Singapore’s Indian community is a tapestry woven from diverse threads, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believes it is imperative to continue leveraging this diversity to strengthen its presence in Singapore.
He said the community has evolved into a “rich and distinctive Singaporean Indian culture,” praising it for punching above its weight. In spite of being a minority in Singapore, PM Wong acknowledged the Indian community’s outsized contributions in areas from business to government.
The Indian community in Singapore is not monolithic – it encompasses a multitude of ethnic groups, each with its own customs and practices. To continue elevating the group’s role, PM Wong said the community must foster a culture that harmonises with the broader national identity.
In his opening address at a dialogue organised by Tamil Murasu last Sunday called Vaanga Ippo Pesalaam (Come Let’s Chat, in Tamil), PM Wong reflected on the evolving identity of Singaporean Indians, highlighting how it stands apart from the identity of Indians in India.
“For the Singaporean Indian, your values, your norms, your way of thinking are different from Indians in India. And it is something precious we have created here. It is a Singaporean attitude, mindset, way of life,” said PM Wong.
“You can be proud of your ethnic roots and at the same time proud to be a Singaporean, that is what we mean by being a Singaporean,” he said, adding that being a Singaporean is never a matter of “subtraction but always a matter of addition”.
PM Wong urged participants to continue building a distinct Singaporean Indian identity – one that honours cultural roots while also embracing engagement with fellow Singaporeans across communities to “enlarge the common space we share”.
Ultimately, the Singaporean Indian identity is not a static one. It is dynamic, fluid and shaped by both tradition and the lived experiences of growing up in one of the most diverse societies in the world.
The dialogue included Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Dr Janil Puthucheary and 130 youths across four universities and 13 community organisations.
With the General Election around the corner, there has been more discussion about PAP fielding new Indian candidates, which it did not do in the 2020 election.
PM Wong said there will be new candidates from the PAP for the upcoming election, adding that outside of politics, Indians are also “excelling in the private sector, in business and so many different professions,” which is testament to how the community is thriving.
The young leaders present at the dialogue were between the ages of 18 and 35. The questions they asked PM Wong and Dr Janil concerned housing and employment issues, living costs and the pressure to get married and settle down. PM Wong in response assured the attendees that the government is paying attention to the issues raised by the youth.
PM Wong has also been connecting with the youth of the country to get a better understanding of their thoughts during uncertain times for the global economy.
“I want to make life in Singapore one where everyone can be their best selves… Singapore should be a place where our dreams can be worked on, a place where we can find belonging, even though the world is starting to look uncertain,” he said.
Dr Janil: Small size can be an advantage
Dr Janil Puthucheary spoke about the small size of the Singaporean Indian community – an aspect he believes to be a unique strength.
“We could either lament it, or like Singapore, we can turn our size into an advantage,” he said, highlighting that the community’s compact size enables members to stay closely connected.
One such advantage, Dr Janil explained, is the community’s ability to build and maintain trust through long-standing bonds with familiar faces over time. “We can remain in close contact with everybody, leverage the connections, the networks, the friendships, the trust we have,” he said.
Dr Janil also acknowledged the concerns facing Indian youth in Singapore, including issues related to employment, education, mental health, and the evolving landscape of social media.
“There are a few things that, as an Indian community, we have different views about and some of that is informed by our history, our heritage, our community… (that) is very diverse,” Dr Janil said.
He encouraged the community to see this diversity as a strength, before addressing these concerns in the Q&A session that followed.
In his opening remarks, PM Wong praised Dr Janil as a shining example of Singaporean Indian excellence. “It is very difficult to come from the private sector into the government to do policy work,” he said. “(He) is a very capable person and a key player of our team.”
