"But we did!"

My buddy, Zakaria Zainal's ambitious photography project, Our Gurkhas is "an anthology of portraits and anecdotes from the retired Singapore Gurkhas as they reminisce about life in the Lion City — from the 50s till today."

 Photo Credit: Zakaria Zainal

“There was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it,” Kishore Kumar Gurung said, “but we did.”

The last three words to the above lyrics of ‘We are Singapore’ would often leave the retired assistant superintendent amused.

Amused, at how his Singaporean friends would sing it.

“But we did,” Gurung repeated again in a dour tone.

Born and bred in Singapore — as his father too served in the Gurkha Contingent — he is only too proud of the great achievements of this small island.

"Singaporeans should be proud too!"

The way the song is being sung should be changed he suggested, especially the last three words.

"But we did!" the retired assistant superintendent said emphatically. 

 See more @ Our Gurkhas Facebook Photo Album.

Indeed.