Suratman Markasan

Suratman bin Markasan (29 December 1930 – 27 February 2024) was a Singaporean poet, novelist and literary pioneer. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion, the S.E.A. Write Award, the Anugerah Sasterawan Mastera and the Singapore Literature Prize. He was also known by his pen names S. Markasan and Suman Mali.

Biography Early life and education Suratman was born in Singapore on 29 December 1930 to Malay parents of Javanese descent. As a child, he attended Malay schools in the 1940s. After graduating from secondary school, he was employed as a trainee teacher at Sekolah Melayu Pasir Panjang or known as the Pasir Panjang Malay School. He then attended Sultan Idris Training College in Perak, British Malaya (present-day Malaysia) and graduated from the school with a teaching certificate in 1950.

Early career and literary development After graduating from the Sultan Idris Teachers' College (now known as the Sultan Idris Education University) in Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia, Suratman returned to Singapore and began his career as a teacher at the Sekolah Melayu Teluk Blangah. During this time, he joined the Singapore Malay Teachers' Union and Angkatan Sasterawan '50. From 1961 to 1968, he taught at Pasir Panjang Secondary School and later at Swiss Cottage Secondary School.

Leadership and academic contributions In 1980, Suratman was appointed Director for Malay and Tamil Studies at the Ministry of Education.

Later career and recognition Significant achievements marked Suratman’s later career. He published Tiga Lelaki (1995), Di Bumi Mana (1994), and Penghulu yang Hilang Segala-galanya (1998). Awards included the Montblanc-NUS Centre for the Arts Award (1997) and the Tun Sri Lanang Literary Award (1999).

Personal life and death Suratman Markasan was married. His wife died in 1981.