Historyogi Post (93): 2022's top podcast episodes, tiktoks & history
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Historyogi Post: Issue 93
Dear Reader
The Historyogi Post turned four this year, having begun as the Red Dot Digest in 2018. Thank you for supporting my efforts to promote Singapore history! In this final issue for 2022, check out the top podcast episodes for this year, my top Tiktok posts, and the ever-popular "This Month in History" and "Down Memory Lane".
Do also follow Historyogi on the following platforms!
Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | Twitter
Historyogi Podcast
The Historyogi Podcast broke new ground by reaching the top 15% of most shared & most followed podcasts on Spotify in 2022! The top episode this year was EP18 with Shing Huei Peh on the Eight Immortals of Singapore's Civil Service. Here are the top five podcast episodes produced this year.
#18 - The Eight Immortals of Singapore's Civil Service ( A conversation with Peh Shing Huei)
#16 - The rise of Hindu nationalism in India & beyond (A conversation with Mohan Dutta)
#17 - Workers' perspectives of Singapore's industrial history (A conversation with Loh Kah Seng)
#22 - Gender, sexuality & power dynamics in Colonial Singapore (A conversation with Aydin Quach)
#20 - Building opposition alliances in electoral autocracies (A conversation with Elvin Ong)
Historyogi Tiktok
The Historyogi Tiktok channel reached new heights in 2022, attracting over 76,000 followers and 2 million likes. I'm encouraged by Tiktokers' enthusiasm for history and nostalgia. I'll continue doing my best to put out quality historical content. Here are the top five Tiktok posts in 2022.
The most iconic error in NDP history (2000)
Lee Kuan Yew on PhDs and boyfriends (2011)
Lee Kuan Yew at PAP rally in 1980
Encik Muthu vs SCDF (2007)
Barisan Sosialis vs PAP in 1963 election
This Month in History (Oct, Nov, Dec)
Australia takes over Christmas Island (Oct 1, 1958): On this day, the British colonial government transferred sovereignty of Christmas Island from the Crown Colony of Singapore to the Commonwealth of Australia. The 135 sq km island, just 350km south of Java but over 1550km from Australia, was prized for its rich phosphate reserves, and Australia paid Singapore $20 million in compensation. The island's residents largely mirror that of Singapore, with a Chinese majority and smaller Malay and Indian communities. It's well-known for its rich biodiversity, especially the striking annual migration of millions of red crabs along its roads and beaches. In recent decades, Christmas Island has become a magnet for asylum seekers trying to reach Australia, and houses an immigration detention centre.
Spyros tanker explosion (Oct 12, 1978): On this day, the Greek tanker Spyros, which had been undergoing maintenance at Jurong Shipyard, was rocked by an enormous explosion. The blast killed 76 workers and injured dozens more. Badly burned victims were rushed to SGH and Alexandra Hospital, where medical staff worked multiple shifts to treat them. Hundreds of people responded to public appeals to donate blood for the victims. An investigation found that contamination of fuel oil and crude oil in the tanks created flammable vapour that was ignited by a blowtorch. The shipyard and its manager were fined a total of $30,000 and the Spyros was sold for scrap the following year. Industrial safety codes and training were tightened after the accident, which remains Singapore's deadliest post-war disaster.
MRT system begins operations in Singapore (Nov 7, 1987): On this day, the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) services began operations from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh. While it is today taken for granted, the government embarked on multiple studies from 1972-1982 to assess the MRT's feasibility. As Minister for Communications from 1978-1985, Ong Teng Cheong (above) oversaw transport as well, and pushed strongly for the MRT despite opposition from the rest of the Cabinet. Tony Tan, then the Trade & Industry Minister, even called the plan "foolish" for the time. Nevertheless, the MRT was finally approved in May 1982 and 120,000 passengers showed up for the inaugural service in 1987.
Singapore unveils new national symbols (Dec 3, 1959): On this day, the government unveiled a new flag, state crest and anthem to replace the colonial ones used by the British. They were commissioned by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye and officially launched during National Loyalty Week. The festivities kicked off with the inauguration of Yusof Ishak (above) as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, replacing the former British Governor William Goode. This was followed by parades, cultural events and exhibitions designed to promote loyalty among the diverse citizens of the new state. One could even dial 2 or 3 on the phone to listen to a recording of Majulah Singapura.
Batang Kali Massacre in Malaya (Dec 12, 1948): On this day, British troops surrounded a rubber plantation at Batang Kali in Selangor, rounded up the villagers and accused them of providing food for communist rebels amid the Malayan Emergency. Twenty four men were shot dead before the village houses were set on fire, and their bodies were later found mutilated. Attempts by the survivors to seek redress from British authorities have been unsuccessful since the 1990s, with investigators first claiming insufficient evidence to prosecute and courts later ruling definitively that the massacre occurred too long ago. Declassified files have revealed that authorities passed legislation in January 1949 to retrospectively legalise the killings and exonerate the soldiers involved.
Down Memory Lane
Outram Road: This road is named after Sir James Outram, who helped suppress the Indian rebellion of 1857. A veteran of numerous Afghan and Indian campaigns, Outram fought to relieve the city of Lucknow and worked with General Henry Havelock.
Oxley Road: This road is named after Thomas Oxley, a surgeon who lived on his nutmeg plantation in the area. His grand house on the grounds was named Killiney (which Killiney Road is named after). Numerous roads on his former estate are named after him. Oxley supported the "benign use" of opium, which devastated countless lives. The road is now famous for being the site of Lee Kuan Yew's house.
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