Sadly, in my last visit several years ago, I only found little trace of Nanyang University in Yunan Yen now part of the campus of NTU. Some of the old buildings were there, the familiar trees... but in my heart, I knew it was not the same and would never be the same again.

I saw the vandalism, the removal of Chinese script of Nanyang University from the main structure at the road entrance to Nantah. It was like a dagger piercing through my heart. I guess the Parisians are lucky to see that their Arc de Triomphe is still intact after the German occupation during the Second World War.

Perhaps, this is history and life has to move on.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has extended the campus of Nantah. It has made great achievements academically and has produced 36,000 graduates (more than three times the number of Nantah graduates). From any angle, it is considered a great university in Singapore and also has made its reputation worldwide. But it is not Nantah and never will be.

The Manchus invaded China proper and established the Qin dynasty several hundred years ago. Perhaps it is understandable that the Hans found it hard to accept. If I was born at that time, I would have fought against the Manchus too.

Actually the Qin dynasty was a great dynasty in Chinese history. It had no rotten emperors like the Min dynasty although its only problem was having a woman ruler, Tse Shi. Nevertheless, Sinkiang, Mongolia and Tibet were effectively territories of China for the first time. Sadly, it was the Kuomingtang regime that lost Mongolia, 22 times the size of Taiwan. Digesting history a bit more, I find it a blessing that China was ruled by Manchus for that period of time.

Coming back to the context of Nanyang University, may be I should not say that it deteriorated beyond repair towards its end. Perhaps a merger to form the National University of Singapore was a business solution. In commercial world, takeovers often happen. May be I should not say that too I slowly come to terms with it and less angry now. It may be that my innermost Hans chauvinist psyche gives way to reasoning and reality slowly although not completely.

But I still hate the vandalism which I mentioned earlier as much as I hate the Red Guards in the Cultural Revolution of China.

True, NTU has done a great job academically. It runs good courses and produces graduates that meet the needs of the society. I congratulate NTU for what it has achieved.

What would late Tan Lark Sye think of NTU is anyone's guess. He was a great man and made incomparable contribution to Chinese culture and Chinese education in South East Asia and Singapore in particular. If Tan Lark Sye is still around, I guess he would not hold a grudge against NTU. As a great man, he would be above all these. He possibly would have wished the establishment of a School of Chinese Studies in NTU and made it the best outside China. He would have wished NTU also opens it doors to students from Chinese schools in the region.

What is important is the substance, not the facade. Given a choice, I rather have a NTU with School of Chinese Studies than a NU as it is.

Ultimately it is the people who decide what type of University is needed in Singapore, not the alumni and friends of Nantah or the might and power.

I do not know why I write this passage to lose friends.

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