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Anti-colonialism: S. Rajaratnam’s Wartime Short Stories
Kow Mei-kao
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2026.07.002
Formerly of Department of Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore
The paper is based on S. Rajaratnam: The Authorized Biography, Volume One, The Singapore Lion by Irene Ng. It examines the political and cultural context of wartime London as a vibrant political and cultural hub, highlighting S. Rajaratnam’s involvement in socialist activities and his interactions with mentors and friends. Adopting socialism as an analytical framework, the study integrates his wartime short stories, which illuminates the deep-seated inequalities, social tensions and pervasive absurdities within poverty-stricken rural Indian communities. Furthermore, the paper explores S. Rajaratnam’s literary craftsmanship and linguistic mastery. By employing techniques such as personification and sharp contrasts, he creates unexpected and compelling narratives While S. Rajaratnam greatly admires George Orwell and extensively collected his works, his writings transcend mere imitation; he incorporates original twists and shifts in narrative dimensions. Through these techniques, stories such as “The Tiger” acquire multi-layered meanings and fresh literary dimensions. Ultimately this study underscores R. Rajaratnam’s solid and indelible position in the development of Singapore short stories.
S. Rajaratnam, wartime short stories, rural dilemma, social tension, absurdities, intertextuality, contrasts, personification
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, July 2026, Vol. 16, No. 7, 572-583
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