March 3, 2021

As part of the Book Box series, the Straits Times highlighted The Votive Pen, a newly published biography of Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo (NUS Department of English Language and Literature), by acclaimed author Nilanjana Sengupta. Although Prof Thumboo says he was at first reluctant to have a biography written about himself, he feels that Sengupta’s book provides a perspective unlike other similar papers written about his life. Sengupta further explained that her book did not simply chart the progression of Prof Thumboo’s life and journey as a poet and writer, but rather linked his life experiences to the history of Singapore, painting for readers a mindmap of Prof Thumboo’s thought processes.

Elaborating a little further on the process of interviewing him, Sengupta notes that Prof Thumboo’s literary allusions would necessitate her having to go to the library and research them copiously, describing the experience as akin to “attending a masterclass with Shakespeare”.

Professor Edwin Thumboo is often regarded as Singapore’s unofficial poet laureate due to the constant thread of nationalism running through his works. After receiving his PhD from the NUS Department of English Language and Literature in 1970, he rose to become head of the department from 1977 to 1993. He was also the longest-serving Dean of the Faculty of the Arts and Social Sciences, from 1980 to 1991. Despite having retired from teaching, he continues to be associated with his home department as an emeritus professor and is still publishing.

Read the article here.