A Photograph of Ramasamy Suppiah and Family at Suppiah Villa in the Upper Serangoon area, 1940s, Singapore, Paper, On loan from Ponnosamy Kalastree
Situated at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean region and the Far East, the Malay Archipelago has always been a region of cultural confluence and diversity. The region saw the influx of migrant communities who brought with them their unique socio-cultural traits ranging from language to religion, fashion to cuisine. Over time, these traits adapted to the multicultural milieu of the local society and resulted in polyglot environments best exemplified by the Chetti Melaka.
The Chetti Melaka (or Chitty Melaka) are descendants of Tamil traders who settled in Melaka during the reign of the Melaka Sultanate (15th- 16th century) and married local women of Malay and Chinese descent. Predominantly Hindu of the Saivite (followers of Shiva) denomination, the community speaks a unique combination of Malay, Tamil and Chinese, that has been called Chetti Creole by scholars. They trace their roots to Kampung Chitty in Gajah Berang, Melaka, and it is estimated that there are 5 000 Chettis in Singapore.
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre, 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
When: 17 Oct 2023 - 5 Feb 2024,
