New Book Chronicles Indian Heritage in Singapore

The cultural heritage of the Indian community in Singapore, which is believed to go back centuries, comes alive in a new book, Singapore Indian Heritage. The book, launched by the Indian Heritage Center in the country on Sept. 21, traces the assimilation of Indians in Singapore through the years.

The 556-page book blends academic research with catalog entries of the Heritage Center’s collection of more than 300 artifacts, documents, and photographs. It contains a series of essays and photos, which narrate the cultural heritage of the Indian community in Singapore that dates back to pre-colonial times. The hardcover tome also stresses on the valuable contributions made by the group in building the country, and its modern-day dynamics.

Launched by S Iswaran, the Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, the book has been edited by Prof. Rajesh Rai of the National University of Singapore and Prof. A. Mani of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. At the launch ceremony, Prof. Rai spoke about how the Japanese occupation of Singapore brought a lot of suffering to Indians in the country, even though Subhash Chandra Bose formed an alliance with Japan in fighting against the British.

Gopinath Pillai, Singapore’s ambassador-at-large, said the book was a collaboration between the members of the academia and the center’s museum professionals. “The IHC is invested in the long-term study of Indian history and heritage in Singapore and the wider South-east Asia region,” he added, the Strait Times reported.

The book is now available at Museum Label shops at the Indian Heritage Centre, Asian Civilisations Museum, National Museum of Singapore and Malay Heritage Centre at a price of $53.50.

Indian Heritage Center in Singapore

The Indian Heritage Center, launched on May 7, 2015, is a cultural center and museum, which showcases the heritage of Indo-Singaporeans. The center offers year-round exhibitions, programs and activities to promote awareness and appreciation of Indian culture, arts, and heritage. The center operates under the management of the National Heritage Board, with the support from the Indian community in Singapore.