During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore, one statement caught everyone’s attention. He mentioned building many Singapore-like cities in India. Singapore, a small island country of 719 square kilometers, is one of the most modern and wealthy nations in the world. Compared to India, Singapore is tiny, and many such countries could fit within India’s boundaries. This was PM Modi’s sixth visit to Singapore in his 10-year tenure, highlighting the growing strength of the relationship between the two nations.
However, the connection between India and Singapore goes back thousands of years. Long ago, Singapore was called “Singhpura” and even earlier, “Temasek.”
From Temasek to Singapore
Before the 14th century, Singapore was known as Temasek, which was referred to as the “Golden Island” in India. According to Malay legends, the first king to rule Singapore had ancestors from India. Stories about this king can be found in Singapore’s history book, Sejarah Melayu. It mentions a king from the ancient Indian kingdom of Kalinga, named Shoolan, who was said to be a descendant of the Greek emperor Alexander the Great.
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How Singapore Got Its Name
One day, King Shoolan set out with a fleet of ships to attack China. On his way, he stopped at Temasek (now Singapore). A Chinese spy tricked him by telling him that China was too far to reach. Trusting the spy, King Shoolan decided to stay in Temasek. Eventually, he married a local princess. Later, one of his descendants, Sang Nila Utama, renamed Temasek as “Singhpura” (Lion City) after seeing a lion there.
There’s another version of the story. According to Malay records, the Chola king Rajendra Chola also accompanied King Shoolan in their quest to attack China. After conquering the Srivijaya kingdom, Rajendra Chola returned home, but King Shoolan stayed and married the Singaporean princess. Years later, in 1299, Shoolan’s descendant, Sang Nila Utama, saw a lion in Temasek and renamed the place Singhpura, which later became Singapore.
Historical Connections between India and Singapore
By the 13th century, Singapore was part of the Srivijaya Empire, which included modern-day Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, and Singapore. Historian John Miksic suggests that the historical connection between India and Singapore is evident. He believes that Indian languages influenced the renaming of Temasek to Singhpura in the 14th century. Miksic also thinks that King Shoolan’s story might be a variation of King Rajendra Chola’s tale.
The Singapore Stone
Apart from legends, there is another piece of evidence linking India and Singapore, called the “Singapore Stone.” This ancient stone still exists today, with inscriptions in an undeciphered script. Experts believe the writing dates back to between 1000 and 1300 AD. The text may be in Sanskrit, Tamil, or Javanese, indicating a connection with India, though it’s difficult to interpret as only a small piece of the stone remains.
