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PEAK PERFORMER
we need to do to improve the ability to
handle these challenges.
You have represented Singapore in
some of the best platforms, and now
you’ve been heading this prestigious
school here. What has been the best
role you’ve had?
I would say that I am very lucky. I have
enjoyed two wonderful careers. One
in the foreign services for Singapore
(33 years) especially those years as the
permanent secretary at the ministry of
foreign affairs, and then in the UN as
Singapore’s Ambassador to the UN and
later as President of the UN Security
Council. After that, I’ve had a wonder-
ful career as Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew
School of Public Policy at NUS. Now I
am on the verge of a whole new career.
I don’t know what it will be as I’m plan-
ning to take a sabbatical first.
For you to inspire young Singapor-
ean and Indian Singaporean looking
at a career in diplomacy or heading
schools, what would be your mes-
sage to them?
It’s very simple. Study hard, work hard.
I was lucky because even though I was
poor, I discovered the public library and
that really saved my life. I spent week-
ends there reading books, even good
fiction at a very young age and it was
important in developing my mind. So
if you haven’t, done it yet, do it now,
because it’s very difficult to make up for
the time lost in later years.
How do you manage to balance
your work and your personal life,
what with all your commitments in
such important public positions, the
school, your writing?
I don’t think I did that very well. But
I must emphasize one thing - writing
books for me is a joy, it’s not work. Mo-
hammad Rafi’s songs are a big inspira-
tion for me when I sit down to write.
You have worked with the best, es-
pecially with the founding father of
Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. What was
that experience like?
It was one of the greatest experiences
of my life. In fact I was able to work with The interesting thing is that though I
three of the key founding fathers— Lee
Kuan Yew, of course, and Dr Goh Keng
Swee and S Rajaratnam. All three of
them were very different, yet at the
same time they were outstanding lead-
ers and certainly the toughest taskmas- “I’m practically a Sindhi
ters I have ever worked with. Lee Kuan and most Sindhis go
Yew was such a perfectionist. When you into business. I haven’t
submitted work to him, he would say: “I fulfilled my natural
double check, I triple check and then I destiny! I will certainly
check again.” He was a demanding boss keep on writing and
who had zero tolerance for mistakes. speaking, serving on
We knew that if we made a serious mis- boards. I’m notorious
take, our careers were finished. So, you for writing very
had to be very careful before submitting strong stuff. In fact I
your work to him. have a book coming
out in April with a
So you must have been outstanding? provocative title Has
I don’t know if I was. What I do know is the West Lost It? being
that I survived. But it was a pleasure to launched in London.
work with all three of them. The interesting thing is
that though I write and
Do you think Singapore has put in say a lot of provocative
enough effort to produce leaders of things people keep
this stature and continue the legacy? inviting me to come
I think it would be difficult for back!”
Singapore to have another Lee Kuan
Yew. He was not just a great leader for
Singapore he was one of the greatest
leaders of the world. He was a truly re-
markable leader. So Singapore will have
to wait a long time for someone to fill
those shoes.
Why did you decide to step down
from being Dean at the school?
It’s important to know when to make
a change. In my 13 years as Dean, the
school has done very well. However, I’m
on the verge of turning 70. I still have
another 10 years or so for an active
career ahead of me. This is the time to
change careers.
Are you thinking of going into poli-
tics?
Oh no! In Singapore if you want to
go into politics you must be in your
30s or 40s. I’m happy considering
other options.
...such as?
I’m practically a Sindhi and most Sindhis
go into business. I haven’t fulfilled my
natural destiny! I will certainly keep on
writing and speaking, serving on boards.
I’m notorious for writing very strong
stuff. In fact I have a book coming out
in April with a provocative title, Has the
West Lost It? being launched in London.
write and say a lot of provocative things
people keep inviting me to come back!
Shikhar March 2018 27