Singapore, 31 October 2017 (Tuesday) – At an appreciation ceremony held today at the Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Law, the University announced the establishment of the Subhas Anandan Legacy Fund, set up together with the family of the late Mr Anandan, in memory of him and in celebration of the School of Law’s 10th anniversary.

Fund-raising efforts, which started in March this year, have been well-received, and over $120,000 has been raised to-date.  The funds will be used primarily to support the activities of the Constitutional Law and Criminal Justice Club at SMU, as well as a new bursary named in honour of the late Mr Subhas Anandan.  The Subhas Anandan Bursary, valued at S$5,000 each, aims at helping Law students through financial hardships.  From January 2018, one needy law Singaporean/Singapore PR undergraduate will benefit from the bursary award each year, in perpetuity.

As part of the School of Law’s efforts to remember and honour Mr Anandan, a room within the SMU Pro Bono Centre has also been named the ‘Subhas Anandan Room’.  The family of the late Mr Anandan has also kindly donated a yellow ribbon painting to be placed in the room.

[Photo: Mrs Vimala Anandan interacting with students of the SMU Constitutional Law and Criminal Justice Club.  On her right is her sonn, Mr Sujesh Anandah.]

At the ceremony which was attended by family and friends of the late Mr Anandan, as well as SMU Law students and faculty, Associate Professor Goh Yihan, Dean of the SMU School of Law, said, “On behalf of SMU and the School of Law, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the donors of the Subhas Anandan Legacy Fund.  Your contribution will go a long way towards encouraging more ground-up efforts by our students in the course of their time at the School of Law.  Furthermore, the Subhas Anandan Bursary will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the educational journey of deserving Law students at SMU, such that they can enjoy a fulfilling university education free from financial burden and distractions.”

“Mr Subhas had a heart filled with empathy for the underprivileged and underrepresented; I believe that through our humble efforts, his compassion and spirit of public service will live on in our young lawyers-to-be,” added Associate Professor Goh. 

“The family of Subhas is honoured that so many have come forward for this good cause.  Pro bono work was close to Subhas’ heart and he firmly believed in access to justice for all.  We have no doubt that Subhas would have readily supported SMU’s efforts if he were still around,” said Mr Sunil Sudheesan, nephew of Mr Anandan, and Director, Head Criminal Department, Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC.  Mr Sudheesan is also President of the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore.

[Featured photo: (L-R) Mrs Vimala Anandan, Mr Sujesh Anandan, Mr VK Rajah and Dean Goh Yihan.]

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More information on the Subhas Anandan Bursary here.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

HUANG Peiling

Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

SMU Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing

(65) 6828 0964 / (65) 9845 3361 / plhuang [at] smu.edu.sg

News coverage:

• The Straits Times (1 Nov 2017): SMU launches Subhas Anandan Legacy Fund
• Lianhe Zaobao (1 Nov 2017): SMU School of Law establishes Subhas Anandan Legacy Fund