“Beginning the Fake Life, Reflections on the Role of Education” – this was the theme of the Sixth (Singapore Soka Association) SSA Student Peace Lecture (SPL) delivered with much earnestness and sincerity by the speaker, Associate Professor (A/P) Syed Farid Alatas of the Department of Sociology who is also Head of the Department of Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore. He skillfully and creatively transformed his profoundly insightful thoughts into relatable and simple day-to-day examples, engaging, inspiring and bringing much laughter to a packed-hall of some 350 participants, comprising tertiary students, working professionals, as well as invited guests of SSA.
The lecture, organised by the SSA Student Division, was held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium of the Singapore Management University on 19 November 2010 and chaired by renowned Singapore novelist Ms Suchen Christine Lim, whose novel, Fistful of Colours, was awarded the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize in 1992.
A/P Alatas’ chosen topic for the evening centred on the idea that the general society, which we live in, is a “fake” world—one that is characterised by alienation, ceaseless wants and extreme rationalisation – that prevents one from truly being one’s true self. Thought provoking and honest, his sharing sought to heighten the audience’s observations of the world and encourage youths to be true to themselves. Akin to the values of Soka Education, Professor Alatas also conveyed that the true purpose of education is not to merely produce good citizens, but to cultivate good and conscionable human beings. As the lecture came to an end, the youths felt encouraged to ponder more deeply on the true purpose of education and how they can start to take action to create value in their personal lives.
To conclude the evening, SSA General Director Ong Bon Chai presented the SSA Goodwill Award to A/P Alatas and Ms Lim, in appreciation of their friendship and understanding of SGS’s mission and objectives.
In fact, the friendships with A/P Alatas and Ms Lim extend beyond just that evening. A/P Alatas has supported and collaborated with SSA on various occasions and his late father, Professor Syed Hussein Alatas was the speaker at the Sixth Daisaku Ikeda Annual Lecture in 2006. The late mother of Ms Lim, Madam Wong Lin Kiew, was a pioneering leader of SSA. In their impressions, both A/P Alatas and Ms Lim spoke fondly about how moved they were by the collective efforts of SGS’s Student Division in organising the successful lecture.