My Top Twitter Threads

🔖 THREAD: I'll be tweeting about the Battle & Fall of Singapore as it unfolded from Feb 8 to Feb 15, 1942. Bookmark this to follow my updates!

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) February 8, 2021

🔖THREAD: Today, I'd like to share abit about the history of Gurkhas in Singapore. They have formed a key part of Singapore's security forces for over 70 years. Outside Nepal, Gurkhas serve in the British, Indian & Singapore forces. pic.twitter.com/2UWeqcR6hV

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) February 24, 2021

THREAD: Inspired by @rowenarazak's threads on Malaysia-Iran ties at @SEA_historian, I decided to take a look at Singapore-Iran relations during the Shah's reign. The Shah & his wife made their only visit to SG in 1974. They were welcomed by President Sheares at Paya Lebar. pic.twitter.com/twPoJRvFHQ

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) May 16, 2020

🧵THREAD (1/15): Given recent events, I thought I'd share more about the history behind Singapore's close relationship with Israel since our independence.
⚠️ It does not imply support for any side. pic.twitter.com/FtdeFUNWps

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) May 11, 2021

(1/3) TODAY IN HISTORY: At 10am, the 🇲🇾 Malaysian Parliament unanimously passes the Constitution of Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Bill, 1965, allowing Singapore to leave Malaysia. Simultaneously, Radio Singapore announces the 🇸🇬 Proclamation of Singapore. pic.twitter.com/7U9WaQpq9w

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) August 9, 2021

(1/3) THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On Sep 12, 1945, General Seishiro Itagaki surrendered all Japanese forces in Southeast Asia to Supreme Allied Commander (Southeast Asia) Lord Louis Mountbatten at the Municipal Building (now City Hall) in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/dlgO5d1NjY

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) September 12, 2020

THREAD: My friend @isaacandbirdy and I are embarking on a walk today from Little India to Woodlands Waterfront Park. On the way, we'll pass several historical sites along the Bukit Timah & Bukit Panjang and Woodlands areas. Follow our journey here! #dhevisaacsg pic.twitter.com/jHtLDpKClm

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) November 23, 2020

THREAD: This morning, I took a tour of the Auschwitz I & Auschwitz II Birkenau Camps. Here are some key exhibits I viewed. pic.twitter.com/ozXzth0gvf

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) October 23, 2019

THREAD: I brought a grad school classmate from China on a little food & heritage tour of Little India & Kampomg Glam today. I thought I'd share some interesting artifacts we saw.

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) December 15, 2020

(1/3) OG (Oriental Guys) was the 1st Asian gay magazine targeted at Western audiences. It was published from 1987-2000s by a Singaporean, printed in HK & sold mainly in the West. Notably, local guys modelled for OG & it featured then-rare articles on Asian queer perspectives pic.twitter.com/1PdidDBNCv

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) January 13, 2021

THREAD: Menaka Guruswamy is here! pic.twitter.com/SykI0gkd7Q

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) November 11, 2019

(1/3) Did you know that the Soviet Union had one of its most successful companies in Singapore? The Singapore-Soviet Shipping Company was started in 1968 as a joint venture between the Soviets & rubber magnate Ng Quee Lam. @RusEmbSG pic.twitter.com/GQ9N5RqLPM

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) April 17, 2021

(1/3) Blast from the Past: Scenes of voting in the 1988 Election. Source: NAS #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/VuaAONjxXi

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) July 10, 2020

(1/3) TODAY IN HISTORY: On Mar 28, 1985, Devan Nair becomes Singapore's only President to resign. It is reported that he had become an alcoholic. In his resignation letter, Nair cites his "medical condition". His son also wrote a private apology letter to LKY. pic.twitter.com/CzlEJupjFR

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) March 28, 2021

(1/3) THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On Oct 29, 1966, former Barisan Sosialis MP Chia Thye Poh was arrested under the Internal Security Act & detained without trial for 23 years for alleged communist activities, becoming the world's 2nd longest held political prisoner after Nelson Mandela. pic.twitter.com/9fdyk7OH5H

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) October 29, 2020

(1/3) TODAY IN HISTORY: On May 25, 1961, a massive fire breaks out in Kampong Bukit Ho Swee, destroying 100 acres of land, killing 4 people & leaving 16,000 homeless. https://t.co/bYRYtaBKn1 pic.twitter.com/w12H4SBq1k

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) May 25, 2021

(1/3) TODAY IN HISTORY: On Mar 15, 1986, the 6-storey Lian Yak building housing Hotel New World collapses at 11.25am. Emergency services (SCDF & Singapore Fire Service) are deployed from Central Fire Station, followed by the SAF. https://t.co/nYB7h9fFs4 pic.twitter.com/rXqkLKvAdK

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) March 15, 2021

(1/3) Labour Day History: Did you know Singapore's last legal strike was in Jan 1986? 60 workers from American oil equipment company Hydril went on strike to protest unfair dismissal & intimidation by management. https://t.co/tua9kqvVqP pic.twitter.com/ge6Jue3vkN

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) May 1, 2021

Thread: I was tasked to find the first instance when the phrase "Singapore punching above its weight" was first used. I found that the first local citation was by Tommy Koh in 1997. A book from 2000 also listed a 1998 book by Prof Koh as a source. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/LDLIK4rGIw

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) August 21, 2019

#Inauguration THREAD: What has Singapore got to do with revered American independence hero Paul Revere (left)? We start in 1837, when Joseph Balestier (right) took up office as the first US Consul to SG. He owned a sugar plantation where Balestier Rd runs today. @RedWhiteBlueDot pic.twitter.com/xSkUqrfUWj

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) January 21, 2021

Few younger folks may remember that female medical students were restricted to 1/3 of the NUS intake from 1979-2003. Health Minister Toh Chin Chye said "it was very tough for a woman to become a good doctor as she had to be a wife and a mother besides performing night duty". https://t.co/arIRRzkmQ1 pic.twitter.com/TJMKah7JZF

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) October 11, 2020

Singapore's royalty continued living in the Istana Kampong Glam (built in 1843 by Sultan Hussein Shah's son & heir Tengku Mohammed Ali) until 1999 when the govt evicted the 170 residents with compensation & renovated the Palace into the Malay Heritage Centre. https://t.co/Lc2uVcqv8O pic.twitter.com/2iVde7gSU9

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) October 27, 2020

(1/3) THREAD: Few non-defence folks know that the British Royal Navy still maintains a permanent military presence at Sembawang via the @BDSSU_UK to support the FPDA. An average of 120 allied vessels visit the support unit yearly. https://t.co/hqjx9tjppa https://t.co/NrF8Qpg25N pic.twitter.com/yGQxQU6Cpe

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) March 22, 2021

(1/3) THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On Sep 16, 1963, Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah & Singapore come together to form Malaysia. In Singapore, grand celebrations are held at City Hall to mark the occasion. Indonesia & the Philippines reject Malaysia & withdraw their ambassadors. pic.twitter.com/TwrvIz5Plo

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) September 16, 2020

ℹ️(1/3) Saw #TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier last night & noticed that Bucky Barnes is swigging Tiger Beer in one scene. Tiger Beer is of course from Singapore, which is the inspiration for the Marvel island of Madripoor, which will feature in the series. pic.twitter.com/zHf8QgVVvl

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) March 21, 2021

This is Chan Choy Siong, a pioneer female politician who served as a PAP MP from 1959-1970. A strong advocate for women's rights, she fought for equal pay & an end to polygamy, & was pivotal in campaigning for the Women's Charter to be passed in 1961. She died in 1981. #IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/8eVMdQkuF1

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) March 8, 2020

You will notice that there are hardly any Malay SAF NSmen from the Merdeka Generation. This is because the unwritten policy was to generally exclude Malays from conscription until the late 1970s. https://t.co/lOGJQjQsI4

— Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogi) July 14, 2019