Literary Journey of A Social Scientist

Literary Journey of a Social Scientist: A Seminar cum Book Launch of Selected Poems and Other Writings of Leo Suryadinata (In Chinese)

It is often said that science and literature are like polar opposites, however, Dr Leo Suryadinata, Director of the Chinese Heritage Centre thinks otherwise. At the Seminar cum Book Launch of his latest publication, ‘Selected Poems and Other Writings of Dr Leo Suryadinata’ held on 25^th October 2008, a Saturday. Dr Leo recounted the major turning points in his life that led to his present illustrious writings and his unique approach toward assimilating scientific thought into his works of literature. 

The Youth Book Co. recently published 2 separate books of ‘Selected Poems and Other Writings of Dr Leo Suryadinata.’  One contains poetry while the other is essentially a novel that contains wonderful prose and commentaries by Dr Leo. Confucius Institute, NTU together with the Singapore Association of Writers and The Association of Nanyang University Graduates jointly organized this momentous event held within the premises of Confucius Institute, NTU. This event was also organized in conjunction with the Nanyang Chinese Literature Award Presentation and was part of the Nanyang Chinese Literature Forum Series as well.

The Seminar cum Book Launch of ‘Selected Poems and Other Writings of Dr Leo Suryadinata’ encompassed an informal PowerPoint presentation by Dr Leo as well as enlivening accounts of his wanderlust journeys to Australia, Indonesia and America by his friends and old acquaintances that were present that day. About 20 of his previous publications were also on display during the event. These comprised of poetry, children’s fairytales, folk tales, novels and Indonesian literature. Several of these books were previously published by Mr Chen Meng Zhe.

To Dr Leo, literature is like his first love. He was born in Indonesia and started writing at a young age. He entered Nanyang University in 1959, just when Chinese literature in Singapore and Malaysia was enjoying heightened public interest and unprecedented circulation amongst the masses. Not long after Malaysia earned its independence and fell into troubled times, Dr Leo evidently felt strongly enough about such developments to amass a huge collection of self-penned literary works that captured his sentiments, while studying at Nanyang University. According to Dr Leo, those years were simply an unforgettable period in his life that came to nurture his budding career in writing.

Subsequently he went to Australia for further studies before working in America. With little exposure to Chinese during this period, he had long assumed that his brief love affair with Chinese literature had since ended. However, under the subsequent influence of Huang Meng Wen and Lin Ting Gao, he began to rekindle his passion for writing. According to him, while writing is most certainly not his main occupation, literature still remains his first love nonetheless.

Several writers also engaged in an amiable discussion about his books. Dr Leo then rounded up the event on a high note with a short poetry recitation.