In India, Dalhousie was recognized as an active modernist but incurred the displeasure of the Indians with his infamous “doctrin of lapse” by which he annexed Indian princely States where the rulers had no direct heirs to succeed them.
Marquis Dalhousie was the second Governor-General of India to visit
on 17 February 1850 in the man of war “Feroze” which was anchored in the roads. He was received by the Governor, the Temenggong, European residents and the heads of various Chinese clans.
During their three-day stay, the Governor-General and his wife visited the oldest Chinese temple the Thian Hock Keng in Telok Ayer Street. At the farewell ceremony the Chinese community organized a procession of Chinese children up Government Hill (now Fort Canning) as a display of their loyalty to the British. Before his departure Marquis Dalhousie donated a sum of 1,000 rupees to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
As a permanent memorial to that visit the residents of
decided to erect an obelisk by means of a $5 subscription fund. The following persons in May 1850 served on the Committee of the Dalhousie Testimonial :
G.G. Nicol M.F. Davidson J. Guthrie Tan Kim Seng Joaquim D’Almedia H.C. Caldwell Ang Choon Seng and Seah Eu Chin
S'pore 
