August 9, 1965

Singapore National Day

The National Day of the smallest nation in South East Asia, Singapore, is celebrated on Aug. 9 every year with great gusto. National Day Parade, cultural programs and fireworks are the highlights of this day when Singapore became an independent democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations on Aug. 9, 1965. It also became a member of United Nations in the same year.

The small island of Singapore was the site of a Malay fishing village in close proximity to the Singapore River. Inhabited by a population who were mainly fishermen, this settlement had been controlled by the Portuguese and Dutch from the 16th to the 18th century. On Jan. 29, 1819, the British East India Company led by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles set foot on the island of Singapore. Due to its strategic location, Sir Thomas launched a trading post on the island, which functioned as a port along the spice route. This route became one of the most important commercial centres of the British Empire giving rise to British power in South East Asia. At this time, Singapore was controlled by a Malay Sultan – Sultan Hussein Shah. Signing of a treaty between John Crawford (the second resident of Singapore) and the Sultan and Temmenggong resulted in Singapore becoming a British colony in 1824.

During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by the Japanese after the ‘Battle of Singapore’ which is termed as ‘Britain’s Greatest Defeat’ by Winston Churchill. However, Singapore reverted to British rule soon after the war ended in 1945. General Elections were held in 1955 which could not lead to complete self rule. Nevertheless, in the elections of 1959, the People’s Action Party won making Singapore a self governing state within the British Empire.

In August 1963, Singapore achieved its independence from Britain and merged with the Federation of Malaysia. A futile merger led to the segregation from Malaysia two years later and Singapore officially gained autonomy in 1965. The first National Day of Singapore was celebrated on August 9, 1966 in commemoration of Singapore’s independence.