Dalhousie Obelisk
The Dalhousie Obelisk, located near the Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, was built to commemorate the visit of the Marquis of Dalhousie, Governer-General of India (1848 to 1856) in February 1850. Originally located near the Dalhousie Pier at the mouth of the Singapore River, it was moved to its present location in 1891 due to land reclamation works that rendered the pier obsolete.
What is an Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, narrow stone monument that tapers slightly as it ascends and ends with a pyramid at the top. It was first conceived and erected by the ancient Egyptians and has been adapted by many other cultures in their architecture.
Trivia
The architect of Dalhousie Obelisk, John Turnbull Thomson, also designed and built the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca.
The Significance of the Dalhousie Obelisk
As seen from the image above the monument was a reminder to all traders and officials that free trade was what led to the rise of Singapore as a trade settlement, and was to be the foundation of the future successes of Singapore. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Singapore River was to emphasise that message.
The Dalhousie Obelisk's Message For Us Today
I thought about what the text said: "the wisdom of liberating commerce from all restraints" is what "[Singapore's] future prosperity must ever be identified". It supports what we call "globalisation" today. So when I read this statement, several questions popped up: to what extent does it hold true for Singapore today? Should globalisation still be one of the fundamental principles on which our economy is built upon? Given the volatility and unpredictability of the modern world, what are some cautions or consequences of being heavily plugged in to the rest of the world? How are we to manage the influx of foreign people and influences (and the exportation of Singaporeans and Singapore's influences) that inevitably modify our already malleable sense of nationhood and identity? And this would certainly beg the question about our identity: what does it mean to be a Singaporean? I think these questions deserve some attention from Singaporeans of all generations, and an understanding of our past can inform us better in navigating the future.
