It has been just over two weeks since I took over the reins as editor of tabla!, and I thought it timely to share an update on the publication’s future.
While Tamil Murasu (TM) publishes in Tamil, one of Singapore’s four official languages, tabla! plays a distinct and important role in engaging and integrating the wider Singaporean Indian community.
It does so through its weekly print editions and its now active website (tabla.com.sg), which carries daily stories. Greater emphasis will be made to highlight the Singaporean Indian community in greater depth, with a hyper local focus.
The Indian community is perhaps the most complex ethnic group in Singapore. While the majority are Tamils, about two-fifths are non-Tamils who speak a variety of other mother tongues.
Beyond that, there is a growing trend among Indians to prefer speaking English over their mother tongue.
According to the Singapore Census of Population 2020, 59.2 per cent of Indians spoke English most frequently at home in 2020 – up from 41.6 per cent in 2010. This is the most significant shift among all ethnic groups.
While language preferences may evolve, there has been no decline in cultural interest, as seen in the vibrant community happenings regularly featured in tabla!.
Indians – both in Singapore and across the diaspora – can connect and stay informed on community developments through a trusted medium like tabla!.
The importance of having an English-language publication for the Indian community is deeply rooted in Singapore’s history.
Rewinding the clock to 1940, TM carried a full page of English news on its back page for six months, from June to November. On Dec 2, 1940, TM’s founder, G. Sarangapany, launched an English daily newspaper, The Indian Daily Mail, which ran until Dec 31, 1956. Later, in 1999, TM included a bilingual page for a period, until tabla! was launched on Oct 10, 2008 as a free paper published every Friday.
As tabla! approaches its 17th anniversary this year, it finds itself in the race to capture eyeballs and hearts in the digital space – with a greater focus on younger audiences.
Transitioning from traditional print to digital, and attracting today’s youth, is no small feat. This challenge is not unique to us, but one faced by publications worldwide.
tabla!’s new, dedicated website marks a step forward in this digital transformation. Social media will play an increasingly vital role, particularly on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. In time, we will also explore YouTube, WhatsApp and other channels to enhance our omnichannel presence.
Beyond the written word, tabla! will publish more videos, story cards and podcasts – experimenting with various multimedia formats to reach diverse audiences.
While the future presents its challenges, it is also full of exciting opportunities. With the support of the SPH Media ecosystem, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the Indian community and, most importantly, you – our readers – we have faith in our continued success and will remain committed to serving and engaging with the Singaporean Indian community.
