Heritage links chapters in the Singapore Story

Heritage links chapters in the Singapore Story

I am thrilled and proud to hear that Singapore has its very first museum dedicated to Indian history ("PM Lee hails Indians' contribution as heritage centre opens"; last Friday).

Many people do not know much about the immense contributions of our pioneers from India.

For example, Indian labourers built much of Singapore's early colonial architecture, including the Istana and temples, while there have been many notable pioneers, including Mr S. Rajaratnam, who penned the national pledge.

Heritage is essential to people and nations. It anchors our sense of place and identity. It enables a nation to adapt and to progress as the world changes.

We must reach out to engage our community, especially our children in schools, to celebrate our heritage and appreciate how far we have come and, at the same time, look ahead and write new chapters of the Singapore Story together.

The new heritage centre will help foster a greater sense of pride and identity in the Indian community and allow other communities to better understand its heritage.

It is, indeed, a perfect SG50 birthday gift.

V. Balu


This article was first published on May 11, 2015.
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