In the story of a nation, there are architects who build its skyline and guardians who forge its laws. But there are also visionaries who carve meaning into its soul—those who shape how a people see themselves, remember their past, and imagine their future. Edwin Nadason Thumboo, B.B.M. and Bar, PJG, is one such luminary.
A poet, academic, and trailblazer, Thumboo is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of English literature in Singapore. Through ink and insight, he has helped build not just a body of literature, but the very spirit of a multicultural nation in transition.
A Childhood of Contrasts and Convictions
Born on 22 November 1933 in colonial Singapore, Edwin Nadason Thumboo’s early life was a tapestry of contrasts. The son of a Tamil Indian schoolteacher and a Teochew-Peranakan Chinese housewife, he grew up between cultures, languages, and identities. He experienced privilege—his family’s home in Mandai was the only one with electricity—but also exclusion. His mixed parentage, in an era still marked by ethnic divisions, exposed him to ridicule and marginalization.
Yet, instead of becoming bitter, Edwin Nadason Thumboo became better. These early trials sharpened his sense of justice, compassion, and self-worth—qualities that would later breathe life into his poetry. During the Japanese occupation, the teenage Thumboo helped his family survive by selling cakes and tending goats. Even amid hardship, his resolve deepened.
At Victoria School, he encountered a life-altering mentor—Shamus Frazer—who introduced him to poetry. By 17, Thumboo had begun writing. His first collection, Rib of Earth (1956), published during his undergraduate years, was dedicated to Frazer—a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and belief.
The Fire of Idealism
Thumboo’s university days at the University of Malaya were marked by boldness and vision. As a freshman, he joined the editorial board of Fajar, a radical student publication that challenged colonial authority. The British authorities arrested him and seven others for sedition—a charge that could have derailed his life. But fate intervened in the form of Lee Kuan Yew, who defended the students in court. They were acquitted, but the fire of idealism had already been lit.
Though he graduated with honours in English in 1956, Edwin Nadason Thumboo was initially denied an academic post—local scholars were rarely hired at the time. Undeterred, he entered the civil service, working for nearly a decade in various roles. In 1966, shortly after Singapore’s independence, he finally joined the University of Singapore. This delayed beginning would mark the start of an extraordinary academic career.
Scholar. Teacher. Nation-Builder.
In 1970, Edwin Nadason Thumboo earned his Ph.D., specializing in African poetry in English. From there, his academic journey unfolded with distinction. He became a full professor, chaired the Department of English Language and Literature, and served as the longest-reigning Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS from 1980 to 1991.
But his contributions were never confined to titles. Thumboo revolutionized the study of literature in Singapore by championing Commonwealth and postcolonial literatures, thus placing Southeast Asian voices alongside the traditional British canon. He nurtured generations of writers, thinkers, and teachers who would go on to define Singaporean identity.
Edwin Nadason Thumboo founded and led the university’s Centre for the Arts, pioneered creative writing initiatives like the Creative Arts Programme, and remained a dedicated mentor to young poets. His influence continues today as Emeritus Professor—proof that passion never retires.
The Poet Laureate in Spirit
Edwin Nadason Thumboo’s poetic evolution mirrors Singapore’s own metamorphosis. In the 1950s, his work was lyrical and personal. But as the island nation found its voice, so too did Thumboo. His poems became vehicles for public expression—articulating identity, citizenship, and cultural unity in a multiracial society.
His landmark collection Gods Can Die (1977) marked this shift. But it was Ulysses by the Merlion (1979) that solidified his place in Singaporean consciousness. In this iconic poem, Thumboo blends myth and nationalism, transforming the Merlion into a symbol of Singapore’s complex heritage and evolving future. Inspired by W. B. Yeats’ use of Irish mythology, he localized the tradition, proving that even a small nation could tell big stories.
“Ulysses” spawned an entire literary tradition. Dozens of Singaporean poets followed suit, writing their own “Merlion poems” in response. It’s often said that to be a true Singaporean poet, one must confront the Merlion. That this mythical statue facing Marina Bay became a poetic muse is in large part thanks to Thumboo’s visionary voice.
A Life of Firsts and Forevers
Edwin Nadason Thumboo’s accolades are numerous: the Cultural Medallion (1979), the ASEAN Literary Award (1987), the Raja Rao Award (2002), and three National Book Awards. He was awarded the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) in 1981 and again in 1991 (Bar), followed by the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (2006). And in 2015, he conceived the first National Poetry Festival—a testament to his lifelong commitment to the literary arts.
Yet his greatest achievement is not in awards, but in impact. Edwin Nadason Thumboo built the foundation for English literature in Singapore, not merely by writing poems but by building institutions, mentoring talent, and shaping curricula that gave voice to the postcolonial condition. He didn’t just write history—he taught us to understand it, question it, and create it anew.
The Myth-Maker of a Nation
For Edwin Thumboo, poetry is not an escape from reality but a bridge to it. His work is infused with history, not as dry fact but as living memory. He believes in myth not as fantasy but as shared narrative—something that binds communities, cultures, and generations. In a nation born from diversity, such myth-making is not just art. It is architecture.
His own words reflect this commitment:
“History enters my writing… because of its importance in our lives… We need history for a sense of things; to re-inscribe ourselves; discover and, in certain areas, define ourselves…”
Edwin Nadason Thumboo’s poems are not just verses—they are vessels for identity, vessels that carry the dreams of a nation built on hope, hardship, and harmony.
A Legacy That Still Travels
Edwin Nadason Thumboo’s latest collection, Still Travelling (2008), is more than a title—it is a statement of being. Edwin Thumboo is still journeying, still imagining, still mentoring, still believing. In him, we see the proof that literature can shape lives, and that words, when wielded with wisdom and heart, can transcend time.
Also Read : Indian Students in Crisis: CPI MP John Brittas Urges Jaishankar to Intervene