Historyogi Post (87): We turn Three this month!
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Historyogi Post: Issue 87
Dear Reader
The Historyogi Post turns three this month, having begun as the Red Dot Digest in 2018. Thank you for supporting this personal project of mine to share aspects of Singapore's fascinating history with a wider audience. Do support my other initiatives such as the Podcast and TikTok HERE!
Historyogi Podcast (Recap of Season 1)
#1: Behind the History in Charlie Chan Hock Chye (A conversation with Sonny Liew)
#2: Understanding the History of Disease Control in Singapore (A conversation with Loh Kah Seng & Hsu Li Yang)
#3: What should Stamford Raffles' place be in Singapore's history? (A conversation with Faris Joraimi)
#4: The Beginner's Guide to the South China Sea dispute (A conversation with Collin Koh)
#5: The history of Singapore's fight against AIDS (A conversation with Roy Chan)
#6: The Beginner's Guide to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (A conversation with Euan Graham)
#7: The history & significance of The Substation in Singapore (A conversation with T Sasitharan)
#8: How should Singapore handle death, grief & funerals? (A conversation with Bernard Chen)
#9: The history & effects of Singapore's media regulation policies (A conversation with Cherian George)
#10: How can we effectively tackle racism in Singapore? (A conversation with Sharvesh)
Digging Deeper
"Canada’s Grim Legacy of Cultural Erasure, in Poignant School Photos" (New York Times): This piece documents the grim reality of Canada's residential schools established to assimilate Indigenous peoples and eradicate their unique culture. Run mostly by the Catholic church, these schools were rife with physical and sexual abuse. Recent discoveries of unmarked graves near former schools have reignited debates over whether Canada has truly reconciled with its awful treatment of Indigenous people and the continued disadvantages they face. Read More
"I Attended Whatsapp University for a Week. Here’s What I Learned About the Singapore Boomer" (Rice Media): The much maligned Boomer gets a localised analysis in this piece. By scouring online, the author categorises the Singapore Boomer's interests into four categories: Road incidents, neighbourhood issues, money, and politics. The Boomer prefers grumbling about superficial things, rather than questioning systemic issues. Regardless of POFMA corrections and official statements, the Boomer will likely trust unverified information shared by friends and acquaintances. Read More
"There’s a long history of dances being pilfered for profit – and TikTok is the latest battleground" (Conversation): In June 2021, some Black creators on TikTok went on strike to protest being uncredited for the dances they create. They complain that non-Black creators who copy their moves get the views and sponsorships instead. This piece explores the history of copyright over choreography, which extends decades into the 20th century. The author suggests that the Open Source principles might be a solution to TikTok's dance crediting troubles. Read More
This Month in History
Singapore's first drive-in cinema opens (Jul 14, 1971): On this day, Singapore's first drive-in cinema was opened in Jurong by Minister for Culture, Jek Yuen Thong. Located beside the Japanese Garden, the Cathay-owned cinema could accommodate up to 900 cars and was the largest in Asia (above). The opening night featured the film Doctor in Trouble. However, the novelty eventually wore off as the tropical weather, difficulties in managing the crowds in an open space, and video piracy led to declining audiences. By the early 1980s, there were only 100 cars per show and Cathay decided to close it in 1985.
Racial riots convulse Singapore (Jul 21, 1964): On this day, clashes broke out between Malays and Chinese near a procession to celebrate the Prophet Mohammad's birthday. The violence quickly spread to other parts of the island, prompting authorities to impose a curfew (above). By the time it was lifted on 2 August, 23 people had died and 454 were injured. The riots have been attributed to various causes, with the PAP blaming inflammatory rhetoric by Malay nationalists, UMNO blaming the PAP's poor treatment of Malays and both governments blaming provocation by Indonesian saboteurs during Konfrontasi. Recent research suggests the causes are more communal rather than political. Since 1997, 21 July has been marked as Racial Harmony Day in Singapore.
Down Memory Lane
Mayo Road: This road is named not after the condiment but after Richard Southwell Bourke (above), 6th Earl of Mayo, a peerage of Ireland. Mayo was appointed Viceroy of India in 1869 but was assassinated while visiting a convict settlement in the Andaman Islands in 1872.
Meyer Road: This road is named after Sir Manasseh Meyer (fourth from left, seated), a wealthy Baghdadi Jewish businessman, landowner and community leader in Singapore. Meyer owned the Seaview Hotel which once faced the road. He also served the colony in numerous capacities, such as Municipal Commissioner and on the currency board. Chesed-El Synagogue on Oxley Rise was built on his property. In November 1922, Meyer hosted a reception for the German Jewish scientist Albert Einstein (third from left, seated), who would win the Nobel prize a week after leaving Singapore. A building at the old NUS campus in Bukit Timah is also named after Meyer.
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