Tharman shanmugaratnam biography sample
Who is Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore’s New Indian-Origin President?
Singapore recently celebrated a big moment in its history. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a respected economist with deep roots in Singapore's Tamil community, has become the country's ninth president. This election was a big deal because it was the first time in over ten years that people had to vote for the president. Tharman won by a huge margin, getting more than two-thirds of the votes.
On September 14, 2023, Shanmugaratnam took the oath and was officially sworn in as Singapore's ninth president, creating history. With his extensive experience in finance and economic policies, many Singaporeans have high hopes that the new President of Indian origin will steer the nation towards continued prosperity and inclusivity. Even, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Tharman on his landslide victory.
Early Life
Tharman Shanmugaratnam was born on February 25, 1957, in Singapore. His family has been part of Singapore's Tamil community for many generations. His father, Professor K. Shanmugaratnam, is a famous medical scientist known as the "father of pathology in Singapore." He did important cancer research and started the Singapore Cancer Registry.
Tharman is married to Jane Yumiko Ittogi, a Singaporean lawyer with Chinese-Japanese heritage. They have one daughter and three sons.
Education
Tharman went to the Anglo-Chinese School and later studied economics at the London School of Economics (LSE). He did really well in his studies, and LSE even gave him an Honorary Fellowship in 2011. After that, he went to the University of Cambridge and got a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics. Then, he went to Harvard University and earned a Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree.
Career
Tharman's career has mostly been about working for the government and helping with economic and social policies. He didn't just work in Singapore; Tharman Shanmugaratnam Tharman in 2022 Incumbent Ministerial offices Serving with Teo Chee Hean Serving with Teo Chee Hean (2009–2019) Parliamentary offices Tharman Shanmugaratnam Tharman Shanmugara D.B.S. Jeyaraj Jeyaraj’s Jottings Tharman Shanmugaratnam whose grandparents are from Urelu in the Jaffna district of Northern Sri Lanka made history on September 1st 2023 by getting elected as President of Singapore. Generally referred to as Tharman, the 66 year old London School of Econimics,Cambridge and Harvard educated economist is also the first “Ceylon Tamil” to be elected as Singapore president. He has earlier served as Singapore’s deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister. Tharnan Shanmugaratnam registered a landslide win in Singapore’s first Contested vote in more than a decade for the largely ceremonial post of President. He obtained 70.4% of the vote to win the six-year term presidency. His main rival Ng Kok Song, a former chief investment officer of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, which manages the country’s foreign reserves, conceded after winning only 15.7% of the vote. Another candidate, former insurance executive Tan Kin Lian, 75, had gained the support of several opposition leaders but only picked up 13.88% of votes. “I’m humbled by this vote. It is not just a vote for me, it is a vote for Singapore’s future.” “I believe that it’s a vote of confidence in Singapore. It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans,” said Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Singapores government is run by the Prime Minister. The current PM is Lee Hsien Loong of the Peoples Action Party (PAP) which has ruled Singapore continuously since 1959. Lee is the son of the legendary Lee Kuan Yew “Singaporeans have chosen Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be our next President by a decisive margin,” Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement. Singapore is a multi-ethnic country with a Chinese majority. The ethnic breakdown according to 2020 estimates is 74.3% Chinese, 13.5% Malay, 9.0% Head of state of Singapore For a list of the officeholders, see List of presidents of Singapore. This article is about the office. For the incumbent officeholder, see Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The President of the Republic of Singapore is the head of state of Singapore. The president represents the country in official diplomatic functions and possesses certain executive powers over the Government of Singapore, including the control of the national reserves and the ability to revoke and appoint public service appointments. After Singapore achieved full internal self-governance from the British Empire in 1959, the ceremonial office of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (lit. "Lord of the State") was created. The office was later succeeded by the President of Singapore after Singapore's independence in 1965. The initial role of the president was largely ceremonial and symbolic, carrying limited residual powers; prior to 1991, the president was solely appointed by Parliament. Singapore follows a non-executive model of the Westminsterparliamentary system whereby the president is not the head of government but rather the head of state. These powers are instead vested in the Cabinet, led by the prime minister. A constitutional amendment was made in 1991 to allow for the president to be directly elected by a popular vote, which was subsequently first held in 1993. Since 1991, the elected President was vested with significant custodial powers, most notably the reserve power to veto any current government budget that in his or her determination (along with the mandatory consultation with the Council of Presidential Advisers), would likely draw on the country's past financial reserves (derived from previous terms of government, as a check and balance process), along with the power to veto the removal or appointment of key office holders in the public service, statutory boards and government companies (listed Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Assumed office
14 September 2023Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence WongPreceded by Halimah Yacob In office
1 May 2019 – 7 July 2023Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Preceded by Vacant Succeeded by Teo Chee Hean In office
1 October 2015 – 7 July 2023
Economic and Social Policies: 1 October 2015 – 30 April 2019Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Heng Swee Keat In office
21 May 2011 – 1 May 2019Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Preceded by Wong Kan Seng Succeeded by Heng Swee Keat In office
1 December 2007 – 30 September 2015Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Second Minister Lim Hwee Hua Preceded by Lee Hsien Loong Succeeded by Heng Swee Keat In office
21 May 2011 – 31 July 2012Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Preceded by Gan Kim Yong Succeeded by Tan Chuan-Jin In office
1 August 2003 – 31 March 2008Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Lee Hsien LoongSecond Minister Ng Eng Hen Preceded by Teo Chee Hean Succeeded by Ng Eng Hen In office
3 November 2001 – 7 July 2023Preceded by Constituency established Majority 60,501 (49.24%) Born
(1957-02-25) 25 February 1957 (age 67)
Colony of SingaporePolitical party Independent Other political
affiliationsPeople's Action Party
(2001–2023)Spouse(s) Jane Yumiko Ittogi Children 4 Father Kanagaratnam Shanmugaratnam Education London School of Economics (BSc)
University of Cambridge (MPhil)
Harvard University (MPA)Occupation Signature
By
“The result is clear,” he told reporters, adding Mr. Shanmugaratnam “has indeed earned a mandate from the people of Singapore.”President of Singapore