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MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
DISCOVER THE CAPTIVATING STORY OF THE CHETTI MELAKA IN
SINGAPORE
The Indian Heritage Centre launches its first community co-created exhibition and CultureFest about
this unique Peranakan Indian community in Singapore
Singapore, 6 September 2018 – The Chetti Melaka are a fascinating community, with a unique
culture that epitomises the spirit of multiculturalism through a rich blend of Indian, Malay and
Chinese influences. Also known as Peranakan Indians, they speak a language, Chetti Creole,
which combines Tamil, Malay, and Chinese dialects; wear traditional outfits that reflect Javanese,
Bugis, Acehnese, Batak and Tamil fashions; and have a cuisine that marries Indian, Malay, and
Peranakan Chinese culinary styles. Their unique heritage will be on display at the Indian
Heritage Centre’s (IHC) first community co-created exhibition, Chetti Melaka of the Straits:
Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities.
2 The exhibition celebrates the culture and legacy of the Chetti Melaka, offering visitors a
rare look into this lesser-known community and their way of life. Visitors can also experience
various aspects of their unique intangible cultural heritage at the Indian Heritage Centre
CultureFest 2018, a two-weekend festival which will be launched together with the exhibition.
3 Mr Saravanan Sadanandom, General Manager of the Indian Heritage Centre, said, “The
story of the Chetti Melaka is captivating, and is a wonderful demonstration of how different
cultures have been absorbed, adapted and mixed together to create something new and special.
The Indian Heritage Centre has worked closely with the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka)
Association Singapore to co-create this exhibition and CultureFest, which celebrate the unique
traditions, practices, cuisine and fashion that make up the tangible and intangible cultural
heritage of the Chetti Melaka. This exhibition also kickstarts a series of community co-created
exhibitions at IHC that will provide insights into the diverse Indian community in Singapore, and
also show how our multicultural society in Singapore is connected to the rest of the world.”
A unique blend of cultures
4 The Chetti Melaka form a small but significant community of early migrants who have
made Singapore their home. They are descendants of Tamil traders who first settled in Melaka
A Heritage Institution of
during the reign of the Melaka Sultanate in the 15th to 16th centuries, and married local women
of Malay and Chinese descent. Today, it is estimated that there are about 5,000 Chetti Melaka
living in Singapore. While they largely retain their Tamil Hindu traditions, the Chetti Melaka have
also embraced practices from the Chinese and Malay communities, resulting in a unique fusion
of cultures.
Lesser-known community heritage and never seen before community artefacts
5 Through some 175 artefacts and photographs presented in collaboration with the
Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association Singapore, visitors will be able to learn about
these cultures and traditions, which include their elaborate wedding rituals that can take place
over a period of up to three weeks; their cuisine which combines various culinary influences from
around the region; and their distinct creole language that is a rare mixture of the predominant
languages of the Straits comprising Bazaar Malay, Tamil and Chinese. A majority of the items on
display in the exhibition are on loan from members of the community, and have never been
publicly exhibited before. They give visitors a glimpse into the daily lives and homes of Chetti
Melaka families in Singapore, and share more about their lesser-known history and heritage.
6 The photographs, documents, clothes, jewellery, cooking implements and other
accessories allow exhibition visitors to retrace the journeys of the early South Indian traders from
the Coromandel Coast who first settled in Malacca (now Melaka) at the turn of the 16th century,
their settlement in Melaka, and the subsequent migration of their descendants to other British
ports like Singapore. The exhibition also features stories of pioneers in the Chetti Melaka
communities, including that of Mr Muthukrishnan Tevanathan Pillay, who was an executive in the
Accountant General’s Office and was made a Member of the British Empire by His Majesty King
George VI for his contributions during World War II, and Mr Francis J Pillay, who also fought in
the defence of Singapore during the War. Please refer to Annex A for the list of exhibition
highlights.
7 Complementing the historical artefacts is a specially commissioned film by K Rajagopal,
Who are the Chetti Melaka? In search of the Lost, produced for the exhibition. A documentary
about the journey of Chetti Melaka youth who embark on a mission to re-discover their roots and
heritage, Who are the Chetti Melaka? was shot in Singapore and Melaka, and unearths lesser-
known facets of the Chetti Melaka in Singapore. It goes on to contemplate the future of the Chetti
community as they grapple with preserving their identity, heritage and culture.
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8 The exhibition will also feature Potret Potret, an installation of paintings on batik fabric by
Nadia Alsagoff. The works examine the themes of hybridity and identity, and by juxtaposing
current members of Singapore’s Chetti Melaka community with their ancestors, reveal the
diverse influences that make up their culture.
9 Mr Ponno Kalastree, President of the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association
Singapore said, “We are happy to work with the Indian Heritage Centre to co-create this
exhibition and to share our stories and heritage with everyone. As the only community that
combines the Indian, Chinese and Malay cultures into something ‘uniquely Chetti’, it is important
to us that this legacy is safeguarded and passed on to future generations. We hope that through
this exhibition, we can help generations of Chetti Melaka to re-connect with their roots, and also
share our very special heritage with others.”
Indian Heritage Centre CultureFest 2018 – A multi-sensory celebration of Chetti Melaka
culture
10 To provide visitors with an immersive experience of the rich intangible cultural heritage of
the Chetti Melaka, IHC will present several programmes and activities as part of IHC CultureFest
2018, which will take place across two weekends starting 8 September 2018.
11 The festival will open with a musical performance titled Birth of a Chetti Melaka,
presented by members of the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association Singapore. The
performance will present a theatrical re-telling of the community’s story, which includes a
combined choir featuring members of the Chetti Melaka community, as well as other Peranakan
communities, and a Joget performance.
12 Other highlights include a Chetti Creole class where participants will learn simple
phrases; food tasting and cooking demonstrations of some of the dishes that are unique to the
community; and a hands-on introduction to the Chetti Melaka’s rituals with a Hantu Tetek
workshop, where participants will learn about the effigies used during the celebration of the Dato
Chachar Festival, a festival dedicated to the worship of Mariamman, the South Indian Hindu
goddess of rain, for well-being. Please refer to Annex B for the list of programme highlights.
13 More information about the Chetti Melaka of the Straits: Rediscovering Peranakan Indian
Communities and IHC CultureFest 2018 can be found on https://www.indianheritage.org.sg as
well as IHC’s Facebook page.
- End -
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Amanda Phua
Tate Anzur
T: 6568 9147
About the Indian Heritage Centre
The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), a heritage institution managed by the National Heritage Board
(NHB), traces the history of the South Asian community in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Launched on 7 May 2015 (in conjunction with Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations) by
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the IHC is a focal point for the Indian community, and a
platform to learn more about the diverse Indian heritage in Singapore.
Located in the heart of Little India, IHC also serves as a springboard for visitors to explore the
historic precinct. The Centre is housed in a brand-new four-storey building, comprising
permanent galleries featuring five themes, a special exhibition gallery, educational and activity
spaces, as well as other facilities. For more information, please visit www.indianheritage.org.sg
About the National Heritage Board
The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian of
Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean
experience and imparting our Singapore spirit.
NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for
the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the national
museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and
the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and
presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. NHB is
a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit
www.nhb.gov.sg for more information.
ANNEX A
Chetti Melaka of the Straits: Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities
7 September 2018 – 5 May 2019
Indian Heritage Centre
Admission: Free
Discover the fascinating history and culture of the Chetti Melaka, an early Indian migrant
community with their own unique traditions, language, cuisine and clothing, at the Indian Heritage
Centre’s first community co-created special exhibition, Chetti Melaka of the Straits –
Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities. Working closely with the Peranakan Indian
(Chitty Melaka) Association Singapore, a majority of the items on display have been contributed
by members of the Chetti Melaka community, and many will be seen in public for the first time.
Exhibition Highlights
A Grant of Land for the Sri Poyatha Venayagar Moorthi
Temple
20 August 1781, Dutch Period, Melaka, Malaysia
Paper
On loan from Sri Poyatha Venayagar Moorthi Temple Trust
This is the title deed to land given by the Dutch for the
Jentiefs Tempel (Dutch: Hindu Temple). The deed details the
size of the plot to be granted on Goud Smids Straat (Dutch:
Gold Smiths Street, now Jalan Tukang Emas). The Sri
Poyatha Venayagar Moorthi Temple built on this land is one
of the oldest surviving Hindu temples in the region.
A Hohner Accordion played by Suppummal as part of
Dondang Sayang performances
1970s, Singapore
Wood, Metal, Leather
On loan from SM Pillay
A Photograph of Ramasamy Suppiah and Family at
Suppiah Villa in the Upper Serangoon area
1940s, Singapore
Paper
On loan from Ponnosamy Kalastree
Ramasamy Suppiah Naidu initially lived with his brother-in-
law, Arumugam Supramaniam Chitty, at Chitty Road, later
moving to a large house, called Suppiah Villa, at Highland
Road, off Upper Serangoon Road. This photograph features
members of Ramasamy Suppiah’s family. Seated in the back
row are Ramasamy, his sons Kalastree and Rajoo (later
known as Yusof), his sister-in-law Vangathammal (fondly
known as Atha Sandy), his wife Kathai Amal (nicknamed as
Mak Kechik, or Nenek Ki), and his daughters Janaki (called
Akka Bai) and Letchemee. In the front row are seated
Ramasamy’s youngest son, Narayanasamy (later, Mustafa)
and his younger daughters, Krishnavaini and Patama.
Portrait of Arunasalam Kanagasabai Pillay
20th century, Singapore
Handcoloured photograph, framed with glazing
On loan from Nathan Pillay
Arunasalam Kanagasabai Pillay was the son of Kanagasabai
Pillay, a trader from Sri Lanka who settled in Malacca in 1860
and married a Chetti Melaka lady, Tulasi Amma. In the 1890s
Arunasalam Kanagasabai Pillay (fondly known as Baba) was
born to them. In 1915, he married Avirami Chitty, moved to
Singapore, and lived at Lorong M, Telok Kurau. He worked
as a civil servant, and became a leading veteran of the Chetti
Melaka community in Singapore.
A photograph of AS Pillay and Suppummal on their
wedding day
18 January 1945, Melaka, Malaysia
Paper
On loan from SM Pillay
The bride and groom are dressed in the typical Chetti Melaka
style. They are accompanied by two girls, possibly serving as
their page girls, as well as the fan-like decorations used for
weddings and other celebratory processions.
A pair of miniature Hantu Tetek figures and a photograph
of the ratham procession
1980s and 1970s, Melaka, Malaysia
Paper
On loan from Meenachi Pillay
A unique feature of the Dato Chachar festival is the inclusion
of a pair of hantu tetek – a demon in Malay folklore who
would kidnap children and crush them between its huge
breasts. The Chetti Melaka have adopted these demon
figures as a guardian of the deity, echoing a Balinese
custom. The hantu tetek dance ahead of the procession to
the accompaniment of drums. The figures are tall, and made
from rattan, wearing black robes and colourful headgear over
a ferocious face with an opening in the chest through which
the wearer of the costume can see outside. Usually the
wearers would be a relay of young Chetti Melaka boys, who
would dance in turns throughout the long procession.
This photograph from the 1970s shows the ratham
procession of Mariamman on the 10th day of the festival, with
a pair of hantu tetek at the front. The hantu tetek figures are
strikingly different from their present day form – pale skinned,
and clearly male and female. They were constructed by
Arunasalam Pillay and his youngest son, Gurusamy in
Melaka. Gurusamy also made the two miniature hantu tetek
seen here, as protective figures for their home.
Portrait of Nyonya
Early 20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
Paper, glass, wood
On loan from Yati Bok
Portrait of Avarami (framed), Mother of Tega Raja
Early 20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
Paper
On loan from S Kathai Devi
The Bok Family Tree (Group Caption)
Parasurama Babok Pillay was born into the Chetti Melaka
community. Babok was short for Baba Bok, suggesting a
marital union with the Straits Chinese community in an earlier
generation. Babok Pillay suggested a shortening of the
moniker to his son Babok Pillay Junior, and the surname Bok
was taken on by all of his descendants.
Babok Pillay Junior married Nyonya whom he met in Kuala
Kurau, Perak when he became a civil servant. After Nyonya
passed away Babok Pillay Junior married Guru Ammal.
Nyonya’s younger sister, Avarami, also known as Pok
married M Gurusamy, a respected member of the Chetti
Melaka community. Pok Gurusamy became the mother of
Tegaraja, who later married Kathai, the daughter of BS
Naiker and Avirami, the daughter of Gonathan Pillay, brother
of Apoo Pillay, who was one of Singapore’s early Chetti
Melaka pioneers. This family tree was reconstructed by
David Bok, the grandson of Guru Ammal and Babok Pillay
Junior.
Talapa Chetti Melaka (Headgear)
Late 20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
Cotton
On loan from S Kathai Devi
Pair of maroon embroidered slippers (Kasut Manek
Manek)
20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
Wood, textile, leather
On loan from S Kathai Devi
A set of hair pins collected by Samuel Dhoraisingam and
Kamala Devi Dhoraisingam in their efforts to document
Chetti Melaka heritage
20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
White metal
On loan from Samuel Dhoraisingam and family
A set of British coin pendants collected by Samuel
Dhoraisingam and Kamala Devi Dhoraisingam in their
efforts to document Chetti Melaka heritage
20th century, Melaka
Gold
On loan from Samuel Dhoraisingam and family
An Addigai or necklace collected by Samuel
Dhoraisingam and Kamala Devi Dhoraisingam in their
efforts to document Chetti Melaka heritage
20th century, Melaka
Gold, Rubies and Pearls
On loan from Samuel Dhoraisingam and family
A pair of Silambu or anklets collected by Samuel
Dhoraisingam and Kamala Devi Dhoraisingam in their
efforts to document Chetti Melaka heritage
20th century, Singapore
Brass
On loan from Samuel Dhoraisingam and family
A pair of anklets collected by Samuel Dhoraisingam and
Kamala Devi Dhoraisingam in their efforts to document
Chetti Melaka heritage
20th century, Singapore
Silver
On loan from Samuel Dhoraisingam and family
An Agar-Agar Press
20th century, Melaka, Malaysia
Wood
On loan from Meenachi Pillay
This interesting tool was used for the manual extraction of
jelly from the agar-agar (seaweed), which was then
incorporated into various dessert recipes. The agar-agar was
gathered along the coast, cleaned, then boiled, after which it
was passed through this press, to extract the gelatinous
ingredient for desserts.
Potret Potret
Potret Potret is a commission for Chetti Melaka of the Straits.
It serves to introduce past and present images of this unique
community, pursuing the themes of hybridity and identity.
Hand painted by Nadia Alsagoff, Potret Potret is a moving
effort juxtaposing members of Singapore’s Chetti Melaka
community with their ancestors, seen side-by-side for the first
time. Potret Potret also echoes the influence of Straits
fashion among the Chetti Melaka, as seen in the use of batik
fabrics. The subjects are uniquely Chetti Melaka, not falling
into any one physical template. Nadia subtly reveals the
diverse influences in their making – Indian, Malay, and
Chinese.
Who are the Chetti Melaka? In search of the Lost
Documentary Film
By K Rajagopal
The Chetti Melaka community is fast becoming scattered and
diluted. Their story is elusive and underexplored. It is waiting
to be discovered, documented, and committed to memory.
Where are the Chetti Melaka? Who are they? What is their
story? Discover the answer to these questions through this
introductory film.
Shot in Singapore and Melaka in documentary style, this film
presents the journey of Chetti Melaka youth in search of their
roots, and unearths lesser known facets of the Chetti Melaka
in Singapore.
ANNEX B
Indian Heritage Centre CultureFest 2018
8, 9, 15 and 16 September 2018
Indian Heritage Centre
Free Admission
The Indian Heritage Centre’s annual CultureFest returns for 2018, inspired by the Chetti Melaka
community. Learn about and experience the unique Chetti Melaka culture, expressed through
history, fashion, cuisine, arts and festive celebrations, at our exciting workshops, live
performances and demonstrations. For the full line-up of IHC CultureFest 2018 programmes,
please visit indianheritage.org.sg.
Programme Highlights
The Birth of A Chetti Melaka
6 September 2018
The opening show for IHC CultureFest 2018, The Birth of a Chetti Melaka comprises three main
segments, and includes a musical stage performance and a theatrical presentation on the
community’s story presented by members of Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association
Singapore. The performance concludes with a finale by a combined choir featuring the Chetti
Melaka community, as well as other Peranakan communities, and a joget performance.
Chetti Creole Class
8 and 15 September 2018
The Chetti Creole class features members of the Chetti community sharing about the language
they speak, a mixture of Malay and Tamil, with Chinese dialects. Participants will be introduced
to sample phrases and will also get to experience a live conversation between members of the
Chetti Community.
Pantun Workshop
8 September 2018
Participants of this workshop will be exposed to the various aspects of this traditional Malay
poetic form of repetitive prose called Pantuns.
Hantu Tetek Workshop
16 September 2018
During the Mariamman Festival celebrated by the Chetti Melaka community, the Hantu Tetek
(demons with pendulous breasts) usually dance ahead and clear the crowd to pave the way for
the chariot procession. Participants of this workshop will create their very own Hantu Tetek
puppet.
Cooking Demonstration
9 and 16 September 2018
In this cooking demonstration, members of the Chetti Melaka community will introduce
participants to a variety of dishes unique to the community. The session begins with an
introduction to the ingredients and cooking style typically used in Chetti Melaka cuisine, followed
by a demonstration and food tasting for participants.
Curator’s Tour: Chetti Melaka of the Straits Exhibition
8 and 15 September 2018
Participants will be able to explore the new special exhibition through the eyes of its curators at
this exclusive Curator’s Tour.
Panel Discussions
8 and 15 September 2018
These panel discussions ponder two important questions of Chetti Melaka history and heritage
in Singapore and the region – Who are the Chetti Melaka? Are there Chetti Melaka in
Singapore? Join community participants in their quest to trace their history, and dissect family
trees of Singapore’s Chetti Melaka community.
Kasut Manek (Beaded Slipper) Workshop
9 September 2018
Participants will learn the intricate art behind the traditional Kasut Manek or beaded slippers.
Joget Workshop
15 September 2018
Participants of this workshop will learn how to dance the Joget alongside members of the Chetti
Melaka community.
Tarian Payung: Umbrella Dance Performance
15 September 2018
Witness an interactive showcase of a traditional Chetti Melaka Umbrella Dance along the
bustling backdrop of Campbell Lane.
Little India Heritage Trail
15 September 2018
Gain a deeper perspective into the historical and cultural precinct of Little India through our Little
India Heritage Trail, on this guided tour led by our experienced docents.
