Diasporic change and continuity

“Once a sojourning crowd, Indian inhabitants of Singapore have come to be empowered with a sense of identity”

January 26, 2015 10:11 pm | Updated 10:13 pm IST

Eminently suited to write about the subject, Rajesh Rai, a third generation Indian of Singapore, explains the choice of title in his introduction: in spite of what Blundell said of Singapore’s floating population the communities that came there did hold on to their cultural heritage and reshaped their identities and posited new social linkages. In this context, the usage of the term Diaspora, a word that originally meant Jews living outside Israel and later for the dispersion of any people from their homeland, for Indians is justified by the author convincingly.

In an earlier book, The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora co-authored with Peter Reeves, the author used the meaningful terms ‘collective memory’, ‘the will to survive as a minority’ and ‘the time factor’ to substantiate his use of ‘Diaspora’ for Indians in Singapore.

The period between 1819 and 1945 is chosen for his study, as Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles for the purpose of a trading station in 1819 and Japanese left it after their brief occupation in 1945. The story is divided logically into three segments — 1819-67, 1867-1941 and 1941-45.

The author takes pains to explain the different stages of Indians settling on the island. Colonisation brought in new kind of pressures when indentured labour, in reality a different form of slavery, was required to augment productivity and this was when the trading companies took over administration of the colonies, supported by their rulers, modifying the control of the land to suit their requirement. With it a new comprador class of natives developed who assisted the colonialists in their exploitation.

This phase is painstakingly explained in the chapter Merchants, Minions and Military. In the colony’s earliest years, military personnel were the most significant component of the Indian population. The first lot was drawn from the Bengal Native Infantry and later from the Madras Regiment. Thus collectively, the Indian garrison was crucial in Singapore’s early development, though the commercial presence started with Naraina Pillai who joined Raffles during 1819. Pillai set up the brick kiln and became Singapore’s first building contractor. However, the Tamil Muslims, known first as Chulia and later as kling formed the bulk of the traders, since even before the advent of Europeans they were in trade with the archipelago. For them the presence of the English presented better commercial opportunity.

With demographic records, Rai presents the characteristics of the settlers in Singapore of that period. The unfair practices in getting Indians - even young boys - under different categories, and exploiting the convict labour in building the entire length of roads, more than 150 miles in the island in extent is explained in this chapter.

“Poly-Ethnic world of the port city” reveals the European racial ideas that affected the settlement patterns. Here the author records the state of Indians as against other nationals such as Chinese in Singapore. From 1819 to 1867, the Indian concentration was within the small area of the town of Singapore. Colonial policies sought to demarcate differential quarters based on the assumptions of a social taxonomy. By the mid-19th century the arrival of Nattukottai Chettiars saw some money lending business.

“Diasporic Transformations in the Age of Mass Migration” deals with changing pattern of migration and the reconstitution of the Diaspora. When Straits Settlement as a crown Colony was set up Singapore became a nodal point for sea trade. This was when the Indian population of the island grew six-fold due probably to the increased labour force brought from Madras Presidency. The Indian coolies were amenable and able to pick up any work given, but illegal activities in procuring and transporting men and women led to the Act of 1864 restricting movement from Madras, resulting in a drop in Indian population during 1870-71. However in 1880 things changed due to famines in Madras Presidency and again there was increased flow of Indians. It was then that the Tamil Immigration Fund was introduced. Again malpractices led to ill-treatment of labour force and this was brought to light in the 1905 Benares session of the Indian National Congress which opposed the practice. The Assisted Labour Migration thus came to an end in 1938.

English educated personnel were now needed for running the administration with the increased trade and this brought about a change in migrants’ stature. Significantly present in the security sector were Punjabis. The author shows the changes in demography towards the end of 19th century with detailed statistics. By then, the religious practices of the Indians became evident especially with the Tamils celebrating ‘Thaipusam’.

Serangoon Road had become the most important area of Indian settlement. Spatial segregation also was evident with caste-based places of worship. While Kaliamman Temple in Serangoon Road was patronised by caste Hindus, Muneeswaran Temples in different localities became the places for Adidravidars. Thus the increase in Indian population brought with it different compositions based on social, religious and economic factors. The political changes in Madras presidency had a direct bearing on the social life in Singapore.

“Repression, Reform and Rebellion”, deals with the authoritarian turn of the Colonial government after the 1867 transfer. The Muharram procession of May 1867 that saw religious clashes brought in regulations curtailing many activities, especially when the secret societies of Chinese posed a threat to peace. In 1869 the Suppression of Dangerous Societies’ Ordinance was passed and was made a law from 1872.

The narrative about the Japanese Occupation and the progression of Indian National Army reads like a thriller. In fact it is one of the best chapters of the book. Subhas Chandra Bose’s struggle for Indian freedom is explained dispassionately and is a study of great importance in the history of Indians of the East. From March 1943, the Japanese administration accelerated the development of strategic works. The appalling conditions faced by the Indians and their traumatic experience are explained in graphic detail. The author quotes M. Sivaram the Chief Editor of Indo-Shimbunsa, the state of Indian labour, men, women and children travelling in trains. “. . . was indeed heart rending. A jostling bunch of humanity in hunger and distress, shouted at, cursed and slapped by everyone”.

Concluding the author notes, “Once a sojourning crowd of mainly labourers and traders, by the mid-twentieth century the Indian inhabitants of Singapore had come to be empowered with a sense of identity and purpose asserting their claims …”

Indians In Singapore 1819-1945 — Diaspora in the Colonial Port City: Rajesh Rai; Oxford University Press, Library Building, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001. Rs. 995.

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