Hidden messages in my defence stories: Find out how it all began

Ramadan Kareem & Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing the holy month of Ramadan!

And Happy Easter in advance to all who are marking Holy Week!

The story you see above was the first I published with hidden meanings. It is taken from the August 1989 edition of Pioneer, the monthly magazine of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Yes, from 34 years ago... many of you weren't even born yet.

Can you spot the hints embedded in the headline and story?

The story profiled the 36th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (36 SCE). At the time, 36 SCE's role was deemed "sensitive" and, therefore, could not be reported.

I ended up writing a story about combat engineers from the unit being overjoyed at winning an SAF Best Unit award in 1989 - but did not state the unit's role. Even the appointment of the Captain quoted in the story could not be mentioned (I guessed he must've retired from the SAF by now).

I think 36 SCE was quite pleased with the story =)

Looking back, the play on words was quite basic. 

The embedding of a certain unit's motto as part of the text did, however, become one of my trademarks for weaving hidden meanings into a storyline. Over time, the hidden messages or Easter eggs became a little more subtle and the writing style more sophisticated. Time codes in previous blog postings have referred to certain office units in MINDEF Complex, or even AFPN numbers. I also discovered and practised the elaborate art of writing acrostic prose.

My first fictional work, Pukul Habis, was published more than 30 years after that maiden effort at planting Easter eggs. I consider this novel the highpoint of my efforts at weaving in subtle IYKYK messages, allegories and metaphors that readers might catch. It is filled - repeat: filled - with stuff that patient and trusting readers will pick up on their own, eventually. 

Not all are hidden - some are in the chapter titles! You cannot get more obvious than that (unless one plants an Easter egg as a book title). Go find 'em!

And enjoy your Easter long weekend.