“Indian community must stay cohesive amid diverse views”
The Indian community in Singapore is diverse, with a wide range of perspectives shaping how the youth view issues related to race and religion. While Singapore has made significant progress over the years, expectations of what constitutes racial harmony have also evolved, highlighted the Chairman of OnePeople.sg Dr Janil Puthucheary.
He was speaking at a dialogue for youth organised by Tamil Murasu’s Ilaiya Thalaimurai (IT), which translates to young generation, and OnePeople.sg on Sept 28. Dr Janil, who is also Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment, emphasised that while internal differences exist, it is crucial to “express that diversity of opinion within our community and still be cohesive as a community”.
Nearly 100 Indian youths, aged 18 to 35, gathered at OnePeople.sg’s Hall of Trust for a dialogue themed Race Relations: Emerging Trends & Youth Leadership. Participants from community organisations and tertiary institutions shared candid views on inclusivity, identity, and their vision for Singapore.
These conversations serve a dual purpose: To build on past progress in social cohesion and to energise a new generation of community leaders, Dr Janil noted.
“We need young people to step forward, not just take the received wisdom of the seniors and elders,” he said. “We want to be relevant to their generation and the next generation.”
Before the dialogue started, Dr Mathew Mathews, head of Social Lab and principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), set the tone with a 20-minute presentation on insights into Singapore’s multicultural landscape, framed by findings from the IPS and OnePeople.sg’s reports.
The dialogue with Dr Janil touched on casual racism, promoting inclusivity, integration of foreigners, and creating spaces where diverse opinions within the Indian community can be voiced constructively.
“Today, microaggressions and racial stereotypes are taken far more seriously than they were five or ten years ago,” Dr Janil noted, pointing out that this shift reflects a positive trajectory in Singaporeans’ approach to building harmony.
Even though the “goalposts have shifted, the game is still the same”, he said, highlighting that while the specifics of racial harmony may evolve, the fundamental need for it remains constant.
“In 2025, we cannot pretend that race and religion are no longer issues affecting social cohesion, even as we continue to strive towards it,” he said. Both, he emphasised, continue to be sources of difference that influence everyday interactions, and maintaining racial and religious harmony in our society is a developing process.
“Establishing a sense of ‘Singaporeanness’ is a work in progress,” Dr Janil said. “It is not something done and dusted. Each generation must continue to shape it, ensuring it coexists with, and not erases, other identities.”
The discussion also addressed global tensions and their local impact. “When times are tough, these are the fault lines where our society comes under stress,” he said, emphasising the need to strengthen community bonds before crises strike.
Chief coordinator of the Inter-Religious Organisation’s Youth Wing, Shukul Raaj Kumar, 29, described the dialogue as fruitful, not only in terms of the perspectives and questions raised, but also as a catalyst for connecting with like-minded friends to work together on solutions.
He added that beyond discussion, the event fostered friendships, partnerships, and collaborations that could help address emerging issues within the Indian community more effectively.
For younger participants, such as 18-year-old Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Arman Dhillon, the session reinforced the importance of belonging. “We learned a lot about racial harmony and how we can maintain it. It’s important to be together and have a community. Hopefully, we can all be one people, one Singapore,” he said.
The event also served as the official launch of IT, a new social media brand by Tamil Murasu aimed at young audiences. The tagline of the platform is “ThisisIT”.
Designed as a digital-first initiative, IT provides Tamil and Indian youths in Singapore with a space to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions, as well as opportunities for content collaboration.
Operating across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, IT has already produced over 130 short videos and 40 posters since its introduction in February, covering lifestyle, politics, and social issues in bite-sized formats with subtitles.
With this launch, IT aims to further connect with more youths and young professionals, nurturing a vibrant and inclusive space for the next generation.
“IT is fundamentally trying to bridge the gap between hard news and the nature of content consumption on social media. We strive to present serious and important news in a casual and relatable manner that resonates with today’s younger generation. We hope that the Indian youths of Singapore support us in this venture,” said Tamil Murasu’s audience and growth editor and tabla! editor Venga Subramaniam.
