Three FASS Professors will be speaking at the launch of an important new book on researching and writing Singapore history, The Makers and Keepers of Singapore History (published by the Singapore Heritage Society and Ethos Books).  Professor Prasenjit Duara (Raffles Professor of Humanities/Director HSS Research/History), A/P Huang Jianli, (History, book chapter contributor) and A/P (Adj) Kwa Chong Guan (History/NTU, book chapter contributor) will discuss this “meditation on the making of history”. Among the many contributors to the book are other FASS and NUS staff and alumni, namely Asst Prof Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied (Malay Studies), Dr Jason Lim (History), Asst Prof Kelvin Low (Sociology), Adj Prof Kevin Tan (Law), Dr Lai Ah Eng (ARI), Liew Kai Khiun, Jack Meng-Tat Chia and Ho Chi Tim (alumni).

 
“The Makers and Keepers of Singapore History (…) begins at the cusp of history, where past and present meet. Every book on the past has to negotiate with the present – to find the archival sources, which are located somewhere, possibly behind a gate and its keeper; or to locate that elusive participant who will throw light on a major gap in our knowledge, and convince them to speak. So much of the research on history is predicated upon such presents that it is important, and timely, to examine the gates, which stand between researchers and the archives and memories, they seek.
The Makers and Keepers of Singapore History is a meditation on this making of history, often on the difficulty of the making. Its contributors, including a diverse group of historians, social scientists, filmmakers, and public intellectuals, reflect on their encounters with the gatekeepers, and how they have or have not been able to enter or circumvent the gates.”

Saturday, 24 July, 2.00 – 5.00 pm
The POD, Level 16, National Library Building

Due to limited seats, registration is required & can be made via http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg and surf on to “Singapore”.