LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:4 April 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Leader-Visionary LKY Gratefully Remembered

Jimmy Teo

LEE KUAN YEW
Courtesy: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/03/overturning-lee-kuan-yews-legacy-in-singapore/

I must write about Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (fondly referred to as LKY) the Founder, Father & the 1st Prime Minister of Singapore:

1 When I was 9 years old, at Lorong Limau, Singapore, I heard from my parents that PAP leaders were coming to our place (an area famed for gangsterism) for an open air election campaign. I was there at about 5pm right in the front observing LKY, Dr. Toh Chin Chye & others seated on the lorry (which acted as a platform complete with loud speakers). When LKY shouted: ‘Merdeka’ (which means ‘Independence’), I shouted the loudest I could. All others did the same. The whole atmosphere was electrified. We were all mesmerized by his charisma & presence – that fearless presence, infused with total dedication & passion to & for his country – Singapore.

2 On Sept 9th 1963 (I was then 13 years old), LKY shook my hand. There were thousands at Towner Road. He came by to garner support for a snap National election. His hand was very warm (I reasoned that he shook so many hands that day & the friction must have produced the heat). My home at Lorong Limau was about 5 minutes’ walk from Towner Road.

3 On that same 9.9.63’s evening, I followed him with the crowd until about reaching the end of Towner Road (nearing Balestier Road). I was there when he was pushed into the monsoon drain. Someone give him a hand & quickly pulled him up. The drain was quite shallow & about 6 feet wide. The person who pushed him, a middle age Chinese person, was Mr. Foo (from the Singapore Business Houses Employees Union/Singapore School Canteen Vendors Association whose office was fronting the drain). It all happened so fast. LKY was athletic & agile. He was unhurt.

4 About 40 years ago, I asked the late Mr. Lee Chin Koon, father of LKY (we were members of the same club - Singapore Swimming Club) that some people told me that he & LKY were not in good terms. Mr. Lee Chin Koon looked at me firmly & said: ‘What does people know about us? Every morning without fail, he serves me drink* with both hands.’ At that moment, I was very touched to know that LKY was such a filial son. I wonder how many of us do that for our parents. (*I could not remember the drink he mentioned but most likely milo, tea or coffee).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Jimmy Teo

Jimmy Teo
The Arc @Tampines
Singapore
teojimmy07@gmail.com
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