The Legacy of Nantah

Citation

Lee Hean, L. (2010), "The Legacy of Nantah", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 87-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506141011033025

They want me to give up […] But I want to continue for at least ten years. By then, there'll be several thousand Nantah graduates – but if none is of worth, then I'll resign to fate […] [1].

Such a statement prominently flashed at the start of the book will not fail to capture the attention of any researcher seeking to encapsulate the vision and passion of Tan Lark Sye, the founding leader of Nanyang University of Singapore (termed Nantah in Chinese). In the study of management in Chinese education in Singapore, it is difficult, if not impossible, to ignore the legacy of south‐east Asia's first Chinese University.

The book could serve as meaningful resource for academics. It depicts non‐politically correct records and perceptions. The writings present a raw reflection of an exceedingly tumultuous journey of a Chinese University from its moment of conception. It is a journey fraught with social, cultural, political, legal, and educational dimensions.

This book could also be useful as an introduction to a particular reference point in time to the local and overseas general public as well as new immigrants in Singapore. There have been earlier works done in the field (for instance [2] and [5] ). In addition to acknowledging and consolidating previous contributions, the editor attempted to present the materials to readers in a manner that facilitate comprehension with the incorporation of numerous visual prints.

There are two prominent positions. The first position is the evolution of Nanyang University to Nanyang Technological University. The other questions such seemingly meaningless continuity and asserts that in reality the Chinese University lasted only a span of 25 years, from its conception in 1955 to its “demise” in 1980. It is the latter position which the editor purported. The adoption of such an approach also substantiated the apparent conviction that like its founder Tan Lark Sye, Nantah was significant enough to transcend beyond time to live forever in the hearts of the people. This is consistent with the aspiration and practice of “passing on the light” [4] through the generations.

Incidentally, the current heritage walk of the university embraces the notion of “know the past, live the present, create the future” and the incumbent president, two and a half months into his job, voiced that “we tackle obstacles as members of the same team, with a fighting spirit that pushes all difficulties aside. This fighting spirit is what I find most admirable from the Nantah spirit. Even today, as I talk to Nantah alumni, the reflections of the spirit of that era shine back at me” [3].

As such, the book offers its readers refreshing alternative perceptions on the management of a unique Chinese University in post war pre‐colonial and post‐colonial settings. The reviewer would like to recommend those who are inadequately fluent in the Chinese language, yet desire to re‐search in the field, to seek some insights via translation. Though pertinent aspects in the book, for instance, the passionate resonance of Nantah's advocates, could have been diluted in translation, it is nonetheless a meaningful resource worth examining.