What are the odds of meeting five ambassadors and high commissioners of Indian origin in Singapore within two days?
It happened to me over one rather unusual weekend, and provided another reminder of the interesting people Singapore has a habit of bringing together.
Four of them were panellists at The Straits Connect Conclave at Amara Sanctuary Sentosa on Aug 22, discussing the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. The session was moderated by veteran Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, whom I have interviewed and met a few times over the years.
India’s High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule is a familiar face. Covering the Indian community in Singapore means our paths cross regularly at diplomatic, cultural and community events.
Canada’s High Commissioner Paul Thoppil, however, was someone I was meeting for the first time. He was wonderfully friendly, and it did not take us long to discover a Kerala connection.
His mother is from Thiruvananthapuram – my birthplace – while his father is from Chengannur. Though born in Canada, he spent holidays in Kerala while growing up and later had an arranged marriage with a Malayalee from Kochi.
It is amazing how quickly two strangers can start talking once Kerala enters the conversation!
Then there was British High Commissioner Nik Mehta, whom I had interviewed earlier and who remains a personal favourite.
During that interview, he spoke candidly about his family being forced to flee Uganda under Idi Amin and starting life again in the UK. When he mentioned that he had learnt to play the tabla as a youngster, we couldn’t let that pass.
He sportingly sat on the floor at the British High Commission, tabla in front of him and the British flag behind. It made a memorable photograph.
So there I was at Sentosa, listening to these diplomats offer very different perspectives on geopolitics and happily collecting photographs with them afterwards.
But one thought occurred to me: Singapore has another ambassador of Indian origin whom I had not met – US Ambassador Anjani Sinha.
When would I get that opportunity?
As it turned out, I had to wait just one day.
The next evening, Mr Sinha was guest of honour at the BIJHAR Cultural Confluence 2026.
And what an introduction it was.
Mr Anjani’s roots are in Bihar, and his presence generated considerable pride within the BiJhar community.
What impressed me equally was that he stayed for nearly two hours, watching and seemingly enjoying the cultural performances.
And, yes, I got my photograph with him too.
A few weeks earlier, I had experienced another special Singapore moment – meeting almost the entire Indian team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
That had felt like a childhood dream coming full circle.
Now came another unlikely experience: Five ambassadors and high commissioners of Indian origin in two days.
For a journalist, meetings are part of the job. But occasionally, several encounters come together in a way that makes you stop and appreciate the coincidence.
Singapore keeps producing those wonderful little surprises.
