Law Society Awards Bar Memorial Scholarship

The Dayalan family with Law Society President, Mr Philip Jeyaretham, SC

Twenty-one-year-old Senthil Dayalan was recently awarded the Society’s Bar Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was founded by members of the Singapore Bar in memory of their members who were killed in the First World War from 1914 to 1918. The scholarship, which is an annual award of a maximum sum of $5,000, is awarded to any candidate who has obtained admission or is taking any full-time course of study in any institution of higher learning in Singapore, is a Singapore citizen and is the child of an employee of any organisation connected with the legal profession in Singapore.  

Senthil was presented with the Bar Memorial Scholarship by President Philip Jeyaretnam, SC, at a ceremony at the Society on 13 April 2006, which was also attended by Senthil’s parents.  

Senthil, who will be admitted to the National University of Singapore in August this year, will be reading law. Asked how he felt about receiving the scholarship, he replied that he was both happy and relieved that his education would be taken care of. ‘I’m very grateful to have been awarded this scholarship, and I hope in future to be able to do something in return for the Law Society.’ 

Senthil’s first choice of study was not law despite having an uncle who is a law lecturer and his own father works at the law firm of N K Rajarh. ‘When I was in secondary school, I aspired to be a lawyer, but in junior college I changed my mind when I studied history and developed an interest in political science. I had to change my plans to study political science overseas and finally decided to settle on law here.’

This young man may not have stepped into the corridors of NUS yet, but he has wasted no time preparing himself for studies when term opens on 7 August this year. He has already obtained the first-year notes and has been diligently reading some of the law books recommended by his uncle. Law may not have been his first choice, but he is already looking ahead as he tells me with certainty that he would like to specialise in corporate law or international IP law. 

Senthil names the late Palakrishnan as his role model and a lawyer whom he would like to aspire to become. Although he did not know Palakrishnan personally, Senthil says he had heard many good things about him and admired the way he helped the less fortunate. Added to this was the fact that Palakrishnan was also a great soccer fan who did much to promote the soccer scene in Singapore. 

Senthil’s parents are proud of their son and thankful that part of the financial burden has been taken off them. ‘We are very grateful to the Law Society for this opportunity,’ Mrs Dayalan stressed. ‘As for his future, we just hope that he will become a good lawyer, and realise
his aspirations.’ 

It looks like the next four years are carved out for Senthil whose parents have urged him to ‘study hard and put in his best effort’. Despite setting his sights far ahead for his future, both his feet are solidly planted on the ground, as when asked what kind of lawyer he would like to be, he thinks deeply for a moment and says seriously, ‘I think humility is important. Strutting your stuff is not going to get you anywhere. You need at the end of the day to be generous, humble and look out for others.’ 

We wish Senthil all the best as he embarks on this new and exciting phase of his life.

Sharmaine Lau

The Law Society of Singapore 

For more information about the Law Society’s Bar Memorial Scholarship, visit the Members Homepage of our web portal www.lawsociety.org.sg and refer to ‘Membership Services’ or contact our Communications Department at communications@lawsoc.org.sg.

 
 Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC presenting the scholarship to Senthil Dayalan