A War Hero
Lim Bo Seng (1909 - 1944) is a much-celebrated anti-Japanese war hero in Singapore. I remember reading a comic book in primary school titled Lim Bo Seng: Singapore's Best Known War Hero. (I only noticed the nuance in the title now.) I also remember watching a heart-wrenching TV series featuring Lim Bo Seng titled The Price of Peace, or 和平的代价. Lim is most well-known for his participation in anti-Japanese activities in Singapore in the 1930s and his work in Force 136, a British resistance group. He was not just celebrated in Singapore; his rank of Major-General was conferred posthumously in February 1946 by the Chinese Nationalist Government.
Theme song of The Price of Peace, with snippets of prominent anti-Japanese figures like Tan Kah Kee and Lim Bo Seng
The Construction of the Memorial
In 1946, the Lim Bo Seng Memorial Committee was established to raise funds for a public memorial for the war hero. Permission was granted to build the memorial in Esplanade Park and was unveiled on 29 June 1954. It is in the form of an octagonal pagoda made of bronze, concrete and marble. There are four bronze plaques around the pagoda giving an account of Lim's life in four languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
The bronze plates, with the wear and tear of time, have oxidised and are now coated by a powdery, metallic green.
The Forgotten War Heroes
As I reflected on the Lim Bo Seng Memorial, I saw that I knew next to nothing about other war heroes and the war effort. It is no overstatement to say that many of us are vaguely aware of the journey Singapore has undertaken since the 1800s. The problem with official education is that while it has done its share in conveying a version of Singapore history, it has also closed off the minds of Singaporeans who perceive history to be objective, homogeneous and static, retarding the discourse and hindering the development of a more comprehensive picture. Thus, while we remember Lim Bo Seng, we might have also forgotten other war heroes who were also equal movers and shakers of Singapore.
Nevertheless, as a nation, we are awakening to the fact that history belongs to the people; a new consciousness that alternatives are available and, more importantly, are potentially as valid or authoritative as the official narrative is emerging. As Kwa Chong Guan noted: "For too long the history of Singapore has been written as a history of great men and their times. But we need to also give a place in time to the little man (and woman) who built the kampung and places that define Singapore."
Nevertheless, as a nation, we are awakening to the fact that history belongs to the people; a new consciousness that alternatives are available and, more importantly, are potentially as valid or authoritative as the official narrative is emerging. As Kwa Chong Guan noted: "For too long the history of Singapore has been written as a history of great men and their times. But we need to also give a place in time to the little man (and woman) who built the kampung and places that define Singapore."
In terms of appreciating the past, I also learnt that memorials do not just commemorate a person who possessed heroic qualities or committed heroic acts; it commemorates a period of peace and stability earned by a generation of pioneers. We stand on the shoulders of giants who have borne the price for us.
Lim Bo Seng Memorial when it was first built in 1954
