BiblioAsia Podcast

Epizódok

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  A Layered Stewed Sweetness: Jackfruit Payasam Made Local 12.08.2026 41p

  Cookbook author and former restaurateur Dhershini Winodan tells us how she has adapted jackfruit payasam, a common Malayalee dessert, by using local elements like gula melaka. She also talks about growing up in the Telecoms quarters in Yio Chu Kang and how the Malayalee community in Singapore has changed over time.Dhershini Govin Winodan is a former restaurateur who started Chat Masala along Upper East Coast Road. Her latest book, My Long Table: Recipes & Memories (2023), contains over 130 recipes from Indian classics to popular international dishes, and the stories behind them. She has written articles for magazines like Her World, and appeared on radio and TV shows, including the episode “Indian Upma with a Twist” on the YouTube series Woking with Sunshine.What Dhershini Talked About02:41 – Why jackfruit payasam is unusual03:20 – What is payasam made of04:12 – Using coconut milk in payasam04:27 –Jackfruit payasam in Kerala08:38 – Malayali cuisine in Singapore vs Kerala09:19 – Malayali weddings in Singapore12:08 – Malayali festivals beyond Onam15:24 – Managing jackfruit19:27 – The legend of payasam and Lord Krishna21:32 – Types of jackfruit for cooking22:21 – How using the bronze urli pot makes a difference24:03 – Ingredients that make her jackfruit payasam special27:14 – How Dhershini learnt to cook29:02 – Why she came up with the name for her restaurant Chat Masala31:40 – About her book My Long Table36:53 – How Malayali food is different from other Indian regional cuisines38:26 – What Malayali food means to DhershiniTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-layered-stewed-sweetness-jackfruit-payasam-made-localWatch Dhershini make jackfruit payasam: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-jackfruit-payasamSubscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Dhershini for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Crisped, the Baked, the Spiralled: Curry Puffs and Their History 05.08.2026 55p

  Award-winning writer Christopher Tan talks how the Indian samosa led to the curry puffs we know today, as well as the different types of curry puffs – baked, spiralled, made with mutton fat and fillings like otak-otak and taro.Christopher Tan is a food writer, culinary instructor and photographer. His articles, columns, recipes and photographs have appeared in many publications, including Singapore’s Sunday Times and Straits Times, The Peak magazine, and America’s Saveur magazine. He has authored and co-authored many cookbooks, most recently Nerdbaker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies (2024).What Christopher Talked About01:56 – What a curry puff is02:24 – Types A, B, C curry puffs05:35 – How Christopher became fascinated with curry puffs12:06 – Curry puff vs samosa vs Cornish pasty16:17 – Portuguese empanadas and Southeast Asian connections21:46 – The earliest curry puff recipe in Singapore29:10 – Why modern curry puffs rarely use pork31:14 – The three curry puffs made for From Book to Cook33:20 – Traditional fats used in layered pastry40:39 – Why spiral curry puffs stay crispy44:21 – Christopher’s research process for developing recipes47:51 – How the curry puff scene has changed since the 1920s53:58 – Curry puffs are…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-crisped-the-baked-the-spiralled-curry-puffs-and-their-historyWatch Christopher make the curry puffs: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-curry-puffsSubscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Christopher for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Putting Together a Family Recipe of Abacus Seeds 29.07.2026 34p

  When chef, filmmaker and writer Sarah Huang Benjamin wanted to make Hakka abacus seeds for Chinese New Year, her relatives were of little help. The exact recipe was something the older generation had not passed on. Armed with her childhood memories of helping to make the dish, Sarah spent hours doing research and conducting countless experiments before she came up with something she was happy with.Sarah Huang Benjamin is a chef, content creator, filmmaker and writer. She won the inaugural Asian Food Channel’s “Food Hero” competition in 2014, and later hosted, wrote and produced multiple shows on the Asian Food Network. She creates videos for her YouTube channel, which has gathered over a million views.What Sarah Talked About02:31 – What abacus seeds are03:23 – Whether abacus seeds are only for Chinese New Year03:46 – Why Sarah chose abacus seeds to demonstrate in the video for From Book to Cook04:56 – Learning how to make the dish09:27 – The difficulty of finding authentic abacus seed recipes10:03 – Researching recipes through cookbooks and family knowledge12:00 – Using fish sauce in her recipe13:42 – The size and history of the Hakka community in Singapore18:29 – Where to find abacus seeds in Singapore19:32 – Why homemade abacus seeds taste different21:21 – Sarah’s mixed Hakka and Peranakan heritage22:53 – Plans for Sarah’s future cookbook27:33 – What Sarah is working on now30:58 – Family recipe is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-putting-together-a-family-recipe-of-abacus-seedsWatch Sarah make abacus seeds: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-hakka-abacus-seedsSubscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Sarah for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Untold Negotiations Behind Singapore's Independence in 1965 24.07.2026 1ó 2p

  For decades, the conventional wisdom was that Singapore was “kicked out” of Malaysia. However, newly released documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee's Albatross file reveal a more complex history. In this episode, Janadas Devan, the coordinator for the Albatross File project, tells us more about the secret negotiations by Singapore’s leaders to separate from Malaysia, even as many of them still hoped to preserve a looser federation.Janadas Devan is Senior Advisor (Government Communications) of Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Prime Minister’s Office, and Director of the Institute of Policy Studies. A former journalist, he was educated at the National University of Singapore and Cornell University in the United States.What Janadas Talked About00:00 – Introduction to the Albatross File book and exhibition04:41 – Why Singapore joined Malaysia in 196308:18 – Agreement between Lee Kuan Yew and Tunku to keep out of Malaysian politics10:25 – UMNO’s performance in Singapore general elections 12:09 – PAP’s participation in Malaysia general elections and politics15:05 – What Janadas remembers of the rallies in Malaysia16:42 – Last straw that led to separation24:46 – Goh Keng Swee’s proposal to separate25:25 – Why Lee Kuan Yew was disliked by Malaysian politicians28:54 – Why the British opposed a looser federation31:02 – Why negotiations on separation were kept secret31:50 – Opposition within Singapore leadership to the idea of looser federation34:43 – Why the narrative of Singapore being “kicked out” of Malaysia was dominant37:52 – What the Albatross file reveals about separation41:47 – Importance of archives in other countries and Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs43:00 – Whether a looser federation would have worked44:13 – Whether Goh Keng Swee had a vision for independent Singapore47:07 – How the book and exhibition came about52:25 – Which document in the Albatross file surprised Janadas57:03 – How to begin reading the book57:45 – Possible second edition1:00:47 – The books Janadas is working onTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-untold-negotiations-behind-singapore-s-independence-in-1965/Read the related BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-the-architect-of-separation/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Janadas for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  A Tang Dynasty City in Singapore: Flying Swordsmen, Terracotta Warriors and Pagodas 26.06.2026 30p

  A film studio and theme park in Jurong opened to grand fanfare in 1992. Named Tang Dynasty City, it was modelled after the ancient city of Chang’an. Despite its underground terracotta warriors and other attractions, it struggled to draw visitors, as Senior Librarian Lim Tin Seng tells us.Lim Tin Seng is a senior librarian with the National Library Singapore. He is the co-editor of of Roots: Tracing Family Histories (2013), Harmony and Development: ASEAN-China Relations (2009) and China’s New Social Policy (2010). He writes regularly for BiblioAsia.What Tin Seng Talked About00:00 – Introduction02:09 – About Tang Dynasty City03:54 – Who came up with the idea of Tang Dynasty City05:25 – Why Chang’an was picked as the city to replicate06:54 – The difficulty of getting construction materials08:34 – Movies and shows shot at Tang Dynasty City10:40 – Food options at Tang Dynasty City12:38 – Popularity of the theme park14:38 – Underground terracotta warriors15:54 – How Tang Dynasty City tried to attract more visitors19:10 – What Tin Seng enjoys about archival research20:30 – Curiocity project, on story maps23:03 – The research significance of Tin Seng’s favourite BiblioAsia article he has written26:09 – How Tin Seng’s article on Sarong Island broke new groundTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-tang-dynasty-city-in-singapore-flying-swordsmen-terracotta-warriors-and-pagodasRead the article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-an-ancient-chinese-city-in-jurong-/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tin Seng for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Italian Merchant and Lexicographer Who Once Owned Pulau Bukom 10.04.2026 24p

  Giovanni Gaggino came to Singapore around 1874 and lived here for more than 40 years. During that time, he set up a successful business providing supplies to vessels passing through Singapore, he wrote an Italian-Malay dictionary and once owned the Pulau Bukom. Writer Alex Foo tells us about the life of Gaggino and his legacy.Formerly a literary arts librarian at the National Library Board, Alex Foo has written for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Orientations and ArtsEquator. Singapore history.What Alex Talked About02:32 – About Giovanni Gaggino03:57 – Why Gaggino came to Singapore in 187404:48 – The small Italian community in 19th-century Singapore05:39 – What a ship chandlery is07:18 – Acquiring and Monetising Pulau Bukom08:21 – Gaggino’s other business ventures across Asia09:18 – Writing a dictionary for trade14:13 – Gaggino’s death and unfulfilled legacy17:17 – How the story of Gaggino was reconstructed22:16 – Libraries are…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-italian-merchant-lexicographer-who-once-owned-pulau-bukom/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Alex for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Changing Times: Time Zone Changes in Singapore since 1905 06.03.2026 47p

  Singapore's time zone has been changed at least seven times since 1905, including during the Japanese Occupation when it was synchronised to Tokyo time. Arts librarian Kenneth Tay explains the historical context for the time zone changes, the origins of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) system, and ways to measure time, including a rare atomic clock in a local laboratory.Kenneth Tay is a librarian with the Arts and General Reference team at the National Library Singapore. He is interested in the histories of global systems such as the internet, logistics and time zones, and where Singapore figures in them.What Kenneth Talked About03:02 – How Kenneth became interested in time zones05:09 – Why Singapore changed its time zone in 198206:43 – Why Singapore followed Malaysia’s time change08:13 – Singapore’s experiment with daylight saving time11:35 – Public reaction to Tokyo time during Japanese occupation14:05 – Re-colonising time after the war15:02 – What the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is23:42 – The time zone change in 190526:29 – Difference between UTC and GMT31:39 – Atomic clocks in the world35:23 – Whether time is arbitrary or political38:51 – How research changed Kenneth’s notion of time46:22 – Time history is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-changing-times-time-zone-changes-in-singapore-since-1905/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kenneth for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The First Local to Head the National Library: Hedwig Anuar 06.02.2026 40p

  Hedwig Anuar was the first Malayan to head the National Library, a position she held for 23 years until 1988. She was also involved in the setting up the Singapore Book Council, National Archives of Singapore and Association of Women for Action and Research. Her daughter, Shirin Aroozoo, tells us about Anuar as a mother and a person, and about how her convictions about books, children's education and women empowerment were shaped by her upbringing and life events.Shirin Aroozoo is the daughter of Hedwig Anuar, who was the director of the National Library from 1965 to 1988.What Shirin Talked About02:40 – Growing up as the daughter of a public figure03:17 – Early childhood memories of the National Library04:57 – Hedwig Anuar’s family background and upbringing10:33 – Early signs of activism at university13:05 – Painful memories of the war16:09 – Becoming a librarian by chance19:57 – Championing children’s books and education21:12 – A quiet, bookish childhood at home25:25 – Travelling together38:21 – Libraries are…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-first-local-to-head-the-national-library-hedwig-anuar/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Shirin for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Civil Servant in Charge of Clean and Green Singapore, Lee Ek Tieng 02.01.2026 40p

  Lee Ek Tieng (1933–2025) was the civil servant who headed the clean-up of the Singapore River, had the foresight to modernise the sanitation system, and ensured water self-sufficiency for Singapore. Writer Samantha Boh tells us how he did it with his colleagues and earned their respect.Samantha Boh is a journalist and an author who covers the environment and science. She has written extensively on scientific breakthroughs in biomedical science, robotics, water resources, recycling, and food wastage over more than a decade. She is a co-author of The Last Fools, The Price of Being Fair and Lee Ek Tieng: The Green General of Lee Kuan Yew.What Samantha Talked About02:59 – About Lee Ek Tieng07:16 – Lee Ek Tieng’s key achievements12:31 – His personality and leadership style19:07 – Conflict with Economic Development Board during industrial pollution control and backing from Lee Kuan Yew24:01 – Building water self‑sufficiency29:20 – How NEWater got its name31:16 – What colleagues said about him35:31 – His hobbies and DIY spirit38:03 – Books by NutgrafTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-civil-servant-in-charge-of-clean-and-green-singapore-lee-ek-tieng-samantha-boh/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Samantha for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Days Before Air Conditioning 05.12.2025 40p

  Before air conditioning was introduced in Singapore in the 1920s, temperature control was a matter of architectural design. Environmental historian Fiona Williamson tells us how people kept themselves cool before air conditioning arrived, why weather science was important to the colonial enterprise, and what environmental history can tell us about a city’s development.Fiona Williamson is an environmental historian with a particular interest in the history of the climate, meteorology and extreme weather in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. She is professor of environmental history at the Singapore Management University.What Fiona Talked About03:12 – How people kept cool before air conditioning05:49 – When and how air conditioning was introduced to Singapore07:53 – Who could afford early air conditioning10:19 – European reactions to tropical heat12:51 – Meteorology as a colonial science15:31 – Observational stations and instruments18:07 – Colonial attempts to manage water and flooding23:15 – The MacRitchie Reservoir mistake28:03 – Fiona’s book Imperial Weather34:19 – Fiona's work with the International Commission for the History of Meteorology36:52 – Climate history is…38:02 – Whether climate change can be reversedTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-days-before-air-conditioning-fiona-williamson/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-air-conditioning-in-singapore/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Fiona for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Searching for Family in the Shadows of War 07.11.2025 38p

  Jan Beránek sets out to find out what happened to his granduncle, Silvestr Němec, who left his Czech village for Singapore in 1938 and died as a volunteer during WWII. He finds Silvestr’s story woven with that of the Bata Shoe Company, the Czechoslovak community and volunteer forces in Singapore.Jan Beránek is a Czech environmentalist and an energy expert. He was born and raised in the Czech city of Brno, where he studied physics and sociology. Jan has worked for several environmental organisations and was also the chairman of the Czech Green Party. He currently lives in Amsterdam, working for Greenpeace International as Director for Organizational Strategy and Development. He is the author of In Search of Silvestr: Unravelling My Granduncle's Fate, Bata, Czechoslovaks and World War II in Singapore (Landmark Books, 2025).What Jan Talked About01:31 – Introduction to the podcast and Bata’s Singapore history02:07 – Silvestr Němec’s disappearance02:29 – Jan Beránek’s research journey03:26 – Family memories04:37 – The post-war search for Silvestr05:49 – Discovery of family letters in 201707:25 – Motivation for beginning the investigation08:45 – How Silvestr was sent to Singapore by Bata09:20 – Silvestr’s job at Bata’s flagship store10:05 – Bata’s international success and localisation11:42 – Bata’s early operations and expansion in Malaya13:17 – What made Bata successful14:11 – The Czechoslovak community in Malaya14:55 – Czechoslovaks’ impressions of colonial Singapore16:35 – Czechoslovakia during WWII and Bata’s wartime challenges22:26 – Silvestr’s service in the Volunteer Corps24:44 – What happened to Silvestr28:37 – Jan’s research process and reflections36:07 – The number of Bata shoes Jan owns36:58 – Family history is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-searching-for-family-in-the-shadows-of-war-jan-beranek/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-lost-family-silvestr-nemec-war-search-czech-singapore/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Jan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Negotiating OB Markers When Running the Straits Times 03.10.2025 39p

  Former Straits Times editor-in-chief Cheong Yip Seng tells us how he negotiated OB markers with the government during his tenure (1987–2006), how he balanced the interests of the paper’s stakeholders, and which news story he nearly went to jail for.Cheong Yip Seng is a veteran journalist. He was editor-in-chief of the Straits Times from 1987 to 2006 and editorial adviser to the South China Morning Post from 2012 to 2020. He has written OB Markers: My Straits Times Story and Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel.What Cheong Talked About00:55 – Podcast introduction01:48 – Why a sequel to OB Markers03:21 – Differences between the two books06:24 – Events leading to Cheong's appointment as editor-in-chief11:33 – Accusations of the Straits Times (ST) as government mouthpiece17:16 – Impact of social media on traditional news18:28 – Cheong's near arrest over a leaked story20:50 – Hardest decisions as editor-in-chief21:52 – Importance of ST credibility24:06 – Cheong's principles in negotiating OB markers27:40 – Criticisms ST faced over its coverage of the 1987 “Marxist Conspiracy”29:48 – Cheong’s outlook on ST in the next two decades33:30 – Why Cheong became a journalist26:29 – Person who had the greatest intellectual impact on CheongTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-negotiating-ob-markers-when-running-straits-times-cheong-yip-seng/Read Cheong's books: OB Markers: My Straits Times Story and Ink and Influence: An OB Markers SequelSubscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Cheong for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  25 Hawkins Road: Home to Vietnamese Refugees 05.09.2025 25p

  The Hawkins Road camp in Sembawang was home to thousands of Vietnamese refugees until it closed in 1996. Researcher Rebecca Tan talks about how the refugees spent their days in the camp and their lives after Singapore.Rebecca Tan is Digital Preservation Archivist at the National Archives of Singapore. She was previously Children and Teens Librarian at Toa Payoh Public Library, and Digital Heritage Librarian at the National Library.What Rebecca Talked About01:17 – Overview of Hawkins Road camp02:26 – Conditions in the camp03:18 – Life in the refugee camp08:08 – Singapore’s plan for long-term refugees10:17 – What the refugees said about Singapore11:20 – Singapore's evolving refugee policy14:41 – How Rebecca knew about the refugee camp15:25 – Rebecca’s research16:49 – Interview with a Hawkins Road camp refugee who still lives in Singapore22:07 – Being a librarian at Toa Payoh Public Library24:26 – The libraries and archives are...Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-25-hawkin-road-home-to-vietnamese-refugees-rebecca-tan/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://studio.isomer.gov.sg/all-sections/hawkins-road-refugee-camp/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Rebecca for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Making of "Majulah Singapura" as We Know It 01.08.2025 1ó 4p

  The national anthem that we know today wasn't the original version composed by Zubir Said. His first version was longer and was set at a higher key. Emeritus Professor Bernard Tan talks about how "Majulah Singapura" came about and how it changed over the decades, and illustrates how these versions differ on his piano.Emeritus Professor Bernard T. G. Tan is a retired professor of physics from the National University of Singapore who also dabbles in music. Some of his compositions have been performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He is a former chairman of the Sing Singapore organising committee.What Prof Tan Talked About00:00 – Introduction to Singapore’s national anthem03:16 – How “Majulah Singapura” came about04:14 – Zubir Said’s composition of “Majulah Singapura”06:18 – Adoption of the anthem and its unauthorised shortening09:24 – Comparison of different versions and musical implications15:18 – Prof Tan’s detective work to verify Zubir Said’s original manuscript19:31 – Fanfare introduction and early concert arrangements22:22 – Government-led initiative to reorchestrate the anthem25:48 – Lowering the anthem’s key from G major to F major27:45 – Lee Kuan Yew’s suggestion on the anthem33:18 – Controversial arrangements of "Majulah Singapura"36:57 – Origin of “Negaraku”, Malaysia’s national anthem40:22 – How Prof Tan juggles his roles as a composer, professor of physics and SSO board member42:51 – How he helped found the SSO48:44 – His career at NUS51:20 – Similarities between scientific research to music writingTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-making-of-majulah-singapura-as-we-know-it-bernard-tan/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-sing-singapore-national-day-songs/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Prof Tan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  First Spy Chief of Independent Singapore, Tay Seow Huah 04.07.2025 48p

  Tay Seow Huah, then Permanent Secretary for the Home Affairs Ministry, helmed Singapore’s response to the 1974 Laju hijacking incident. This was when four terrorists tried (but failed) to destroy Shell’s oil infrastructure on Pulau Bukom Besar and subsequently took five hostages. Little is known about the enigmatic spy chief, who was the founding Director of the Security and Intelligence Division. Simon Tay, lawyer, academic and winner of the 2010 Singapore Literature Prize, tells us how his Penang-born father – who lived through WWII, the Malayan Emergency and the political tumult of the 1960s – came to play a giant role serving a newly independent Singapore.Simon Tay is the chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, a non-profit think tank. He is an associate professor of law at the National University of Singapore and a former Nominated Member of Parliament. In 1995, Simon was named a Singapore Young Artist, and his novel City of Small Blessings won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2010. In 2021, he received the S.E.A. Write Award, a regional award given to leading ASEAN poets and writers.What Simon Talked About 00:00 – The 1974 Laju hijacking and its significance02:03 – Tay Seow Huah’s legacy and role in Singapore’s security operations07:37 – Singapore’s strategic and diplomatic response to the Laju incident10:38 – Why Lee Kuan Yew appointed Tay to lead the Special Branch11:50 – Background on the Laju hijackers and geopolitical tensions in the 1970s16:39 – Insights from S. R. Nathan’s memoir17:38 – Why Tay did not accompany hijackers to Kuwait although he volunteered17:42– Challenges of writing about classified events and uncovering the past19:05 – Tay’s childhood in Malaya and educational achievements19:56 – Speculations about Tay’s post-university activities before joining civil service22:23 – Comparison between Tay and James Bond28:02 – How Simon’s relationship with his father changed after Tay’s heart attack30:26 – Tay’s declining health and early retirement from civil service32:19 – Tay’s struggles in his retirement years33:03 – Simon’s reflections on his grandmother’s strength and complexity35:13 – How Tay’s childhood hunger shaped his habits35:57 – Tay’s party trick38:09 – Simon on his public service journey43:45 – Why Simon’s wrote the book EnigmasTranscriptRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-tay-seow-huah-first-spy-chief-of-independent-singapore-simon-tay/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Simon for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Hawker Culture in Singapore 06.06.2025 38p

  Hawkers traditionally sell their food on streets. Uniquely in Singapore though, they ply their trade in fixed stalls in hawker centres. Ryan Kueh, author of the bestselling From Streets to Stalls, tells us how the hawker culture has evolved in Singapore since the colonial period and what hawker centres have come to represent.Ryan Kueh holds a master’s degree from Tsinghua University under the Schwarzman Scholars programme and completed his bachelor’s at Yale–NUS College, where he read philosophy, politics, economics and history. His key research focus is consumption culture and history, with a secondary interest in international affairs. He is the author of From Streets to Stalls: The History and Evolution of Hawking and Hawker Centres in Singapore.What Ryan Talked About00:00 – How the term “hawker” is understood differently in Singapore, compared to in other countries04:44 – When hawking might have started in Singapore05:20– Preconditions for hawking07:11– Colonial records, and hygiene and urban discipline issues during colonial times09:06 – Why hawking was an attractive and accessible job then10:39– Challenges colonial authorities faced in controlling hawkers11:47 – Post-independence reforms in hawking14:25– Establishment of hawker centres and their purpose15:47 – How rent subsidies keep hawker food affordable17:43– Origins of the first hawker centre and differences from hawker shelters20:12– Loss of food heritage23:27– Gentrification in hawker centres25:27– Hawking as a vocation in the past and today27:44– Why Singapore’s hawker culture won the UNESCO recognition for intangible cultural heritage30:04– Contemporary political use of hawker centres31:51– What Ryan is working on and what his favourite hawker centre is36:47 – Hawking is…TranscriptRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-hawker-culture-in-singapore-ryan-kueh/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Ryan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Badang the Strongman: A Miracle-Working Grave, A Folk Tale and a Nation’s Mythology 09.05.2025 51p

  Many people know of the story of Badang the strongman, an aboriginal slave who gains supernatural strength after eating the vomit of a spirit. He throws a stone, which might or might not be the Singapore Stone, and his miracle-working grave is believed to be on Pulau Buru in the Riau Archipelago. However, independent scholar William Gibson tells us the tale of Badang (and the location of his grave) is much more complicated than is generally known.Dr William L. Gibson is an author and researcher based in Southeast Asia since 2005. A former Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow of the National Library Singapore, he is the author of Keramat, Sacred Relics and Forbidden Idols in Singapore (Routledge, 2024). His articles have appeared in Signal to Noise, PopMatters.com, The Mekong Review, Archipel, History and Anthropology, the Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient and BiblioAsia, among others.What William Talked About00:00 – What a keramat is01:13 – Legend of Badang the strongman02:20 – William's past research on keramat03:07 – Badang as a national icon and his myth in the Malay Annals04:43 – British interest and early translations of Badang’s story06:26 – The rock-throwing legend and its transformation into a national tale08:26 – Origins of the Singapore Stone and colonial myth-making11:00 – The three different rocks associated with Badang13:02 – The search for the real burial site of Badang18:08 – The shrine’s transformation into a government-designated cultural site20:40 – The Karimun inscription and its link to Badang folklore22:00 – Other stones with footprints and mythical associations24:00 – Theories of Badang’s burial sites26:00 – Other folktales with vomit-eating as a power transfer motif28:00 – Broader meaning and significance of keramat and nature shrines31:05 – Existing keramat in Singapore35:10 – Stories of the keramat Habib Noh39:01 – Challenges of preserving keramat in Singapore42:00 – Fates of kermat in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia44:07 – The heritage value of keramat 47:55 – Mythology is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-badang-the-strongman-a-miracle-working-grave-a-folk-tale-and-a-nations-mythology/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-origins-badang-strongman-singapore-stone/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to William for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  Peng Tsu Ying: Singapore's Pioneering Deaf Educator 04.04.2025 26p

  When Peng Tsu Ying came to Singapore from Shanghai in the late 1940s, he could not find a deaf person like him. Determined to improve the situation for the deaf community, he founded Singapore's first school for the deaf in 1954. Librarian Nathaniel Chew tells us about Peng's advocacy, his own journey learning the Singapore Sign Language and the different ways it has evolved.Nathaniel Chew is a librarian with the National Library Singapore. He works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collection, and his research interests lie at the intersection of language and society.What Nathaniel Talked About02:13 – Who Peng Tsu Ying was04:07 – What Singapore was like for the deaf community before WWII05:34 – How Peng started the first school for the deaf07:42 – Peng’s foray into car racing10:12 – Joining forces with the Red Cross11:13 – What the Singapore Sign Language is19:00 – How Nathaniel got interested in sign language19:40 – Peng’s influence on Singapore’s deaf community22:17 – Nathaniel’s research interest in linguistics23:56 – Nathaniel’s take on Singlish25:28 – BiblioAsia is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-peng-tsu-ying-singapore-pioneering-deaf-educator-nathaniel-chew/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-deaf-education-singapore-sign-language/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Nathaniel for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  The Misunderstood Trip That Led to the 1953 Landmark Art Exhibition 14.03.2025 38p

  In 1952, four Singapore artists – Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng and Liu Kang – travelled to Java and Bali in search of artistic inspiration. The following year, they put up an exhibition showcasing art they had produced from the trip, an exhibition often hailed by art historians as a milestone in Singapore art history. Yet much of the trip has been shrouded in mystery, until Gretchen Liu, the daughter-in-law of Liu Kang, discovered Liu Kang's archives and photographs from the trip. She tells us how the trip came together, what the artists did in Java and Bali, and what the trip meant to them as artists.Gretchen Liu is a former journalist, a writer and an independent scholar with an interest in visual culture and heritage. She is the editor and author of several books. Most recently, she has been researching the early life of her father-in-law Liu Kang, a journey that has taken her deep into early 20th-century Chinese art history. Her latest book is Bali 1952: Through the Lens of Liu Kang.What Gretchen Talked About02:14 – The importance of the 1953 exhibition in art history05:20 – The story of the shoebox08:17 – What makes the newly discovered photographs special11:00 – The significance of the artists’ journey to Bali and Java14:11 – How their journey began with the kindness of strangers16:07 – The life and times of the four pioneering artists21:11 – Gretchen’s journey following in the footsteps of the artists23:15 – Her intention in showcasing the photographs alongside the art they inspired26:14 – The hardest part about researching the book27:29 – How Gretchen became interested in Singapore’s visual history30:02 – The book she is most proud of32:21 – Her experience as the in-house historian for the Raffles Hotel35:19 – What is next for Gretchen35:56 – Family history is…Transcript Read the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-misunderstood-trip-that-led-to-the-1953-landmark-art-exhibition-gretchen-liu/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Gretchen for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.
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  More Than Mr Mari Kita: The Life and Legacy of Zubir Said 07.02.2025 38p

  Zubir Said (1907–87) gave Singapore its national anthem, “Majulah Singapura”, and its official Children’s Day song, “Semoga Bahagia”. Working with theatre company Wild Rice, music director Julian Wong put together a critically acclaimed production on the life of Pak Zubir that mixed history, music and memory in a moving show, Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita. Performances were sold out in 2022 and 2024. In this episode, Julian tells us the challenges of putting up the show, including the research and transcription, and reveals if he’s a Swiftie.Julian Wong is a composer, arranger, music director, educator and performer. He has composed for Wild Rice, including An Inspector Calls, Pinocchio, Tartuffe: The Imposter, etc. As music director, he has helmed overseas assignments such as Liao Zhai Rocks! (Shanghai) and Spotlight Singapore (Mexico City), as well as home-grown projects such as Hossan Leong’s Hossan-AH! 50, Pam Oei’s Faghag and The Theatre Practice’s If There’re Seasons. Additionally, Julian has conducted and arranged for Joyful Strings, Ministry of Bellz, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, and many more. Julian graduated from Berklee College of Music, where he received the Professional Music Excellence Award and Alex Ulanowski Award. In 2023, he received the Young Artist Award, Singapore’s highest award for young arts practitioners.What Julian Talked About03:07 – How the show Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita came about05:17 – Julian’s research into the life of Pak Zubir Said08:04 – Performing the show during Covid10:13 – How Julian arranged his version of “Semoga Bahagia”12:35 – Difficulties of researching Pak Zubir’s life13:40 – The most interesting discovery about Pak Zubir15:49 – A touching story about Pak Zubir17:50 – Continuing the legacy of teacher-student collaborations18:59 – How “Majulah Singapura” was conceived22:44 – What Julian learnt about Pak Zubir from his teacher Iskandar Ismail24:42 – Julian’s relationship with his teacher26:37 – Mentoring students budding musicians at ITE27:57 – On winning the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council29:43 – Favourite song from Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita31:36 – What he’s working on32:54 – Julian’s favourite musician34:06 – Is he a Swiftie?Transcript Read the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-life-and-legacy-zubir-said-julian-wong/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. This version of “Semoga Bahagia” was composed by Zubir Said, produced by Julian Wong and performed by Wild Rice. Special thanks to Julian for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.