Beyond a media organisation, Tamil Murasu (TM), which also publishes tabla!, is the identity of Singapore’s Tamils, said Mr Raja Segar, the editor of the Tamil-language newspaper, in his keynote address at its 90th anniversary celebration.
“If every Tamil home subscribed to Tamil Murasu, the print newspaper would survive for many years. Let us try,” Mr Raja, 63, said.
Held on July 6 at Fairmont Singapore with over 1,000 guests, the gala was marked by a recollection of TM’s rich history and legacy, as well as its efforts in digital transformation.
Mr Raja traced TM’s humble beginnings to July 6, 1935, when it was founded as a weekly newsletter of the Tamils Reform Association.
“It soon became the voice of the Tamil community,” he noted. “It covered news, events, initiatives and government policies – and more importantly, how those policies impacted our people. It was also a bridge to the homeland for many early migrants who longed to stay connected.”
Many in the Tamil community have emotional ties with TM.
There are readers who still have yellowed copies of Tamil Murasu from decades ago – clippings of poems, obituaries, wedding announcements or community triumphs. That shows how much this paper has meant to people’s lives.
Acknowledging past editors and their families, Mr Raja said: “They carried this dream through difficult times, with limited resources and unwavering dedication. We are standing on their shoulders.
“I thank those who applaud us, and I also thank those who occasionally scold us. That sense of ownership, like a parent’s love, is something we feel deeply.”
Ceaselessly Transforming
Over the past nine decades, Tamil Murasu has endured and evolved.
“It survived World War II. It continued through the merger and separation of Singapore and Malaysia, and had a strong presence in Malaysia with a separate edition. That separation was not easy for the paper either,” Mr Raja said.
As technology transformed the media landscape, TM adapted early and boldly.
“We were one of the first, if not the first, Tamil newspapers in the world to go digital,” he said. “In the late 1990s, we began using computers to set our pages, at a time when Tamil fonts were still being developed. Our website launched in 2000. It was a herculean task.”
Special mention was made of veteran journalist and TM chief sub-editor A.S. Kunalan, who was part of the publication’s digital transformation.
Today, TM has more than 300,000 followers across various social media platforms.
“We embraced change, from Facebook to mobile-first storytelling – and now we’re experimenting with Artificial Intelligence to see how it can help make Tamil Murasu better,” Mr Raja said. “Tonight, we do not just celebrate a newspaper. We celebrate a living legacy and a heritage.”
Looking to the future, Mr Raja Segar laid out a bold vision: “In the next 10 years, Tamil Murasu will strive to become a global Tamil media organisation, with Singapore as its home. We want to reach Tamils not just here, but across the world.”
He emphasised that this ambition would only be possible with the support of the community.
“We cannot pull the chariot alone. To grow with the community, we need your help – your subscriptions and advertising support will make a real difference.”
He reaffirmed TM’s commitment to quality journalism and linguistic integrity while adapting to the tastes of younger readers. “We are learning new storytelling methods – sharper, shorter, more suited to fast-paced lives. But our quality will remain. We will not dilute the Tamil language or the truth.”
The event concluded with the signing of three Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs), marking new partnerships to support TM.
Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), Tamil Nadu-based news outlet Hindu Tamil Thisai and the Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET) were the three signatories.
“To our non-Tamil organisation leaders here, we shall meet very soon to chart the path forward for tabla!. It has huge potential to unite the community, and we need your support,” Mr Raja said.
