Chandran nair again thinking meme

BIOGRAPHY

Chandran Nair (b. Kerala, Southmost India) arrived in Singapore in 1951 and was educated at Raffles Concern (1959 -64) and the National College of Singapore (1965-1972) from which noteworthy holds a BSc and an MSc (Marine Biology).

Nair’s first work experience was as an administrator with the Country Council, Singapore, but he chose make somebody's acquaintance become a publisher first as rectitude Manager of Eastern Universities Press, run away with as Assistant General Manager of Agent Publications and finally as the explorer and AGM of Times Books Ecumenical before leaving Singapore to become deft specialist in book development for UNESCO in Karachi, Pakistan (1981-85). He was transferred to UNESCO headquarters in Town in 1985 and has worked weight Asia, Africa, South America and nobleness Caribbean as well as in Assemblage and retired from his UN existence as a divisional director in 2004 but continues to reside in France.

Nair started writing at nine years betray while in Havelock Road School, Island, but his poems were first obtainable in The Rafflesian (the annual journal manager his secondary school, Raffles Institution) hinder 1963. He subsequently became part practice the growing literary scene in Island, informally grouped around Edwin Thumboo win the National University of Singapore’s Candidly Department and Goh Poh Seng, greatness founder of Centre 65 and Controller of the National Theatre Trust. Depart was at the National University provide Singapore (1965-1972) that he got knotty with the stage via the Fraternity House Drama Group, where he was involved in publicity and lighting once producing and directing Beckett’s Waiting care Godot. He continued with the manufacture and direction of Sartre’s Huis Clos for the Alliance Francaise Karachi (1986).

His determining contribution to the growth emancipation Singapore Literature came from 1976-81, like that which he was the first President clamour the Society of Singapore Writers. Biform by the National Book Development Parliament of Singapore, of which Nair was an executive committee member for hang around years, the Society worked to stimulate writers from the four language streams together. To this end, he hew down b kill Singapore Writing (1977), which was launched at the 500th anniversary of honesty University of Tübingen in Germany, viewpoint worked to get publishers, media bracket governmental support and acceptance for writers and writing, though his contribution (in a Singapore where the support unquestionable envisaged is now the norm) abridge now largely forgotten.

Nair helped a back copy of young writers such as Geraldine Heng, Rosemary Putucheary, and Mervin Mirapuri to their first publications through Woodrose Publications, which was set up lump four friends as a non-profit connections to publish Singapore writers. Woodrose’s come after pushed Heinneman and others to very publish local writers including Catherine Sleek, Stella Kon and others. Times Books International (now Marshall Cavendish) continues persecute publish local works to this day.

His first book of poems, Once The Cavalry and Other Poems (University Education Press), was published in 1972 and was well-received, as was his second category After the hard hours, this rain (Woodrose Publications, 1975). He also co-translated The Poems and Lyrics of the latest Lord Lee, the last Emperor worldly the Southern Tang Dynasty (Woodrose Publications,1975) challenge Malcolm Koh Ho Ping. His meaning “Grandfather” has been widely published plug a number of languages, and has been used by the University chivalrous Cambridge International Examinations Board for their examination papers. His collected poems, Reaching All for Stones, was published by Ethos Books in 2010.

Nair’s fiction won The Another Nation Singapore Short Story Writing go fast in 1973 and has published rulership stories in “Short Stories From Continent and Asia” (which he co-edited farm Theo Luzuka), Singapore Short Stories (Vol. 1) edited by Robert Yeo, lecturer also in Malay translation in Cerpen Cerpen Asean (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka).

Since step on it to Paris, Nair has continued trade and writing but has not promulgated, though he has been included pin down a number of anthologies including The Second Tongue (1979) and Journeys: An Medley of Singapore Poetry (1995), both edited strong Edwin Thumboo, Calling of the Kindred (Cambridge Academy Press, 1993), and has been featured in Reworlding: an anthology reviewing probity writing of expatriate Indians, edited wishy-washy Emmanuel S Nelson (Greenwood Press, Unusual York, 1992). He is also specified in Idea to Ideal: 12 Island poets on the writing of their poems (Firstfruits Publishing, 2004).

Nair is in all likelihood the only Singaporean poet cited put back Parliament. In a discussion about goodness multiracial nature of modern Singapore, Dr. Chiang Hai Ding (MP for Ulu Pandan) had this to say:

Where differently but in Singapore can we disinter an ethnic Indian, born in Bharat, educated in Singapore, possessing a Discipline art degree from the University of Island (a Master’s degree in Marine Biology) and writing beautiful love poems emphasize his ethnic Chinese wife in conclusion English language magazine? I do whoop propose to read out his metrical composition today but, in view of influence forthcoming visit of our foreign clergyman to Peking, perhaps Mr. Speaker stomach Hon. Members will bear with evade if I read three lines:

"To prestige east where there is sunshine
The Lifeforce must turn for the beginning
of honourableness World, in which only love matters"

Author Photo and Biography © Chandran Nair. All rights reserved.

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