Since stepping down from the roles of President of Singapore (1999–2011) and Patron of SMU (2000—2011), Mr S.R. Nathan has been devoting a considerable amount of time and effort to his role as Distinguished Senior Fellow of SMU’s School of Social Sciences. His visit on 26 March 2013 was to participate in the School’s Capstone Seminar Series.

SMU’s Bachelor in Social Science programme offers a broad-based undergraduate education centred on the disciplines of Psychology, Sociology and Political Science. Combining these disciplines develops a holistic, multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to analysis and discourse. The Capstone Seminar Series gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a group discussion with invited speakers who include professors from SMU and other local universities, from Princeton University in the US, as well as industry practitioners from around the world.

Associate Professor Norman Li of the School of Social Sciences moderated the discussion with Mr Nathan which lasted for 75 minutes. Mr Nathan took the time to outline a series of questions which had been sent to him and gave students the opportunity to follow up with additional questions. Issues discussed included the role and powers of the President, Singapore’s future development, immigration and foreign workers, the Singapore identity, the role of a leader, the best process for selecting leaders and what remains in his ‘bucket list’ of things to achieve during his lifetime.

[Photo: The former President answered questions on a wide variety of topics from Social Sciences undergraduates.]

Mr Nathan said that he was bound by oath not to discuss certain matters relating to the period of his presidency and that  it would be improper for him to comment on the current President or related issues. However, he answered openly and with candour whenever he could, sharing a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge through both personal and professional anecdotes.  Final year Social Science undergraduate Zizie Zuzantie asked Mr Nathan about his experiences in the Second World War, having been moved by his account in his autobiography. “I wanted to truly understand his state of mind, because this was the first time I have read such a calm recollection of the war years,” she said afterwards. “It is refreshing to see social science concepts being applied to real-life situations that are creatively different to those we’ve studied in class,” she added.

At the end of the session, it was evident that the students were truly inspired by Mr Nathan’s insights and words of wisdom as they stood patiently in a long queue, waiting for their turn to have their copies of his autobiography signed. One by one they got the chance to have a quick chat with Mr Nathan and he wrote a personal note above his autograph for each and every one of them.

[Photo: At the end of the seminar, a long queue of students formed to have their copies of Mr Nathan’s autobiography signed by him.]