1. Good evening. It is a real pleasure to join you here this evening, at the launch of this special exhibition.
2. I spent a few moments viewing this exhibition, and I was thrilled. If anything, it left me with a deep impression of how proud we are of our roots in Singapore.
The important role of the Indian Heritage Centre in partnering communities to preserve Singapore’s history
3. The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), fondly called ‘the Jewel of Little India’, plays an important role in sharing the rich histories and cultures of our Indian community. Since it was launched 8 years ago, the IHC has been working with various partners and the community to curate special exhibitions, celebrate festivals and engage diverse and new audiences through creative ways, including new age ways like digital programmes. This is the IHC’s sixth special exhibition and third community co-curated exhibition. It is also their first exhibition showcasing the heritage of the Malayalee community in Singapore.
Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0
4. Earlier this year, we launched Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, which charts the next chapter for Singapore’s heritage and museum landscape over the next five years. One of the key pillars of the plan is the Community pillar. Fundamental to this is the belief that heritage belongs to everyone, and is enriched by the participation of everyone, in building up and sharing our heritage. Therefore, we want to empower and engage Singaporeans to tell their stories and advocate for our rich multi-cultural identities. Very much like what this exhibition succeeds in doing – bringing people together, sharing their personal treasures, telling their stories, and bringing it all together and having it come to life in this exhibition.
5. It has clearly been a labour of love – the Malayalee community came together, and in partnership with the IHC – meaningfully showcased its stories, roots, culture, and heritage. The community has made many important contributions, including loans of over 200 artefacts and content for audio-visual materials. And over the course of the past year, the IHC and guest curator, Dr Anitha Pillai, engaged various groups of Malayalees for their valuable feedback and stories. This reflects the ties that binds us together. And if you look closely at heritage, I believe that we will find that for all our diversity, where we are common and the amount of commonalities that we have, far outweigh the differences that we have.
6. I understand that the title of the exhibition, “Ente Veedu”, means “My Home” in Malayalam. In the exhibition, we discover “home” through the lens of the Malayalees in Singapore.
The contributions of the Malayalee community in Singapore
7. In fact, the Malayalee community has been an integral part of Singapore’s rich history, including in our very early years of nation-building. Like many other migrants, the very first Malayalees in Singapore came here for work, and made contributions in various sectors and jobs, such as food and retail trade, as dockyard workers at the British military and naval bases, and in the civil service.
8. Since then, this community has continued to be prominently represented in various parts of society, including government, politics and law. For example, Ambassador Gopinath Pillai, or Ambassador Gopi as he is more affectionately known, is a distinguished diplomat who has left an indelible mark by representing Singapore's interests overseas during his extensive tenure.
9. I would also like to highlight that Ambassador Gopi was instrumental in charting the direction for the IHC during his leadership as Chairman from 2016 to 2021. This was integral for the development of the various special exhibitions, publications, and symposiums that the IHC has showcased and developed over the years.
10. Ambassador Gopi’s role in the IHC illustrates how the Malayalee community is one with heart, placing importance not just on economic excellence, but on other very fundamental parts of our society and life, including sports, culture and community, which will really be the power and drive of the next bound of development as a country in Singapore.
11. Take for example Shanti Pereira, a household name, our national sprinter with Malayalee roots, has done Singapore proud with her sporting excellence on the world stage. She has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, won two medals at the Asian Games, broken numerous records and I think she is now the pride and joy of Singapore. And the best part is, it’s not just the support from the Indian or the Malayalee community; it's from all Singaporeans, showing us that sport truly knows no barriers, no divides, and it unites us. So we are really rich in our diversity, and it’s something that we treasure in Singapore, and one that really fills our heart with the strength of national identity.
12. Dance pioneers KP Bhaskar and Santha Bhaskar were also notable Malayalees who made an impact on Singapore’s cultural landscape. The duo established Bhaskar’s Arts Academy, an Indian classical dance, music and theatre company set up way back in 1952. Today, the Academy remains one of the longest standing providers of classical Indian Performing arts in Singapore.
13. There are also several Malayalee associations and organisations, some having been formed as early as 1917, set up for the purpose of uplifting the community and focused on bringing people together, making sure that no one is left behind. One such example is Sree Narayana Mission, which provides social services, including a nursing home, senior care centres, and educational financial assistance to those in need. And I am proud that it may have been set up as a Malayalee organisation, but they serve the community at large, providing care for people regardless of race, language or religion.
Our heritage deepens our sense of belonging and common identity, and strengthens our commitment to building a better future together
14. Much like the intricate tapestry of Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society, the Malayalee community is made up of different cultures and faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, Syrian Christians, and Roman Catholics. In fact, I would say that diversity is written into the community’s DNA, and our Malayalee community embodies the Singapore spirit with a deep appreciation for this diversity. And it is through this exhibition that we can deepen our thinking and see how heritage is truly a unifying force. The community has led by example, and forged a uniquely Singaporean identity, bringing people of diverse backgrounds together with a strong sense of belonging to Singapore through these shared experiences which are so important.
15. That exemplifies why we take our heritage so seriously; why it is such an important part of our Forward Singapore movement. It shapes how we think, it defines who we are, and it also tells us how the world sees us, and how we in turn see the world. And having a common history connects us to one another as Singaporeans, anchored in our shared heritage and invested in telling our collective story. It bridges our divides and gives us that common identity and destiny, through which we are committed to building a better future together, as one people.
Conclusion
16. During his address at the Singapore Malayalee Association’s 100th-anniversary dinner in 2017, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended the community for turning diversity into a strength, highlighting that Singapore needs to do the same. Indeed, the Malayalee community’s longstanding contributions to building a better society, and reaching out to all regardless of race and religion, is a great example for us to follow. And I am glad that this rich history is preserved here, and the stories are told and retold through pictures or artefacts, and through this wonderful integrated exhibition.
17. And I think it leaves me just to say a big word of congratulations to the organisers, to the curators, for taking that special care.
18. This heritage and special cultures that we have in Singapore, is for all of us to carefully look after, protect, shepherd, steward, and make sure we pass it on to the next generation. These are all very important memories, and it is vital for us to take the responsibility to pass it on, or we might lose it, and with that lose a special part of Singapore. [I hope that we can] use the exhibition as a springboard and platform to showcase this heritage, and steward and pass it on to the next generation.
19. On that note, thank you for having me here, and I encourage you all to bring more people to this exhibition. Thank you very much.
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