Exhibition on the history of NDP kicks off

SINGAPORE — Even as the public queue for their tickets to this year’s National Day Parade (NDP), a new exhibition looking at the history of the NDP kicked off on Friday (June 10) at Kallang Wave Mall.

Called 50 Years Of National Day Parades, it is a travelling photo exhibition curated by the National Heritage Board (NHB) in conjunction with NDP 2016, and takes visitors on a pictorial journey from the very first parade held in 1966 to the most recent Jubilee celebrations at the Padang in 2015.

With more than 100 images, the exhibition traces the evolution of Singapore’s NDP and charts its many highlights over the years. Along with the photos are nuggets of information, such as how in 1973, the NDP went from being held in the morning to an evening parade; or how the NDP became a “decentralised” parade in 1975 with “pocket pageants” at 13 selected centres island-wide.

Assistant chief executive (Policy & Community), NHB, Mr Alvin Tan, said this exhibition “shows how NDP is more than just a parade”. “It is a reflection of the Singapore story and our shared aspirations as a nation,” he elaborated.

Three men who participated at the first NDP in 1966 were present at the opening of the exhibition and recalled their experiences.

Mr Hong Sek Mak, a platoon sergeant at the time, recalled how one soldier in his company, while standing along the road to form a barricade to stop the public from crossing the road during the parade, collapsed and cut his face.

“We were holding a long rifle with the bayonet affixed to it. He felt giddy but did not tell anyone. He went down and the bayonet cut his face,” said Mr Hong. “It made a cut on the side of his jaw. He was very lucky. If he fell on the right side, it would have gone through his jaw.

“When we saw (what happened), we ... asked him to rest. The Red Cross then took him to the tentage (to treat him).”

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Swee Boon Chai, now 70, recalled how his unit had to undergo a lot of training at a big field at Jurong Bird Park.

“At that time, we were just recruits. We had a lot of tough training (that) was made even tougher when we had to march in a 16 by 16 column, which is very difficult,” said Mr Swee, who also organised the contingent of the 50 pioneers at last year’s NDP. “On top of that, we did a route march from the Padang.”

Retired Major Ponnosamy Kalantree said he only had two months to prepare for the NDP. “We actually joined the army in June (so) we were vigorously training — to make sure we were combat-ready, and at the same time, we had to put our best foot forward (for the parade),” he said. “(We) had to show that we were tough ... that any time, we could be ready to fight and go to war.

“The crowd was very receptive. That was the first time they saw combat-ready soldiers marching at the Padang.”

As part of this travelling exhibition, the NHB is inviting the public to share their NDP memorabilia over the years from 1966 to 1999. The public can email NHB_Feedback [at] nhb.gov.sg with information and images of their objects for consideration.

Meanwhile, the exhibition will remain at Kallang Wave Mall until June 19, before heading to Bedok Public Library (June 20 to July 3), Velocity Mall (July 4 to 7) and One Raffles Place (July 8 to 21) before returning to Kallang Wave Mall from July 23 to Aug 9. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SONIA YEO.