31 August 2011, and was succeeded by Tony Tan.²⁸ Media reports placed a large part of Nathan’s legacy within the context of his work with the disadvantaged, rapport with citizens and various communities, and support of a diverse range of social causes.²⁹

Post-presidency
After stepping down as president, Nathan took up the appointments of distinguished senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and at the Singapore Management University’s School of Social Sciences.³⁰ The S. R. Nathan Education Upliftment Fund, which supports needy students, was established in 2011.³¹ That year, he also published his memoir, An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency, before venturing into children’s literature with the folktale, The Crane and the Crab, in 2013.³² His second memoir, S R Nathan: 50 Stories from My Life, was also published in 2013.³³ In 2012, the National University of Singapore launched the S. R. Nathan Professorship in Social Work, in honour of him. As a tribute to Nathan’s contributions to the country, the Institute of Policy Studies set up the S. R. Nathan Fellowship for the Study of Singapore in 2013.³⁴ In November 2013, Nathan was conferred Order of Temasek (First Class), the nation’s highest award, at the National Day Awards investiture.³⁵ Nathan chaired a panel behind the online project, Days that Changed Singapore, in 2015, which provides a chronicle of events that shaped Singapore over the decades.³⁶

Death
Nathan passed away on 22 August 2016 after suffering a stroke on 31 July.³⁷

Career timeline
1940–1941: Office boy and various odd jobs³⁸
Feb 1955–Mar 1956: Almoner, Medical Department, Singapore General Hospital
Mar 1956–1962: Seamen’s Welfare Officer, Marine Department
Jan 1962–Jan 1964: Assistant director, Labour Research Unit³⁹
Jan 1964–Jan 1966: Director, Labour Research Unit⁴⁰
Jan 1966–Apr 1988: Member, board of trustees, Labour Research Unit⁴¹
Feb 1966–Jan 1971: Assistant secretary; later deputy secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs⁴²
Jan 1971–Aug 1971: Acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs⁴³
Aug 1971–Feb 1979: Director, Security and Intelligence Division, Ministry of Defence⁴⁴
1973–1986: Chairman, Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries (Pte) Ltd⁴⁵
Feb 1979–Feb 1982: First permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs⁴⁶
1980–1988: Director, Singapore National Oil Company
1982–1988: Director, New Nation Publishing Bhd
1982–1988: Director, Times Publishing Bhd⁴⁷
Jan 1982–May 1983: Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board⁴⁸
Feb 1982– Apr 1988: Executive Chairman, Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd, and concurrently director of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd from December 1985 to April 1988⁴⁹
1983–1988: Director, Times Business Publications Ltd
1983–1988: Director, Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, London⁵⁰
May 1983–Apr 1988: Chairman, Hindu Endowments Board⁵¹
1984–1988: Director, The Times of Singapore Pte Ltd
1985–1988: Director, Marshall Cavendish Ltd
1986–1988: Director, The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd
1986–1988: Director, The Times Press Foundation (Singapore) Pte Ltd⁵²
Aug 1991–Aug 1999: Founding member and term trustee of Singapore Indian Development Association⁵³
Apr 1988–Jul 1990: High commissioner to Malaysia
Jul 1990–Jun 1996: Ambassador to the United States⁵⁴
1996–1999: Director, Singapore International Media Pte Ltd⁵⁵
Jul 1996: Appointed pro-chancellor, National University of Singapore⁵⁶
Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Ambassador-at-large
Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Director, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (now known as the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies), Nanyang Technological University⁵⁷
1997–1999: Member, board of governors, Civil Service College⁵⁸
1 Sep 1999–31 Aug 2011: President of Singapore; concurrently chancellor, National University of Singapore⁵⁹

Awards
1964: Public Service Star
1967: Public Administration Medal (Silver)
1974: Meritorious Service Award⁶⁰
2000: Temasek Sword, (Singapore Police Force)⁶¹
2005: Asia-Pacific Regional Distinguished Scout Award⁶²
2007: Eminent Alumni, National University of Singapore⁶³
2010: Al Khalifa Order, Bahrain⁶⁴
2010: Distinguished Service Award (Gold), Singapore Scout Association⁶⁵
2011: NTUC 50 Special Recognition Award⁶⁶
2011: Honorary Doctor of Civil Law, University of Mauritius⁶⁷
2013: Order of Temasek (First Class)⁶⁸
2015: Lifetime Achievement Award, National University of Singapore⁶⁹

Family
Wife: Urmila Nandey⁷⁰
Children: Daughter Juthika and son Osith
Grandchildren: Kiron, Monisha and Kheshin⁷¹



Author
Alvin Chua



References
1. “S R Nathan,” President’s Office, Istana, 25 January 2013. 
2. S R Nathan, An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency (Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011), 19–21, 25. (Call no. RSING 959.5705092 NAT)
3. S. R. Nathan, S R Nathan: 50 Stories from My Life (Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2013), 16–19. (Call no. RSING 959.5705092 NAT)
4. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 38–41.
5. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 38–40.
6. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 38–41.
7. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 38–46, 68–69.
8. Nathan, 50 Stories from My Life, 30–39.
9. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 141–42, 146, 165, 169, 175.
10. S. R. Nathan, Winning Against the Odds: The Labour Research Unit in NTUC's Funding (Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2011), 9–10, 45–46, 82 (Call no. RSING 331.88095957 NAT); “NTUC Research Unit Has Broken Red Hold on the Unions, Says Report,” Straits Times, 30 March 1966, 8; “Why S’pore Is Having Fewer and Fewer Strikes,” Straits Times, 3 August 1965, 5. (From NewspaperSG)
11. S R. Nathan, Singapore’s Foreign Policy: Beginnings and Future (Singapore: MFA Diplomatic Academy, 2008), 11 (Call no. RSING 327.5957 NAT); President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
12. Zuraidah Ibrahim and L. Lim, “He Ran Away from Home When He Was 16,” Straits Times, 22 August 1999, 24. (From NewspaperSG)
13. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 397–421.
14. “Nathan Is New STP Chairman,” Business Times, 13 February 1982, 12 (From NewspaperSG); Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 485.
15. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
16. Nathan, 50 Stories from My Life, 147–55.
17. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
18. Zuraidah Ibrahim, “Duty Calls for S. R. Nathan,” Straits Times, 7 August 1999, 48; Zuraidah Ibrahim, “Nathan to Run for President,” Straits Times, 7 August 1999, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
19. Chua Mui Him, “Nathan Set To Be Elected President,” Straits Times, 8 August 1999, 1; Zuraidah Ibrahim, “Nathan Elected President,” Straits Times, 19 August 1999, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
20. M. Nirmala, “President: My New Priorities,” Straits Times, 18 August 2005, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
21. Jane Ng, “Wanted: New-Age Philanthropists,” Straits Times, 3 September 2000, 40 (From NewspaperSG); Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 642.
22. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 64
23. “Big Honour for Big-Hearted HSBC,” Business Times, 16 November 2001, 2; Audra Lim, “When the Walls Came Down…,” Today, 25 August 2001,  4. (From NewspaperSG)
24. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 620–27.
25. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 637.
26. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 637; Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 637; Zakir Hussain, “Singapore’s No.1 Diplomat,” Straits Times, 2 July 2011, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
27. Zakir Hussain, “Singapore’s No.1 Diplomat.”
28. Cai Haoxiang, “Last Day at the Office,” Straits Times, 1 September 2011, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
29. Rachel Chang, “The Quiet President,” Straits Times, 2 July 2011, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
30. Cai, “Last Day at the Office”; Zakir Hussain, “President Nathan Taking Position at Think-Tank,” Straits Times, 20 August 2010, 10 (From NewspaperSG); Singapore Management University, “S R Nathan Appointed as Distinguished Senior Fellow,” SMUEngage (July 2012): 7.
31. “S R Nathan Fund Launched,” Channel NewsAsia, 19 September 2011 (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website); Stacey Chia, “Nathan Fund Pledges $820,000 for Needy ITE Students,” Straits Times, 6 October 2012, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
32. Kor Kian Beng, “School Dropout Who Became President,” Straits Times, 20 September 2011, 6 (From NewspaperSG);  S R Nathan, The Crane and the Crab (Singapore: Epigram Books, 2013). (Call no. RSING 428.6 NAT)
33. “S R Nathan Launches Latest Memoir,” Channel NewsAsia, 11 July 2013. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
34. “NUS Launches New Professorship in Social Work,” AsiaOne, 22 September 2012 (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website); “S R Nathan Fellowship for the Study of Singapore,” National University of Singapore, 2013.   
35. Hoe Pei Shan, “Nathan Honoured for Service To Singapore,” Straits Times, 11 November 2013, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
36. Natasha Meah, “Days of Our Lives,” New Paper, 24 December 2015, 10–11. (From NewspaperSG)
37. “Former President SR Nathan Dies, Aged 92,” Channel NewsAsia, 22 August 2016. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
38. Zuraidah Ibrahim and L. Lim, “He Ran Away from Home When He Was 16,” Straits Times, 22 August 1999, 24. (From NewspaperSG)
39. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 169, 176, 223, 258.
40. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 258; President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
41. “From NTUC: ‘Happy Birthday Mr S R Nathan!” National Trades Union Congress, Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees, 3 July 2014. 
42. President’s Office, “S R Nathan”; Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 297.
43. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
44. “Civil Service Reshuffle,” Straits Times, 6 August 1971, 10 (From NewspaperSG); President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
45. “Our Chancellors: Speeches and Biographical Sketch: S R Nathan (Sellappan Ramanathan),” National University of Singapore, n.d.
46. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
47. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
48. Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 443; “‘Apply Religion to Local Context’ Call to Hindus,” Straits Times, 11 September 1982, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
49. “Nathan Is New STP Chairman”; Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 485, 492.
50. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
51. “Endowments Board Members,” Straits Times, 7 August 1983, 12 (From NewspaperSG); President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
52. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
53. “Ten Prominent Indians Get Two-Year Terms on Sinda Board,” Business Times, 14 August 1991, 22 (From NewspaperSG); Bala Baskaran et al., VR Nathan: Community Servant Extraordinary (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2012), 10 (Call no. RSING 361.25092 BAL); Nathan, An Unexpected Journey, 645.
54. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
55. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
56. “NUS Gets Two New Pro-Chancellors,” Straits Times, 20 July 1996, 30. (From NewspaperSG)
57. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
58. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
59. President’s Office, “S R Nathan”; “In Appreciation of His Excellency S R Nathan,” National University of Singapore.
60. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
61. “Temasek Sword for President,” Straits Times, 21 December 2000, H12. (From NewspaperSG)
62. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
63. “Nathan Given Eminent Alumni Award by NUS,” Today, 30 June 2007, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
64. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “State Visit of President S R Nathan to the Kingdom of Bahrain, 22–24 November 2010,” press release, 4 November 2010.
65. National University of Singapore, “Our Chancellors.”
66. “Singapore’s Leaders Receive NTUC Recognition Awards,” Channel NewsAsia, 13 May 2011. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
67. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “State visit of President S R Nathan to the Republic of Mauritius, 4–7 June 2011,” press release, 3 June 2011.
68. Hoe, “Nathan Honoured for Service To Singapore.”
69. “S R Nathan Given Lifetime Achievement Award by NUS,” Today, 2 March 2015. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
70. President’s Office, “S R Nathan.”
71. “Growing Up in the Presidents’ Shadow,” MyPaper, 21 November 2011.  



Further resources
S R Nathan, Singapore’s Foreign Policy: Beginnings and Future (Singapore: MFA Diplomatic Academy, 2008). (Call no. RSING 327.5957 NAT)

S R Nathan, Why Am I Here?: Overcoming Hardships of Local Seafarers (Singapore: Centre for Maritime Studies, National University of Singapore, 2010). (Call no. RSING 331.7613875095957 NAT)

S R Nathan, Winning Against the Odds: The Labour Research Unit in NTUC’s Founding (Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2011). (Call no. RSING 331.88095957 NAT)



The information in this article is valid as at 2016 and correct as far as we are able to 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.