Did you know that there exists a unique community in Singapore which is a blend of three different cultures namely Tamil, Malay and Chinese? Did you know that this community speaks a unique language called as Creole which is a combination of the languages spoken in the above three cultures? Yes, there does exist such a community and it is called as the Chetti Melaka community. When I visited the Indian Heritage Centre at Little India in Singapore, I came across a special exhibition gallery dedicated to the Chetti Melaka community. I was so bewitched by the history of the Chetti Melaka community that I decided to learn more about…

When I first boarded the Metro train in Singapore, I was quite surprised to hear the announcements made in Tamil. I mean, I had heard from friends and family that Tamil is widely spoken in Singapore and that many Indians lived there peacefully. But my curiosity as to how the Indian community came to be such an integral part of Singapore, grew more and more. I was constantly haunted by many questions. Who were the first Indians to settle in Singapore? Why did so many Indians migrate to Singapore? When did this migration happen? How did the Indians influence the history, economy, and the culture of Singapore to an extent…

I never thought that missing my flight would land me in the land of the roaring lion for a period of 5 days. I was heading back to Bengaluru from my 15-day trip to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and I missed my return flight when I had a layover in Singapore. The first and foremost thought that came to my mind was not about the money that I had lost, but the opportunity that I had to explore this wonderful country. Luckily, I got a 96-hour transit visa (free for Indians who possess a valid VISA from the countries listed here) and made my way straight into this magnificent land.…