Having been born in Kolkata, India and raised in Singapore, I am fortunate enough to call both places my home. Though it may seem counter intuitive to much of the world, India and Singapore have more in common than people might think.
India and Singapore have an unsuspecting similarity in the field of politics. Both countries are led by a Westminster style of government with a clear demarcation between the three branches. Both countries have democratic elections. Yet, the perception is quite different. Indian governments are oft associated with corruption while the Singaporean government has been known for its strong-armed structure. But at its heart, Indian and Singaporean politics have had charismatic and iconic leaders that are almost synonymous with the governments that they lead.
Lee Kuan Yew is considered to be the Father of Singapore. He was the first Prime Minister of the countries and undoubtedly one of the most influential politicians in Asia. PM Lee was instrumental in powering Singapore to become a first-world hub from its humble roots as an underdeveloped fishing village. After securing Singapore’s independence, PM Lee worked tirelessly to make Singapore one of the most developed and impressive countries in the world. Capitalising on Singapore’s geographic position, PM Lee helped Singapore to become one of the world’s busiest ports. PM Lee also realised the flaw in relying on the armies of other countries having experienced the horrors of the Japanese Occupation once the British Army could not repel the Japanese forces. As a result, he oversaw the implementation of a sovereign army through conscription. Over time, conscription extended to cover the police force as well as civil defence.
Perhaps PM Lee’s most impressive accomplishment was the way he went about establishing Singapore’s identity despite the remains of British influence. By creating a legal system specifically tailored for Singapore’s needs, PM Lee’s autochthonous efforts resulted in the creation of the Court of Appeal, which replaced the Privy Council as the highest court in Singapore. And so, began the era of Singapore’s legal independence.
Present day Singapore has perhaps the strictest set of laws of any country. This ensures that crime rates in Singapore are at a global low while deterring negative influences from neighbouring countries such as the Golden Triangle (Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand), which is a drug trafficking hub. Yet, amidst all this, the late Lee Kuan Yew’s indelible impression on Singapore remains a distinct element in the country’s fabric.
Lee Kuan Yew’s strong-armed governance has created one of the safest and well-developed countries in the world today. North-west of the Little Red Dot, elements of Lee Kuan Yew’s style of leadership still shone in my home country of India.
Enter Narendra Modi. A polarising figure to say the least, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the Indian political field by storm since his appointment in 2014.
PM Modi has gone to great lengths to re-establish India as an Asian powerhouse alongside China. By integrating India’s foreign policy, PM Modi has ensured that India has fostered stronger ties with foreign allies while keeping the ever-present threat from their neighbours, especially Pakistan, at bay. Under his leadership, India went from the “Look East” to “Act East” policy and today, India is undoubtedly a player in the ASEAN economy. With the development of North East India as a strategic hub to connect South Asia with South East Asia and the ASEAN countries, the bi-lateral trade between ASEAN and India would possibly be in many multiples of the recent $71 billion annual trade recorded in 2018.
Not only in economy, despite the challenges of military procurement, India under Prime Minister Modi is recognised as a key defence force in the Asia – Pacific region from Japan, to Australia to Singapore and Vietnam to name a few. The nomenclature change of the US Pacific Command to “Indo-Pacific Command”, while ceremonial, is backed by the core Asia-Pacific partnership in naval exercises.
Narendra Modi has always been a person with superb political dexterity. During certain times, this confidence is criticised while during others, it may be necessary. Narendra Modi has managed to address several of India’s pressing issues that originated under the previous government. PM Modi has succeeded in bringing down and boosting the inflation and growth rates respectively. In addition, the goods and services tax (GST) has helped states generate higher revenues for their various needs.
PM Modi has made several bold and controversial decisions as well, such as the demonetisation policy to crack down on the reserves of ‘black money’ from illicit transactions. Though the move was subject to criticism amongst middle class citizens, PM Modi’s expedited thought-to-action process was considered to be a page out of Lee Kuan Yew’s playbook.
Indeed, Narendra Modi has acted in the footsteps of Lee Kuan Yew many a time during his tenure as the Prime Minister. PM Modi has exhibited Lee Kuan Yew’s penchant for exercising control over media to contain the disruptions that they often result in. However, this approach has been lauded and criticised both by citizens as well as globally.
As is so often the case, there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to the political pedigree of India and Singapore. As PM Modi continues to lead the country with no foreseeable opposition, it will be interesting to see if more such similarities come to light in the coming years.
source https://www.indiaoutbound.org/leadership-india-vs-singapore-lee-kuan-yew-vs-narendra-modi/
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