What do you think?
Rate this book
BY Nathan, S R ( Author ) [{ An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency - Greenlight By Nathan, S R ( Author ) Mar - 26- 2012 ( Hardcover ) } ]
Excellent Book
- GenresNonfiction
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
19 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
S.R. Nathan
9 books8 followersMr Nathan received his early education in several schools – Anglo-Chinese Primary and Middle School, Rangoon Road Afternoon School and Victoria School. He started working before completing his studies. After the war, whilst working, he completed his secondary education through self-study and entered the University of Malaya (then in Singapore) where he graduated in 1954 with a Diploma in Social Studies (Distinction).
Mr Nathan began his career in the Singapore Civil Service as a medical social worker in 1955. He was appointed Seamen’s Welfare Officer the following year. In 1962, he was seconded to the Labour Research Unit of the Labour Movement, first as Assistant Director and later as Director, until January 1966. He continued as a Member of its Board of Trustees until April 1988.
In February 1966, Mr Nathan was transferred to the Foreign Ministry. He served as Assistant Secretary and rose to be Deputy Secretary before being appointed Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs in January 1971. In August of the same year, Mr Nathan moved to the Ministry of Defence where he was a Director with the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In February 1979, Mr Nathan returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became its First Permanent Secretary until February 1982, when he left to become the Executive Chairman of the Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd. At various times from 1982 to 1988, Mr Nathan also held directorship of several other companies including the Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd and Marshall Cavendish Ltd. He was Chairman of Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries – a ship-repairing and engineering joint-venture with the Mitsubishi Group of Japan – from 1973 to 1986.
From 1983 to April 1988, Mr Nathan was Chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board. He was a founding member of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and was its Term Trustee until August 1999.
In April 1988, Mr Nathan was appointed Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and in July 1990, he became Ambassador to the United States of America where he served until June 1996.
On his return from the US, Mr Nathan was made Ambassador-at-Large and was concurrently Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the Nanyang Technological University. He held a directorship in the Singapore International Media Pte Ltd between September 1996 and August 1999.
Mr Nathan resigned as Ambassador-at-Large and Director of IDSS on 17 August 1999 and was elected President of the Republic of Singapore on 18 August 1999. He began his six-year term from 1 September 1999. On 17 August 2005, Mr Nathan was re-elected and he was sworn-in for his second term of office on 1 September 2005.
Mr Nathan was conferred the Public Service Star in 1964, the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1967, and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1974.
Mr Nathan, a Hindu, is married to Urmila (Umi) Nandey and has a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
Mr Nathan passed away on 22 August 2016.
Mr Nathan began his career in the Singapore Civil Service as a medical social worker in 1955. He was appointed Seamen’s Welfare Officer the following year. In 1962, he was seconded to the Labour Research Unit of the Labour Movement, first as Assistant Director and later as Director, until January 1966. He continued as a Member of its Board of Trustees until April 1988.
In February 1966, Mr Nathan was transferred to the Foreign Ministry. He served as Assistant Secretary and rose to be Deputy Secretary before being appointed Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs in January 1971. In August of the same year, Mr Nathan moved to the Ministry of Defence where he was a Director with the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In February 1979, Mr Nathan returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became its First Permanent Secretary until February 1982, when he left to become the Executive Chairman of the Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd. At various times from 1982 to 1988, Mr Nathan also held directorship of several other companies including the Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd and Marshall Cavendish Ltd. He was Chairman of Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries – a ship-repairing and engineering joint-venture with the Mitsubishi Group of Japan – from 1973 to 1986.
From 1983 to April 1988, Mr Nathan was Chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board. He was a founding member of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and was its Term Trustee until August 1999.
In April 1988, Mr Nathan was appointed Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and in July 1990, he became Ambassador to the United States of America where he served until June 1996.
On his return from the US, Mr Nathan was made Ambassador-at-Large and was concurrently Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the Nanyang Technological University. He held a directorship in the Singapore International Media Pte Ltd between September 1996 and August 1999.
Mr Nathan resigned as Ambassador-at-Large and Director of IDSS on 17 August 1999 and was elected President of the Republic of Singapore on 18 August 1999. He began his six-year term from 1 September 1999. On 17 August 2005, Mr Nathan was re-elected and he was sworn-in for his second term of office on 1 September 2005.
Mr Nathan was conferred the Public Service Star in 1964, the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1967, and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1974.
Mr Nathan, a Hindu, is married to Urmila (Umi) Nandey and has a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
Mr Nathan passed away on 22 August 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 25, 2019
What a life story. S.R. Nathan's troubled childhood as a runaway, and then the kindness he receives from various strangers in Singapore and Malaysia, including sage advice from Japanese Lieutenant Kokubu, really moved me.
On a lighter note, I thought it was funny that this situation described below, of how Singaporeans were inconvenienced in 1961, was part of my housemates' weekly routine when we lived in an apartment in San Francisco in 2016.
Is life in Singapore too comfortable or is life in SF too backward?
Later in his career, as one would expect, there is a good amount of rationalising/defending the party's POV and Nathan goes into lots of loving detail to present every line of certain petty exchanges as objectively as he deems possible, which perhaps explains why I dragged my feet finishing this book. But even the cynic in me was won over by our former president's obvious dedication to every duty he has undertaken for our country, his even, measured sense of humour, and his gracious humility. Most of all, his irrepressible faith in humanity makes it impossible not to love and commemorate him. R.I.P. Mr Nathan and thank you for everything.
‘In life, whenever you are faced with such a situation and what you seek to do is not intended to be harmful or unkind to others, always ask this question: am I likely to be killed for doing what is right? If that is not going to happen, then you should do your duty and speak up or do what you have to do. But always do so politely.’
On a lighter note, I thought it was funny that this situation described below, of how Singaporeans were inconvenienced in 1961, was part of my housemates' weekly routine when we lived in an apartment in San Francisco in 2016.
As a result of the strike, members of the public were asked to help dispose of their own refuse. They had to keep their refuse in covered dustbins or cardboard boxes inside their premises, and bring it out when the refuse lorries came by. There were major health concerns.
Is life in Singapore too comfortable or is life in SF too backward?
Later in his career, as one would expect, there is a good amount of rationalising/defending the party's POV and Nathan goes into lots of loving detail to present every line of certain petty exchanges as objectively as he deems possible, which perhaps explains why I dragged my feet finishing this book. But even the cynic in me was won over by our former president's obvious dedication to every duty he has undertaken for our country, his even, measured sense of humour, and his gracious humility. Most of all, his irrepressible faith in humanity makes it impossible not to love and commemorate him. R.I.P. Mr Nathan and thank you for everything.
June 7, 2021
Hands down the most inspirational Singapore story to date. A must-read for all who dare to dream!
August 27, 2017
I have always been intrigued by Mr Nathan's contributions to Singapore, and this is a much-needed memoir, covering his early life, the war, and his career leading up to his 12-year term presidency. Mr Nathan is a self-made man who started from the bottom with nothing, literally, lived through the worst of times and emerged victoriously.
"I felt I could only return after I had made a success of life."
Mr Nathan decided to leave home at a very young age to atone for his mischief and achieve success. His dedication to do his best in whatever he does is evident in his accreditations and is an inspiration to many. There are many valuable lessons to learn from this story, and it will be an essential read to those who would like to know more about the former President of Singapore and his humble beginnings.
"I felt I could only return after I had made a success of life."
Mr Nathan decided to leave home at a very young age to atone for his mischief and achieve success. His dedication to do his best in whatever he does is evident in his accreditations and is an inspiration to many. There are many valuable lessons to learn from this story, and it will be an essential read to those who would like to know more about the former President of Singapore and his humble beginnings.
April 20, 2017
Mr. President a big thank you. RIP.
May 14, 2012
An autobiography of our Ex-President Mr S R Nathan, is packed with frankness. He is on travel from a long distance of time in his life and has seen lot of events unfolding on his way. Especially he has made his part of contribution, in every opportunity he got to make in making of new born Singapore to this day Singapore. Experiences itself became his Education and this simple man really rose to the pinnacle position of the Republic and his term of 12 years is deemed the longest term served as President of Singapore!
November 9, 2012
Singapore's most useless President with a multi-million dollar salary.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews