S. Rajaratnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
S. Rajaratnam
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சின்னத்தம்பி ராஜரத்னம்
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| 1st Senior Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 2 January 1985 – 3 September 1988 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lee Kuan Yew (1990) |
| 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 1 June 1980 – 1 January 1985 Serving with Goh Keng Swee (1973–1980)
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| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Toh Chin Chye (1968) |
| Succeeded by | Goh Chok Tong Ong Teng Cheong |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 16 April 1968 – 4 July 1971 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Jek Yeun Thong |
| Succeeded by | Ong Pang Boon |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 9 August 1965 – 1 June 1980 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | S. Dhanabalan |
| Minister for Culture | |
| In office 5 June 1959 – 12 August 1965 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Othman Wok |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Singapore |
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| In office 2 November 1963 – 9 August 1965 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Kampong Glam |
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| In office 30 May 1959 – 17 August 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Loh Meng See (PAP) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sinnathamby Rajaratnam
25 February 1915 Jaffna, British Ceylon |
| Died | 22 February 2006 (aged 90) Singapore |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse |
Piroska Feher
(m. 1943; died 1989) |
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| Alma mater | King's College London |
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Sinnathamby Rajaratnam (25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006), known as S. Rajaratnam, was an important leader in Singapore. He was a statesman, journalist, and diplomat. He served as Singapore's first Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1980. Later, he was the second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore from 1980 to 1985.
Many people see Rajaratnam as one of the founding fathers of Singapore. He helped start the People's Action Party (PAP). This party has been in charge of Singapore since it became independent.
Rajaratnam was a key leader who helped Singapore gain independence from the British Empire in 1959. He also helped Singapore become independent from Malaysia in 1965. He spent most of his life working for the public. He helped shape how Singaporeans thought about important issues. The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University is named after him. Also, a building block at Raffles Institution is named S. Rajaratnam Block.
Early Life and Education
S. Rajaratnam was born in Vaddukoddai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He was the second child of Sabapathy Pillai Sinnathamby and N. Annamah. His parents were from the Jaffna Tamil community. His father wanted him born in Sri Lanka for good luck. This was after his older brother had passed away too soon. Rajaratnam was then brought to Malaya and grew up in Seremban and Selangor. His younger brother, S. Seevaratnam, was a founder of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Malaysia.
Schooling and University Studies
Rajaratnam went to several schools. These included St. Paul's Institution, Seremban, Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, and Raffles Institution in Singapore. In 1937, he went to King's College London to study law. However, his family could not send him money for his studies because of World War II. So, he became a journalist to earn a living.
Journalism Career and Early Writings
While in London, Rajaratnam met his wife, Piroska Feher. She was a Hungarian teacher. He also wrote short stories that received good reviews. George Orwell, who worked for the BBC, noticed Rajaratnam's writing. Orwell hired him to write scripts for the BBC. Rajaratnam's short stories and radio plays were later published in a book.
Rajaratnam returned to Singapore in 1948. He joined the Malayan Tribune newspaper. In 1950, he worked for the Singapore Tiger Standard. By 1954, he joined The Straits Times as a journalist. He wrote boldly about how the British governed Singapore. This made the colonial government unhappy. His newspaper column, "I write as I please," was very popular.
Political Career
In 1954, Rajaratnam helped start the People's Action Party (PAP). He co-founded it with Lee Kuan Yew, Toh Chin Chye, and Goh Keng Swee. He became well-liked because he understood what people wanted. He dreamed of a Singapore where all races lived together. He also imagined Singapore as a "global city." He worked hard to fight against extreme political groups in Singapore.
Key Government Roles
Rajaratnam held many important roles in the Singaporean government.
- He was Minister for Culture in 1959.
- He served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1980.
- He was Minister for Labour from 1968 to 1971.
- He became Deputy Prime Minister from 1980 to 1985.
- Finally, he was Senior Minister from 1985 to 1988.
Rajaratnam is also remembered for writing the Singapore National Pledge in 1966.
Shaping Singapore's Foreign Policy
Rajaratnam was Singapore's first Foreign Minister. This was after Singapore suddenly became independent in 1965. As Foreign Minister, he helped Singapore join the United Nations. He also helped Singapore join the Non-Aligned Movement in 1970. He built up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He helped Singapore form ties with other countries. This helped other nations recognize Singapore as an independent country.
He worked to make Singapore's independence strong. This was important when Singapore faced challenges. These included the Konfrontasi conflict in the 1960s. Also, British troops left in the early 1970s. Rajaratnam was one of the five "founding fathers" of ASEAN in 1967. He also helped bring attention to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978.
Economic and Social Development
As Minister for Labour, Rajaratnam put in place strict labour laws. These laws helped make Singapore's economy stable. They also encouraged international companies to invest in Singapore.
Throughout his political career, Rajaratnam played a big part in the PAP government. This government greatly improved Singapore's economy. It also made huge progress in social development. There was a large growth in healthcare programs and public housing. The government also kept unemployment very low. Rajaratnam believed in hard work and that those who worked harder should be rewarded more. He also believed that Singapore had to earn its own way in the world.
Views on Multiracialism and Society
Rajaratnam strongly believed in multiracialism in Singapore. When he wrote the Singapore National Pledge in 1966, he included the words: "One united people, regardless of race, language or religion." This was just two years after the 1964 racial riots.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the government started policies to promote "mother tongue" languages. They also created ethnic-based self-help groups. Rajaratnam did not agree with these policies. He felt they went against his vision of a common Singapore identity. He wanted a country where "race, religion, language does not matter." He pushed for more racial integration.
Rajaratnam also disagreed with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on some policies. For example, he felt it was unfair to give incentives to women with university degrees to have more children. Despite these differences, Rajaratnam was loyal to Lee Kuan Yew. He remained a key member of Lee's government. This group of leaders shaped Singapore's politics from 1959 to the mid-1980s.
Personal Life
S. Rajaratnam met his wife, Piroska Feher, while studying in London. They quietly married in 1943. Piroska's family had lost their wealth after the First World War. She moved to the United Kingdom and worked as a teacher. That is where she met Rajaratnam.
The couple moved to Malaya after the Second World War. Rajaratnam's parents did not approve of his wife. They did not have any children. Piroska passed away in 1989 from pulmonary pneumonia at age 76.
After Rajaratnam retired from politics in 1988, he worked at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. He was a Distinguished Senior Fellow there from 1989 to 1997. In 1994, he was diagnosed with dementia. By 2001, he could no longer move or talk. He was cared for by six maids.
Death and Legacy
S. Rajaratnam passed away on 22 February 2006. He died of heart failure at his home in Singapore. As a sign of respect, TV channels observed a minute of silence. State flags on government buildings were flown at half-mast for three days.
His body rested at his home, then at Parliament House. Many important people paid their respects. These included former colleagues and current leaders.
State Funeral and Tributes
Rajaratnam was given a state funeral on 25 February 2006. This was to honor his contributions as a founding father. His coffin was carried on a special gun carriage to the Esplanade. The service was attended by the President, Cabinet ministers, and other guests.
During the funeral, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew gave speeches. Lee Kuan Yew cried during his speech. The Singapore National Pledge was recited by those attending. Rajaratnam's body was cremated later that day.
Many organizations he was involved with published tributes in the newspaper. They expressed sadness at his passing.
Namesakes and Endowments
The Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at Nanyang Technological University was renamed the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. This was to recognize his work in foreign policy.
A new building at Raffles Institution, his old school, was named the S. Rajaratnam Block.
In 2014, the S$100-million S. Rajaratnam Endowment was created. This fund supports programs that encourage international cooperation. Its chairman said that Rajaratnam's values are still very important today.
Film Appearances
Rajaratnam is a main character in the film Two Meetings and a Funeral. This film is about the Nonaligned Movement. The film shows Rajaratnam's idea that developing countries should become good at technology themselves. They should not just rely on technology from Western countries.
