When Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was taken on his final journey, emotions soared - not just on the streets of the city-state, but also thousands of kilometres away in India.
Despite it being a public holiday in India, Indians and Singaporeans gathered together on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi to say their final goodbyes to Mr Lee.
Mr Lim Thua Kuan, Singapore's High Commissioner to India, said: "It is not only Singaporeans who feel this way. Over the past week, we have seen many Indian nationals who have come over to our embassy to sign the condolence book and each have their own links to Singapore.
"It is very gratifying for me as High Commissioner to know that the emotions that are being displayed in Singapore reach across the seas to other countries, including India."
While people teared as they bade Mr Lee farewell, the Indian flag flew at half-mast on top of the presidential palace, parliament house and elsewhere in honour of Singapore’s founding father. Mr Lee was one of the few world leaders who had personal relations with almost all India's prime ministers.
The grief also spilled onto the streets of southern Indian city Chennai in Tamil Nadu, where Mr Lee is seen as someone who is the 'people's own.' The city's Singapore Consulate General office swelled with fans and admirers of the former prime minister.
"Whatever I am today is all thanks to Mr Lee Kuan Yew," said a Chennai resident. "It is of great grief, it is something I can't believe that the great founding Prime Minister of Singapore has left us. We feel like orphans now."
With his death, Mr Lee's legacy remains to inspire not just those in Singapore. but also other countries, including India.
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