New book reveals MM Lee's early efforts to woo India
BY DAWN TAY
THE little-known efforts of a young Lee Kuan Yew to court India from the 1950s are the focus of a new book by a veteran Indian journalist.
Looking East To Look West: Lee Kuan Yew's Mission India, was launched yesterday by President S R Nathan.
Author Sunanda K. Datta-Ray, a former consultant with The Straits Times, details the efforts of then prime minister Lee and select Singapore politicians to establish ties with India, which initially showed little interest.
The 384-page book is published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, where Mr Datta-Ray, 72, was a visiting senior research fellow.
The book's title is a reference to Singapore's position as India's first stop on its diplomatic road across the Pacific, and ultimately to America.
The idea for the book came about after Mr Datta-Ray found old speeches by Mr Lee lauding India for its industrialisation plans and foresight.
They piqued his interest as Mr Lee's words were in sharp contrast with the "local impression that Mr Lee was indifferent, critical or even hostile towards India".
This impression, Mr Datta-Ray added, stemmed from Mr Lee's more recent speeches on Indian Singaporeans.
He broached the idea of a book to Mr Lee in 2005, and spent about 10 hours conversing with him between 2005 and 2008 while conducting more research.
Praising Mr Lee's "strategic vision", Mr Datta-Ray said: "He knew even in the 1950s that China needed to be balanced, and that's why he wanted India to emerge."
