Director's Message
In the past few years, Singapore has been the location for a flurry
of activities that were connected with the worldwide South Asian diaspora.
In 2006, the National University of Singapore produced the Encyclopedia
of Indian Diaspora, probably the most comprehensive and authoritative
account of the international South Asian diaspora to date. Several communities
organised and held international meetings in Singapore. For instance,
in 2007, the 14th International Sindhi Sammelan witnessed about 650 Sindhis
from all over the world converging in Singapore for their annual conference.
A year later, Singapore was host to the Parvasi Bharatiya Diwas,
an annual gathering for overseas Indians. At the same time, the various
South Asian communities in Singapore organise annual events to celebrate
such occasions as Diwali, Vesakhi, Poila Baishakh, Durga Puja and many
others. Now, Singapore is gearing up for the launch of the Indian Heritage
Centre. To be completed in 2012, the centre will celebrate the journey
and contribution of the Singaporean Indian community through permanent
exhibitions and cultural programmes.
All these activities have given Singapore visibility as an intellectual and social centre of the worldwide South Asian diaspora. And as Singapore becomes home to a vibrant and internationally connected South Asian community, it is well-placed to function as a cultural, educational and business hub for a bourgeoning and increasingly connected global South Asian diaspora network.
The Institute of South Asian Studies is pleased to announce its latest initiative – the setting up of the South Asian Link – to position Singapore as a hub for the global South Asian diaspora, and linking with various international diaspora groups and individuals to facilitate connections and interactions among them.
This initiative will carry out several important activities. It will develop links with the global South Asian diaspora and maintain a network of active participants among the South Asian communities in different parts of the world, and will disseminate periodic newsletters on news and developments relevant to the South Asian diaspora. At the same time, it will organise regular social and cultural activities for networking and for the promotion of South Asian culture and heritage. International conferences and workshops on issues and developments in the South Asian diaspora will constitute a key component of our activities. We expect eventually to collaborate with established networking groups in Singapore and worldwide to coordinate activities and integrate networks.
Several activities are already in the pipeline. Plans are afoot to invite prominent members of the diaspora to Singapore and to ‘brainstorm’ areas of activities that would interest the global diaspora. Sequels to the successful Encyclopaedia of Indian Diaspora are being prepared, and the first to be published would be the Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora. Our first newsletter, South Asian Link, will be released in January 2010.
The website will showcase our various activities, while highlighting happenings and developments in the various South Asian communities around the world.
We hope you find the information in our website useful and relevant.
Professor Tan Tai Yong