SINGAPORE: When the National Parks Board (NParks) announced the installation of two statues—of Danish botanist Dr. Nathaniel Wallich and Sir Stamford Raffles—at Fort Canning Park, concerns were raised about how we remember Singapore’s colonial past.
In light of nations all over the world confronting the legacies of their colonial leaders, some quarters saw the memorial as a step backward. Protesters in Bristol, England, toppled and threw an Edward Colston statue into a harbour in June 2020. Colston was a slave trader, philanthropist, and merchant in the seventeenth century.
However, some Singaporeans believe that Raffles and Wallich’s statues are justified due to their contributions to botany. In the 1800s, both men made contributions to the area’s flora research. They also started the garden in 1822, but it closed after seven years because of financial issues.
Singapore is about to commemorate 60 years of building its nation. Interest in Singapore’s past and how historical figures ought to be preserved for future generations has recently grown.
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