What the World can Learn from Singaporean recipe of Nationalism. The flavor blows you away

Singapore has been my home for a few years now. When I moved in, Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father had just passed away. The gloom was as palpable as if a parent had departed. It was an emotional turmoil.

This also coincided with SG50 – 50 years of Independence from British rule. There were celebrations everywhere. In the local book stores, the top 10 books in the non-fiction section were all about Singapore. “Singapore: From 3rd World to First” “The Men in White” and multi-layered reflections on what it means to be Singaporean in “Fistful of Colours”. I read 7 books on that list. Very impressive.

Singapore is almost a young millennial in the rest of older jaded world. It can teach the world so much.

As I explored, eating at hawker centers, learning the language…most importantly made friends with the grumpy old aunty selling Baos at Lau Pa Sat in CBD. She gave me a few cooking tips in return of a daily smile. Yong Tau Foo became my favorite dinner and teh halia almost took over ginger chai.

I began to learn..

Singaporeans are very aware of their multicultural textures. They dont live in denial about their heterogeneity and plurality. There is a dollop of pride and a robust sense of achievement. Like a person who hasnt forgotten where he came from, the struggles seen.

Singaporeans revel in their success not losing sight of where they want to go. Very grounded first world people. Unlike any other.

One year I decided to participate in the National Day Parade. If the world wants to learn anything about putting up a spectacular show, this is the country to perfect the art.

I was the part of a 550 member contingent – men, women, young, old, dancers and people with two left feet. We trained to enact a six minute show about family values that bind us. We rehearsed on saturdays at the army camp in Kranji (very far away from everywhere), from 6pm- 9:30pm followed by a weekly de-brief session. As the event approached, we rehearsed mid-week aswell.

It was a lot of work, but very gratifying. I was a foreigner, who didn’t speak Hookein. I didn’t share a history with this country. But the way I was welcomed was an absolute delight. In-between practice, all of us sat on the camp grounds munching on our tea and biscuits. Phones were not allowed inside the camp grounds, so for three hours or so, we were disconnected from the world, but so connected as a team.

Saturday evenings acquired a completely different meaning.

In a very subtle way, we shared joy of having a safe existence, a promise of care and held us together, the common thread, being our aspirations.

We were conveying the message of harmony and projecting a dream for the future. We all understood, life was too precious to be wasted arguing over differences. We quietly celebrate plurality with joy.

These were the values Singapore stood for.

This country didn’t dwell in the past, it didn’t deny it’s colonial history, but also didn’t let come in way, of making of tomorrow. There was no jingoism and no rhetoric. #subtle

In Singapore, I learnt a wholly different meaning of Nationalism. It was quiet gratitude. It was unobtrusive allowing everyone to create a better future. Its leaders put a lot of thought into this nation state and gave it values.

Good leadership is not much different from good parenting. Singapore grew up into successful and responsible adult, displaying maturity right from the time it was born.

We all need to redefine our definitions of Nationalism. Nationalism does not need a colour, any colour - white, black or brown. Nationalism can be a dish without flavors of geography, jingoism, rhetoric or fanaticism. It can be subtle.

The “call to action” for everyone is - I will live the values, I will work hard, pay my taxes with pride, be kind to people around me and contribute my best for the land.

This definition is not geographical or cultural. Its the land on which I stand today. That day I stood on the ground of Kranji camp. It could have been any land.

And be honest to my part, my contribution. Be honest to people around me. That day, I danced with my contingent of 550 Singaporeans. I became one of them too.

Majulah Singapore!

With much love,

Anu Lall