March 30, 1972 : Singapore
Kurma: Srila Prabhupada travelled with three disciples from Calcutta to Sydney via Singapore. Shyamasundara acted as his secretary, Pradyumna as his servant and Sanskrit editor, and Nanda Kumara as his cook.
On arrival at Singapore airport, however, without explanation, immigration authorities flatly refused Srila Prabhupada and his entourage entry into the country. Nanda Kumara spoke to the head man, a Chinese official. Mr. Bhajwani, who was there to greet Srila Prabhupada, also tried frantically to appease the authorities.
Prabhupada sat down in the crowded transit lounge, disappointed and feeling ill, while Shyamasundara went to try to book a flight to Sydney. Prabhupada had often complained about immigration officers, who, totally ignorant of spiritual etiquette, would question a sadhu at the border. He compared them to barking watchdogs: "Yeow, yeow, yeow - where is your visa?"
Formerly, he had explained, a sadhu would be allowed unhindered entrance, even to a king's palace. In the course of preaching, certainly Prabhupada was prepared to undergo difficulties. But this unequivocal refusal of entry was particularly disturbing.
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure - Kurma Dasa
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