Heng, who is the Finance Minister and SG50 Steering Committee Chairman, launched the first 10 titles of a 50-volume series — Singapore Chronicles — on the evolution of Singapore on Dec 10.

The first 10 books, which are between 100 and 150 pages each, are:

1. Colonial Singapore by historian Nicholas Tarling

It looks at the history of Singapore from its founding by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 until just after World War II.

2. Constitution by Kevin Tan, an adjunct law professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS)

It traces the development of the Singapore Constitution. It looks at the roles of the Executive and the Judiciary and examines issues such as citizenship, equality, fairness and the minority groups in the constitutional framework.

3. Defence by Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) researcher Ho Shu Huang, and Australian Defence Force Academy adjunct lecturer Samuel Chan

It studies Singapore's defence policy and examines the wide-ranging role played by the SAF in Singapore's defence.

4. Diplomacy by IDSS researcher Daniel Chua and Australian National University Professor Evelyn Goh

It examines how Singapore's diplomacy has combined various characteristics in its relationship with the world including linking national security with economic development; and emphasising cooperation with multiple partners.

5. Education by Professor S Gopinathan, an Adjunct Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS

It studies the impact of education on Singapore’s transformation by looking at the social, political and economic contexts where policies are formed.

6. Eurasians by Alexius Pereira, deputy director at Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

A Eurasian himself, the author explores the social history of Singaporean Eurasians, focusing on the past 50 years.

7. Heritage by Kennie Ting, group director for museums and development at the National Heritage Board

This provides a guide to Singapore's heritage, as well as what's been done to preserve and promote it, since 1959. It concludes with a reflection on the future of heritage.

8. Indians by Professor Vineeta Sinha, Head of the South Asian Studies Programme and the Department of Sociology, NUS

The book discusses the story of Singapore's Indians within the larger context of Indian displacement and placement globally, and attempts to contextualise the Indian presence in Malaya and Singapore historically.

9. Law by Goh Yihan, Associate Professor who teaches law at Singapore Management University

This covers the history of Singapore's legal system: from the British years to the post-independence period.

10. Presidency by Professor Thio Li-Ann, Provost Chair Professor at the Faculty of Law, NUS, and former Nominated Member of Parliament

This book traces the twists and turns of the relatively short history of the Elected Presidency in Singapore.

The 50 volumes commemorate the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence in 2015, and is published by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and the Straits Times Press.

The remaining 40 books will be published next year.

All photos provided by the Institute of Policy Studies.

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