every year, our parade focuses on the achievements of our nation, of our many accomplishments and awards. but, what about those people who made such achievements possible?

from the sweepers who clean our walkways to teachers who educate us, from buskers who perform to soldiers in national service, we aim to uncover the little ways in which everyone contributes to our nation. their efforts, we feel, should not go unrecognised...

let us draw inspiration from these people, our people, and find out more about them, their weaknesses and strengths, their frailties and attributes. let us know more about their stories and lives so that they would not merely be strangers along the roads.

and in our search for inspiring characters, may we define the spirit that is unique to Singapore.

the human touch - touching stories, touching lives
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Walking past the Paragon in Orchard Road, we came across a busker playing an electronic keyboard. He was sitting on a wheelchair with an amputated leg. Adroit with the instrument, melodious tunes resounded within my ears. We decided to approach him and express our interest in an interview.

Flipping through his scores, we saw songs from varied genres presented and musical notes denoted with numbers instead. As we conversed in Mandarin, I found that I was speaking to Mr Zhang and that he has been performing for the last 3 years. He spoke with an air of carefreeness and optimism, displaying pride in his music.

'Music is my hobby', he said, 'and it transcends all language barriers.'




Performing to share his music with anyone who is appreciative has become a essential part of his daily life. When asked about how the opinions of others affect him, he firmly replied that what others feel did not matter. All he wanted to share was his love for music and to him, that's the most important; Money was secondary.

Being one who enjoys music, I share his sentiments and passion for music. His wish to perform for others was a simple one and his disability was no hindrance.

We did not enquire about his past. There was no need for it. What lies ahead of him should be the focus. If his health permits, he would continue his daily performances.

In the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, would you notice the lone musician and his music? Halt your footsteps and let your ears do the job. Savour his music and the story behind it.