British High Commissioner to Singapore Kara Owen presented the Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) award to local historian and heritage entrepreneur Jeya Ayadurai at a ceremony held at her official residence at Eden Hall, on 30 August 2023.
The award is accorded to non-British citizens around the world who have made significant contributions to advance Commonwealth and British interests. Mr Ayadurai was amongst the final batch of 102 individuals approved by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for honorary British awards in 2022. Subsequent honourees were approved by His Majesty King Charles III after his ascension to the throne on 8 September 2022.
Past award recipients
Mr Ayadurai is one of 46 individuals worldwide recognised with Honorary MBEs in 2022, and the only Singaporean. In getting the award, Mr Ayadurai joins a group of 10 Singaporeans in the nation’s post-war history who have received the MBE. Past recipients include Lee Kuan Yew (GCMG), S. R. Nathan (GCB), Ong Teng Cheong (GCMG), Elizabeth Choy (OBE) and Paul Abisheganaden (MBE).
Ms Owen credited Mr Ayadurai in her speech before presenting him with the award: “Mr Ayadurai has worked for years to conserve sites that are critical to us in remembering and learning from the past. He has educated generations of Singaporeans and visitors to Singapore and has continually partnered with us through his work. His award is a richly deserved endorsement of the value of his work, and of the example he sets for Singapore-UK collaborations across culture, community and heritage. My team and I offer our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to him and his family”.
In his speech, Mr Ayadurai dedicated the award to Singapore Heritage and his team who have worked tirelessly to uncover and highlight Singapore heritage, including its military past. Mr Ayadurai noted that the awards are generally given to achievements in economic development, science and technology. He said: “I hope that it will spur other heritage entrepreneurs and specialists to continue focusing on local history.”
Mr Ayadurai has worked for years to conserve sites that are critical to us in remembering and learning from the past. He has educated generations of Singaporeans and visitors to Singapore…”
The British High Commissioner to Singapore, Her Excellency Kara Owen
A Passion for Singapore Heritage
Mr Ayadurai began his career in academia, joining the Department of Strategic Studies in the Singapore Command and Staff College as a military history lecturer in 1988.
In 1995, he shifted from academia to the heritage and tourism industry, although he continues to conduct lectures on military history. He began the first of many private sector heritage firms – Singapore History Consultants Pte Ltd – to focus on local history and heritage. Mr Ayadurai is also the founder and director of research house Singapore History Consultants (SHC) and heritage specialist Journeys.
For more than 25 years, Mr Ayadurai has organised commemoration ceremonies to mark important war anniversaries and to remember the millions who have sacrificed their lives. The ceremonies were the first in the world to bring together former World War II combatants from Singapore, Japan, and the Commonwealth countries.
Future Goals – New Museums in Kranji and Haw Par Villa
Mr Ayadurai’s future goals include the building of museums and memorials at Kranji War Graves and other historic war sites. He also intends to launch the Rise of Asia Museum (RoAM) at Haw Par Villa in the first quarter of 2024. RoAM will explain the modern rise of Asia and Asian entrepreneurship.
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