Synopsis:
In a letter to Colonel Addenbrooke, dated 10 June, 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles wrote that on Singapura he had "just planted the British flag" which was to be a "more commanding and promising Station for the protection and improvement of all our interests in this quarter...". This year marks the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Raffles in Singapore. Is there room for a more critical appraisal of Raffles? As Singapore commemorates the 200th anniversary of British colonial "founding" in 2019, this is the time to think about who we are in history, whether there is a need to rethink it, and also to assess the broader meaning of colonialism.
Facebook
Instagram