Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Ajanta CavesIndian architectural heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves at Ajanta,

were remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.Ajanta and Ellora Caves are the ancient repository of Indian architectural heritage. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra Ajanta and Ellora caves are the world famous for the cave shrines that cut out of rock, all by hand. There are 34 caves at Ellora and 29 caves at Ajanta. And all are sheer outstanding specimens of Indian architectural excellence.

History :

About Ajanta Caves: 

The earlier phase of Ajanta falls between third century BCE to second century BCE, In this phase just five caves were excavated: Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A. The region during this time was ruled by the Satavahana dynasty (230 BCE – c. 220 CE). Therefore, they may be called the Satavahana-period caves. Two of the caves from this group, Caves 9 and 10, are ‘stupa’ halls. This type is largely known as chaitya-griha. The other caves from this group, caves 12, 13, and 15A are largely known as Viharas. 

In the pre-Christian era, the Buddha was represented symbolically, in the form of the stupa. Thus, halls were made with stupas to venerate the Buddha. In later periods the images of the Buddha started to be made in coins, relic caskets, relief or loose sculptural forms, etc. However, it took a while for the human representation of the Buddha to enter the domain of Buddhist architecture. One of the earliest evidences of the Buddha’s human representations are found at Buddhist archaeological sites, such as Goli, Nagarjunakonda, and Amaravati. The monasteries of those sites were built in less durable media, such as wood, brick, and stone. As far as the genre of rock-cut architecture is concerned it took many centuries for the Buddha image to be depicted. Nobody knows for sure at which rock-cut cave site the first image of the Buddha was depicted. Current research indicates that Buddha images in a portable form, made of wood or stone, were introduced, for the first time, at Kanheri, to be followed soon at Ajanta Cave 8 (Dhavalikar, Jadhav, Spink, Singh). Show any Buddha image although hundreds of rock-cut caves were made throughout India during the first few centuries of the Common Era. And, in those caves, it is the stupa that is the object of veneration.

For a long time it was thought that the work was done over a long period from the fourth to the seventh century CE, during the reign of Emperor Harishena of the Vakataka dynasty. This view has been criticized by Karl Khandalavala, A. P. Jamkhedkar, and Brahmanand Deshpande (Spink, vol. 2, pp. 117–134). Authors of general book on Indian art seem to have accepted Spink’s ideas, but only in part, since they say that the second phase took place during late 5th century CE (Huntington, Harle). Thus, these historians allow for five decades. The second phase is also called the Mahahayana or Greater Vehicle phase.

Lately, scholars tend to avoid this nomenclature because of the problems that have surfaced regarding our understanding of Mahahayana (Singh, 2012, pp. 32–37). Although the seeds of Mahayana teachings were sown right from the first century there is little art and archaeological evidence to suggest that it became a mainstream cult. In Mahayana it is not Gautama Buddha but Bodhisatva who is important besides deities like Manjushri, Tara, Aksobhya, and Amitabha. None of them, except Bodhisatva, is present at Ajanta. Even the Bodhisatva images of Ajanta are never central object of worship. They are always shown as attendants of the Buddha in the shrine. If Bodhisatva is shown in isolation, such as the Astabhaya scenes, these were done in the very last years of activities at Ajanta, and are mostly ‘intrusive’ in nature, meaning that they were not initially planned by the original patrons, and were added by intruders after the original patrons had suddenly abandoned the region in the wake of Emperor Harisena’s death (Spink).

Some 20 cave temples were simultaneously created, for the most part viharas with a sanctuary at the back. The most elaborate caves were produced in this period, which included some “modernization” of earlier caves. Spink claims that it is possible to establish dating for this period with a very high level of precision; The Archaeological Survey of India website still presents the traditional dating: “The second phase of paintings started around 5th – 6th centuries A.D. and continued for the next two centuries”.Caves of the second period are 1–8, 11, 14–29, some possibly extensions of earlier caves. Caves 19, 26, and 29 are chaitya-grihas, the rest viharas.

About Ellora Caves: 

These caves were built during the 5th-7th century. It was initially thought that the Buddhist caves were one of the earliest structures, created between the fifth and eighth centuries, with caves 1-5 in the first phase (400-600) and 6-12 in the later phase (mid 7th-mid 8th), but now it is clear to the modern scholars that some of the Hindu caves (27,29,21,28,19,26,20,17 and 14) precede these caves. The earliest Buddhist cave is Cave 6, followed by 5,2,3,5 (right wing), 4,7,8,10 and 9. Caves 11 and 12 were the last. All the Buddhist caves were constructed between 630-700.These structures consist mostly of viharas or monasteries: large, multi-storeyed buildings carved into the mountain face, including living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and other rooms. Some of these monastery caves have shrines including carvings of Gautama Buddha, bodhisattvas and saints. In many of these caves, sculptors have endeavoured to give the stone the look of wood.

Most famous of the Buddhist caves is cave 10,(refer map) a chaitya hall (chandrashala) or ‘Vishvakarma cave’, popularly known as the “Carpenter’s Cave”. Beyond its multi-storeyed entry is a cathedral-like stupa hall also known as chaitya, whose ceiling has been carved to give the impression of wooden beams. At the heart of this cave is a 15-foot statue of Buddha seated in a preaching pose. Amongst other Buddhist caves, all of the first nine (caves 1–9) are monasteries. The last two caves, Do Tal (cave 11) and Tin Tal (cave 12) have three stories.

Attractions in Ajanta Ellora :

Ajanta Caves
Lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river, are the awesome Ajanta group of caves, captivating tourists from all over. It was only in the 19th century, when a group of British officers on a tiger hunt discovered this artistry of yore. The caves at Ajanta depict the story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD.

The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve – centres of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures.

Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave – temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period.

The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. All of Ellora’s cave-temples are awesome in size and detail; the most breathtaking of them is the Kailasa Temple, the world’s largest monolithic structure, sculptured as intricately as if it were an ivory miniature.

Jain Caves, Hindu Caves and the Buddhist Caves Among the attractions in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, mention should be made of the fascinating Jain Caves, Hindu Caves and the Buddhist Caves. After touring the caves of Ajanta Ellora, tourists can undertake short excursion to nearby places of attractions like to the Sai Baba Temple located in Shirdi. The Grishneshwar temple is located very near to the Ellora caves and this temple too attracts a number of Hindu pilgrims.

Brief Information:

• Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra – From Aurangabad Ajanta -100 km, Ellora – 30 km
• Built In: The Ajanta Caves – 200BC to 650AD, the Ellora Caves – 350AD to 700AD
• Discovered By : Ajanta and Ellora caves discovered by John Smith in 1819
• Acclaimed as: World Heritage Site
• Faiths: Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism
• Festival: Ellora Festival of Classical Dance and Music in 3rd week of March
• Attraction: Cave shrines cut out of rocks,Kailasa Temple, Buddha’s Statues, Paintings
• Time: Anytime of the year
• Ajanta and Ellora Caves Opening Hours: 9:00 am until sunset (around 5.30 p.m.). The Ajanta caves are closed on Mondays, and the Ellora caves are closed on Tuesdays. Both caves are open on national holidays.
• Ajanta and Ellora Caves Fees: Admission for foreigners is $US10 for the Ajanta caves. The Ellora caves are free to enter except for the magnificent open air Kailasa temple which charges $US 5. Children younger than 15 years are free at both places.

Travel Information :

By air : Aurangabad, 100 kms away is the nearest airport. Direct flights available from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur etc.

By Train : Aurangabad is nearest railhead, Jalgaon, 59 km away, is good for catching swanky trains.

By Bus : Well-maintained roads link Ajanta to Mumbai, good buses are also available. Ajanta- 100 kms, Bombay- 390 kms, Ellora- 32 kms, Nanded- 275 kms, Nasik- 224 kms, Pune- 232 kms.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are carved out of solid rocks by human hands and are beautiful. There are 29 caves in Ajanta which shows the cultural history of the country. The caves depicts the Buddhist history and the designs in the cave portrays the life of Buddha from time to time. Most of the caves are monasteries,the caves were mainly the residing and praying areas of the monks. The area is peaceful and serene. Ellora caves are known for its architectural elegance unlike the Ajanta caves which are known for its historical and structural aesthetics. Ellora has around 34 caves,out of which 12 are Buddhists,17 Hindu and 5 are Jain caves. The caves are very simple looking but the value lies here that the caves are carved out of the solid rocks and that too by human hands using simple tools.

They are highly significant and serve as one of the major tourist places of the country. Though the place is famous for the caves but the other areas of the place are also worth a visit. So Ajanta-Ellora tours will let you see a new world which is ethnic, real, mesmerizing and something which adds beautifully to the historical heritage of India.

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Neha Madaan | TNN 

Pune: Svayam, a Delhi-based NGO, that works to make public places accessible for the elderly and the disabled, plans to undertake an audit of Ajanta and Ellora caves, as well as other ticketed monuments in the Aurangabad circle including Bibi ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad Group of caves and Padavlena caves in Nashik. 

    Svayam, which had earlier signed a memorandum with ASI to help them make their sites in Delhi, Agra and Goa accessible, will gradually move to other sites in Maharashtra. Qutub Minar, the first monument that Svayam audited, became the first heritage monument to be made accessible by ASI. Red Fort, Taj Mahal and Lal Quila, among others, have also been audited by the Svayam team. 

    Abha Negi, director of Svayam, an initiative of the SJ Charitable Trust, said, “We have been working with ASI as consultants for six years and are currently undertaking the incorporation of accessibility features in a phased manner. We started with trainings of those involved in maintaining the world heritage sites— engineers as well as contractors— before undertaking interventions at different sites.” 

    ”It showed that the disabled and elderly have a right to expect dignified and comfortable access to and within these heritage sites and buildings,” she added. In the past, Svayam has also participated whereever possible in audits of Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal. 

    Svayam had also conducted a series of trainings with ASI engineers and contractors. “These trainings ensured appreciation of user requirements, as opposed to theoretical design prescriptions and guidelines, thereby eliciting an appropriate response followed by required desired action. A host of issues need to be kept in mind while making a heritage site accessible, right from arrival and site access, entrance and entrance gates, change in levels, thresholds, steps, incline of steps, to steep inclines, kissing gates and stiles, historic ground surfaces, surface finishes and other physical features. Staff awareness is also important,” Negi said. 

    An audit said, “An access audit process involves observing the building/ heritage site complex from the perspective of its usability by children, disabled, elderly and women. A team of professionals, user groups and trained volunteers form the audit team. They take photographs, measurements and audit the property from the perspective of not only a physically disabled person, but also blind visitors, those with low vision or with hearing impairment or with psycho-social disabilities,” Sminu Jindal, chairperson of Svayam, said. 

    The team audits each area of the complex which includes the monument’s website, parking, ticket counters/ information kiosks, toilets/amenities (drinking water facilities etc), approach ways and access route to and around the monument and to major attractions within the monument, canteens/eating joints or refreshment areas/ souvenir shop/counter, and museum/interpretation centre/ libraries. 

    Other aspects audited include level differences that create barriers for smooth mobility and safety of visitors, directional and informational signages at the entrance, parking and all other areas frequented or likely to be frequented by visitors, mobility equipment (if available) and topography/level changes in the complex. 

    Access features are suggested with the archaeological norms in mind. “We ensure that the intervention gels with the overall aesthetics of the monument and does not stand out like a sore thumb. Also the whole objective is to make the site ‘visitable’ by a wide range of people without interfering with the nature and architecture of the monument. Thirdly, we also ensure that there is no damage to the monument while implementing the suggestions for improving accessibility. Ramps and other features supplementing the accessibility are temporary structures and not grouted,” she added. 

    When it becomes essential, the team suggests minimum grouting required for the safety and proper securing of the equipment/lift wherever needed. “However, it is difficult to generalize the access solutions at all heritage sites since each differ in its characteristics, topography, architecture, usage and climatic conditions. If the area is too big, we suggest mobility solutions such as wheelchairs, carts that are run on battery and are non-polluting,” she said. 

    An official from ASI’s headquarters in Delhi said, “Barrier-free features in monuments across the country is a continuous process. Toilets at major monuments across the country will be made barrierfree with easy wheelchair maneuvering. The barrier-free initiative will also be applied to monuments in Maharashtra.” 

    INCLUSIVE HERITAGE SITES WORLD OVER 

• Edinburgh Castle in Scotland has a stair lift alongside a temporary ramp that is in use in the castle’s Great Hall 
• Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland has a permanent ramp 
• The Caves of Jerusalem have been made accessible by installing platform lifts 
• King Ludwig’s fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein, in Germany, has an elevator for people with disabilities to access all the towers and different levels of the castle 

SHANIWARWADA: SOON TO BE ACCESIBLE TO ALL 

The Qutub Minar was the first heritage monument in the country to be made accessible for the elderly and the disabled 

Below is the feature from Times of India, Pune by Ms. Neha Madaan, a well known feature writer who has been closely following such issues.

After audit, Ajanta, Ellora caves may become more accessible

Neha Madaan, TNN | May 14, 2012, 12.56AM IST

PUNE: Svayam, a Delhi-based NGO, that works to make public places accessible for the elderly and the disabled, plans to undertake an audit of Ajanta and Ellora caves, as well as other ticketed monuments in the Aurangabad circle including Bibi ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad Group of caves and Padavlena caves in Nashik. Svayam, which had earlier signed a memorandum with ASI to help them make their sites in Delhi, Agra and Goa accessible, will gradually move to other sites in Maharashtra. Qutub Minar, the first monument that Svayam audited, became the first heritage monument to be made accessible by ASI. Red Fort, Taj Mahal and Lal Quila, among others, have also been audited by the Svayam team.

Abha Negi, director of Svayam, an initiative of the SJ Charitable Trust, said, “We have been working with ASI as consultants for six years and are currently undertaking the incorporation of accessibility features in a phased manner. We started with trainings of those involved in maintaining the world heritage sites- engineers as well as contractors- before undertaking interventions at different sites.”

“It showed that the disabled and elderly have a right to expect dignified and comfortable access to and within these heritage sites and buildings,” she added. In the past, Svayam has also participated whereever possible in audits of Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal.

Svayam had also conducted a series of trainings with ASI engineers and contractors. “These trainings ensured appreciation of user requirements, as opposed to theoretical design prescriptions and guidelines, thereby eliciting an appropriate response followed by required desired action. A host of issues need to be kept in mind while making a heritage site accessible, right from arrival and site access, entrance and entrance gates, change in levels, thresholds, steps, incline of steps, to steep inclines, kissing gates and stiles, historic ground surfaces, surface finishes and other physical features. Staff awareness is also important,” Negi said.

An audit said, “An access audit process involves observing the building/ heritage site complex from the perspective of its usability by children, disabled, elderly and women. A team of professionals, user groups and trained volunteers form the audit team. They take photographs, measurements and audit the property from the perspective of not only a physically disabled person, but also blind visitors, those with low vision or with hearing impairment or with psycho-social disabilities,” Sminu Jindal, chairperson of Svayam, said.

The team audits each area of the complex which includes the monument’s website, parking, ticket counters/ information kiosks, toilets/amenities (drinking water facilities etc), approach ways and access route to and around the monument and to major attractions within the monument, canteens/eating joints or refreshment areas/ souvenir shop/counter, and museum/interpretation centre/ libraries.

Other aspects audited include level differences that create barriers for smooth mobility and safety of visitors, directional and informational signages at the entrance, parking and all other areas frequented or likely to be frequented by visitors, mobility equipment (if available) and topography/level changes in the complex.

Access features are suggested with the archaeological norms in mind. “We ensure that the intervention gels with the overall aesthetics of the monument and does not stand out like a sore thumb. Also the whole objective is to make the site ‘visitable’ by a wide range of people without interfering with the nature and architecture of the monument. Thirdly, we also ensure that there is no damage to the monument while implementing the suggestions for improving accessibility. Ramps and other features supplementing the accessibility are temporary structures and not grouted,” she added.

When it becomes essential, the team suggests minimum grouting required for the safety and proper securing of the equipment/lift wherever needed. “However, it is difficult to generalize the access solutions at all heritage sites since each differ in its characteristics, topography, architecture, usage and climatic conditions. If the area is too big, we suggest mobility solutions such as wheelchairs, carts that are run on battery and are non-polluting,” she said.

An official from ASI’s headquarters in Delhi said, “Barrier-free features in monuments across the country is a continuous process. Toilets at major monuments across the country will be made barrier-free with easy wheelchair maneuvering. The barrier-free initiative will also be applied to monuments in Maharashtra.”

Inclusive heritage sites world over

Edinburgh Castle in Scotland has a stair lift alongside a temporary ramp that is in use in the castle’s Great Hall

Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland has a permanent ramp

The Caves of Jerusalem have been made accessible by installing platform lifts

King Ludwig’s fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein, in Germany, has an elevator for people with disabilities to access all the towers and different levels of the castle

Have a look at some of the most famous ones.

Khajuraho Temples- Khajuraho temple is situated in Madhya Pradesh. The Khajuraho temples are internationally famous for the erotic sculptures that enrich the walls. Architecturally these temples are unique. They are built on high platforms, several meters off the ground in a combination of light sandstone and granite. Each of these temples has an entrance hall or mandapa, and a sanctum sanctorum or garbha griha. The roofs of these various sections have a discrete form. The porch and hall have pyramidal roofs which are made of several horizontal layers. The inner roof is a conical tower, a massive load of stone made of minute towers called Shikhara.

Meenakshi Temple-.The Meenakshi temple has distinguished and elegantly carved towers, dedicated to Goddess Meenakashi in Madurai (Tamil Nadu). Considered as the south gateway, the Meenakshi temple consists of identical temples of God Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi, each one as high as about nine storeys. The temple is an outstanding example of sculpture and architecture. The Meenakshi temple has grandiose stonewalls and towers. The image of Goddess Meenakshi is said to be carved out of a lone emerald. The temple was refurbished many times adding corridors and grand sculptures to it. According to the legend of this temple the marriage of the goddess Meenakshi to Shiva took place in Madurai and is still celebrated every summer with grand gusto.

Sun Temple -The wonderful Sun temple is a living monument of Orissa’s splendid past. The Sun Temple of Konark is regarded as the crest of art and architecture of the ancient Kalinga era. The entire temple was designed in the form of a mammoth chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of elegantly carved wheels. Each of the wheels is nearly 10 feet in diameter. The studies represent the imposing parade of the Sun God. The temple holds the distinction of being one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

Golden Temple- The temple is in the capital city of Punjab (Amritsar). It was built by the fifth guru of the Sikhs and is located on a small island in the centre of a pool called the Amrit-sar (‘pool of nectar’) and is linked to land by a marble walkway. The golden color comes from the cover of gold foil. The architecture of the temple is considered as an epitome of creativity and it represents a unique accord between the Muslims and the Hindus. Symbolically, it has entrances on all four sides to show that it is open to worshippers of all castes and creeds.

Mahabodhi Temple- The fifty meter high Mahabodhi Temple is located in Bihar in the city of Gaya. The temple is an evidence of the history of Buddhism.  It is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, particularly the attainment of Enlightenment. This temple is located near the spot where Gautama Siddhartha had attained salvation. The temple is considered as one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding example of stone. The four towers on the corners rise gracefully. Delimited on all four sides by stone railings, Mahabodhi Temple bears railings of two types, the older railings are made from sandstone and the other railings are of unrefined granite.

Ajanta Ellora Caves- The famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora are situated in the state ofMaharashtra.These caves are regarded as a world heritage site and were dug out from a solid rock. They symbolize the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They are placed in a horseshoe shape. Out of the total 34 caves, 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre are dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are dedicated to Jainism. These caves are divided into ‘Chaitya-Grihas’ (stupa halls) and ‘Viharas’ (dwelling halls). The carvings and the paintings in the caves portray the life of Lord Buddha. Along with this, several types of human and animal figures are also carved out of the rocks. Aurangabad is the closest city from these cave temples. These caves are a famous heritage site of India.

Dilwara Jain Temples- Dilwara Jain temples, Mount Abu are sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. The temples are a mix of simplicity as well as delicacy. They are five in number all of which are built in white marble. The two most famous of these are Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi. The Vimala Vasahiis dedicated to the 1st Jain Tirthankara (saint). The entrance to the temple is from the east through a arched porch which leads to a six-pillared pergola with a three-tiered smosan (representation of the holy mountain of the Jains) in the center. The smosan is surrounded by 10 statues including that of the founder Vimala and his family, each seated on a beautiful elephant made out of a single block of white marble, about four feet high. The Luna Vasahiis dedicated to the 22^nd Jain Tirthankara (saint). It is slightly smaller then the Vimala Vasahi. The eight pillars of Luna Vasahi assembly hall are of different types. The emphasize is on the ceiling with superbly carved figures of dancers, animals and parade of horsemen.

The Indian temples portray a true intermingling of different cultures of India. The Indian temples are a perfect example of Unity in Diversity, because there is hardly any city, town or village in the country that does not have temples. The Indian temples depict the different sects’ prevalent here. Thus the Hindu temples are amongst the finest in India that are spread almost in every segment.

The temple tours take on a sanctified journey to all the Important Temples in India. The statuary and embellishment in these antique temples showcase one of the world’s leading artistic legacies. Temples of India reflect religious harmony. They are the finest examples of temple craftsmanship of India. So explore these temples and know about the rich cultural legacy of India and experience the memorable India Temples Tour.

In Singapore also I try to keep discovering about the history of Singapore and Malay peninsula. (But (my personal opinion is )Singapore is not that rich as far as history and culture is concerned. Still I keep exploring and today I got one such chance to explore about the Singapore of yester years. Today news paper in Singapore had asked it’s readers to submit the snaps they have of yester year’s Singapore with them. After getting the snaps from people they put up the photo exhibition “My Life: Then & Now” @Orchard Central. Today I visited that place to view the photo exhibition. From the snaps, it was apparent that Singapore was not so rich, well organised, prosperous and developed when It got freedom. In the photos, I saw flooded streets with people in neck deep water, not so clean streets, undeveloped Singapore river belt, dressing of the people then, etc. When Singapore got freedom providing housing to the people was the biggest problem. In the snaps I could see people living in wooden houses and sharing a single tap of water to meet their needs. The streets were not so organised as it looks today. Singapore river belt was barren then with no concrete structures around. Seeing all snaps, I realised that Singapore was in pathetic state when it got independence. But just after 44 years of freedom, today Singapore is developed nation. I can safely say that people who had taken an initiative to lead the Singapore after independence have taken Singapore to the right direction. The key figure who made the poor, hungry and dirty Singapore of 44 years back to prosperous and developed nation of today is Lee kuan Yew. He indeed deserves the pet on his back to transform a nation in less than a one generation time.

I regret India had likes of Gandhi n Nehru at the helm at the time of our independence rather than having any visionary ruler like MM Lee (as Lee kuan Yew is known here. Ministor Mentor Lee). MM Lee was the first prime minster of Singapore and he served the Singapore as prime minster from 1959 – 1990. Currently his son, Lee Hsian Loong is serving the nation as prime minster since 2004. Just for reader’s information since independence Singapore has been ruled by only three prime minsters. First MM Lee, Second Goh Chock tong and third n current PM Lee hsian loong.