Events
2 August 2025 | The Drama Centre, National Library Building
Celebrating a Historic Milestone: Launch of the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils
On 2 August 2025, the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC), in collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), launched the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils (EST)—Singapore’s first bilingual digital encyclopedia dedicated to chronicling the Tamil community’s heritage, contributions, and lived experiences.
The launch was graced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as Guest of Honour, and President’s spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, with Ms Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, and Mr Dinesh Vasu, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Manpower in attendance.
The guests numbered about 600, most of who had helped the development of EST one way or another.
President Tharman called the EST a monumental effort and highlighted a number of interesting entries in EST. “You cannot have multiculturalism without cultural roots,” he added, reiterating that our shared future depends on our ability to honour the diverse cultural foundations that define Singapore.
Minister Josephine Teo also shared her reflections on the significance of the EST:
“The Tamil community in Singapore numbers just around 200,000. But in every imaginable sphere of Singapore life, Tamils have made definite contributions. Their stories are also deeply intertwined with Singapore’s nation-building journey.”
About the EST
The Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils is a free, open-access digital archive that brings together entries covering the history, arts, language, education, religion, community organisations, and political engagement of Singapore Tamils. Developed with the support of community organisations and volunteers, it is designed as a living document, welcoming future updates and public contributions.
The EST is the Tamil community’s gift to the nation on the occasion of its 60th birthday and NLB’s 30th anniversary.
Explore the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils
English: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/site/EST-ENG/
Tamil: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/site/est-tam
View the video of the event here: https://youtu.be/oroftD38PVM
25 June 2025, The POD National Library
Celebration of S S Sarma: An Epoch in Singapore Tamil Theatre
A tribute to a Theatre Doyen
We celebrated the legacy of S S Sarma, a towering figure who has shaped the Singapore Tamil theatre landscape over decades. At 95, Sarma remains an enduring inspiration, exemplary director, actor, writer, and producer, whose pioneering works gave voice to the Singaporean Tamil experience.
In this special event, co-organised by the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC) and Avant Theatre, with the support of the National Library Board, today’s leading theatre practitioners, G Selva, Vadi PVSS, Pugalenthii, and Ganesh Subramaniam, with Karthikeyan Somasundaram as facilitator, many came together to pay tribute to this doyen. The programme also featured a specially produced video interview with Sarma by CSTC, offering rare insights into his artistic journey.
Enjoy the Interview with SS Sarma on our channel!
14 June 2025, Esplanade Upper Concourse
Cultural Echoes of Our Very Own – A Timeless Fusion of Raagas and Rhythm
On 14 June 2025, two sessions of the cross-cultural music programme Cultural Echoes of Our Very Own – A Timeless Fusion of Raagas and Rhythm were held at the Esplanade Concourse.
VK Arts organised this show with the support of the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC). This special evening celebrated the harmony that emerges when diverse musical traditions — Indian, Malay, and Chinese — come together in dialogue. The event was a vibrant testament to Singapore’s multicultural identity and the creative possibilities born from collaboration.
The programme was curated and composed by Cultural Medallion recipient Dr Ghanavenothan Retnam.
A Journey in Sound: Programme Highlights
The evening began with Mallari, a reimagined classical prayer woven with Chinese and Malay instrumental textures, setting a contemplative yet contemporary tone. This was followed by Bo Shambho, a familiar devotional favourite that invited audiences to connect deeply with the musicians.
A standout solo performance was Dance of the Yao People, delivered with grace and precision on the guzheng by Rebecca Tan. Drawing from Chinese folk traditions, the piece highlighted the timeless beauty of cross-cultural expression.
One of the most resonant moments came with Vishveshwara Bhajan, presented in Raaga Sindhu Bhairavi. In a deftly crafted medley, echoes of Malay and Chinese melodies seamlessly intertwined with the raaga’s melodic framework—offering a truly rare moment of musical synthesis.
Zapin Bunga Hutan, a traditional Malay piece performed in the zapin style, charmed audiences with its lyrical poetry and rhythmic flair, celebrating nature’s beauty and cultural depth.
The evening concluded with a high-energy Thillana in Raaga Vachaspathi, a powerful and joyous finale, that brought together the musical motifs of the entire programme, leaving listeners uplifted and inspired.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us and to the artists who made this evening unforgettable.
16 November 2024, Play Den, The Arts House
Beyond Multiculturalism: Being Intercultural in Singapore
In multicultural Singapore, crossing cultural boundaries does not occur commonly. Going beyond multiculturalism, Singaporeans need to enter the Other’s sphere to appreciate it better, even embrace it. This event brought together four talented intercultural individuals who are expert practitioners of art forms outside their customary ethnic cultural space: Malik Mazlan, a Malay who practices Chinese calligraphy; Govin Tan, a Chinese who has dedicated himself to Indian percussion instruments including the tabla; Evan Eng Yu Fan, another Chinese who has made a serious hobby of Javanese dance and gamelan music; and Amritha Devaraj, an Indian trained in Carnatic Music, who has crossed over into the world of Xinyao — a genre of Mandarin songs originating from Singapore.
The panel discussion explored what it meant to be truly intercultural in multicultural Singapore. Each practitioner shared their own journey into their chosen art form of the other ethnic community, which, despite some early struggles, culminated in joyous discovery and embrace. The discussion was followed by demonstrations and renditions from each artist, to demonstrate what it is that keeps them in the ‘Other’ domain. The audience participated in the floor discussion which, in turn, brought about many interesting perspectives about what it meant to be multicultural and intercultural and what they saw as possible futures in tomorrow’s Singapore.
Moderator: Jayasutha Samuthiran
25 Nov 2023, 5.00pm
Singapore Sikhs
Link 1: Singapore Sikhs Event
Link 2: Singapore Sikhs Event
It is one of the world’s youngest major religions, dating back to the late 15th century. Yet, the 25 million adherents of Sikhism are distinctly visible worldwide, including the 12,000 to 15,000 in Singapore.
The Sikh, meaning a ‘disciple’ or ‘learner’, is committed to the core tenets of Sikhism, which is a way of life that uniquely weaves together art, culture and faith. This amalgamation is deeply influenced by the principles of equality, social justice, service to humanity and tolerance for other religions.
Embark on a journey to gain insights into the essential practices and daily conduct of the Sikhs! Join us on 25 November 2023! Confirm your seat by registering soonest – limited places!
#Sikhculture
#sikhism
18 Mar 2023, 5.30pm to 8.15pm
Singapore Malayalees
Link1: https://youtu.be/ophQwUgQmBY
Link2: https://youtu.be/tue-_47Q8LM
CSTC, NLB and some Malayalee community organisations collaborated to provide a special introduction to the Singapore Malayalee community – a rich and diverse sub-ethnic group among Singapore Indians. Our audience got a glimpse of Malayalee cultural practices, artefacts, dance, music and, of course, a taste of their unique cuisine! This event showed how the Malayalees, while being part of the Indian ethnic community, have their own distinct culture that is seamlessly integrated into our cultural life, adding to our rich and fascinating tapestry of Singapore culture.
The Singapore Malayalees are the second biggest community among Indians in Singapore. They have been here since the early days of Singapore as a British colony. Did you know that a Malayalee Muslim cemetery was here in Singapore before Raffles arrive in 1819? The Malayalees have served Singapore well and distinguished themselves as, among other things, trade unionists, journalists, lawyers and doctors, and artists. One of their community members became President of Singapore – Mr C V Devan Nair!
Panel Speakers:
- Dr Anitha Devi, Pillai, Applied Linguist, NIE, NTU
- Dhershini Winodan, Food Consultant (Malayalee Food)
- Dr Ganesh Iyer, Computer Scientist, NUS (Kathakali)
- Rajesh Kumar Gopalakrishnan, Advisor, Kairalee Kala Nilayam (Theatre)
15 Oct 2022, 5pm to 6.30pm
Eastern Voices Against Western Colonialism
Link: https://youtu.be/tyZT6yZSzvs
Born in different countries, these two writers had remarkably similar life arcs. Tirto of Indonesia and Bharati of India were freedom fighters. Their foes — colonial oppressors. Their battleground – journalism. Their weapon of choice – the pen. These turbaned, moustachioed native warriors even resembled each other in their sartorial look and intense gaze! More of their fascinating life and work in this online talk. Tune in!
Speaker: Dr. Azhar Ibrahim
Moderator: Dr Elavazhagan Murugan
13 Aug 2022, 11am to 12.30pm
Ramayana Retold in Chinese
Link: https://youtu.be/tyZT6yZSzvs
The great Indian epic Ramayana has crossed many oceans to make an impact and leave an imprint on many cultures beyond India. In this English video presentation, Dr Chua Soo Pong shares some fascinating insights into his own efforts to retell the Ramayana story in Chinese, in different performance modes. Dr Chua is a doyenne of the Chinese opera world in Singapore. His retold Ramayana is a compelling guide to crossing boundaries across cultures.
Speaker: Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Moderator: Dr Elavazhagan Murugan
Saturday, 13 Aug 2022, 11am to 12.30pm
Ramayana Retold in Chinese
Link: https://youtu.be/tyZT6yZSzvs
The great Indian epic Ramayana has crossed many oceans to make an impact and leave an imprint on many cultures beyond India. In this English video presentation, Dr Chua Soo Pong shares some fascinating insights into his own efforts to retell the Ramayana story in Chinese, in different performance modes. Dr Chua is a doyenne of the Chinese opera world in Singapore. His retold Ramayana is a compelling guide to crossing boundaries across cultures.
Speaker: Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Moderator: Dr Elavazhagan Murugan
Saturday, 13 Aug 2022, 11am to 12.30pm
Ramayana Retold in Chinese
Link: https://youtu.be/tyZT6yZSzvs
The great Indian epic Ramayana has crossed many oceans to make an impact and leave an imprint on many cultures beyond India. In this English video presentation, Dr Chua Soo Pong shares some fascinating insights into his own efforts to retell the Ramayana story in Chinese, in different performance modes. Dr Chua is a doyenne of the Chinese opera world in Singapore. His retold Ramayana is a compelling guide to crossing boundaries across cultures.
Speaker: Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Moderator: Dr Elavazhagan Murugan
23 Jul 2022, 8pm to 9.30pm
Kamban: One of World's Great Poets
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
The literary wealth in the Tamil language is immeasurable. One of the greatest Tamil epics is Kamba Ramayanam! One of the greatest Tamil poets is Kambar.
Ramayana, one of India’s greatest epics, has many versions in many languages and cultures, especially in South East Asia. Kamban’s Tamil version is unique in many aspects. It is known for its superlative verses and brilliant dimensions to the various characters and is exalted along the lines of the great 5 epics of Tamil literature. Kambar, in Kambaramayanam, treats the Indian civilization of his time in a way that makes his work universal, much like Homer’s epics, Virgil’s Aeneid, or Shakespeare’s plays. Written in the 12th century, the universality of Kambaramayanam is its main appeal to all Southeast Asia, where Ramayana is also one of the most popular stories of the region.
Many of us would have heard of Ramayana, particularly Valmiki’s Sanskrit version. In this new talk by CSTC, we discuss in-depth the Tamil translation of the original text by Kamban and its distinct qualities.
Speaker:
Professor George Hart is a world-renowned literary doyen and polymath, a widely respected scholar of both Tamil and Sanskrit, who also reads Greek, Latin and Russian. He has translated some of the best Tamil classical works into English. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Berkely, where he was formerly the Chair of Tamil Studies at the Department of South and South-east Asian Studies. He has written extensively on premodern Tamil, its relationship to classical Sanskrit, and South Indian religion and culture. He was the winner of the prestigious Ramanujam Prize for translation in 2002. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to the study and translation of Indian literature. He has been a consistent voice for Tamil’s recognition as a classical language 40 years.
The official letter he wrote in 2000 to support the efforts of the Tamil Nadu government to have Tamil recognised as a Classical language in India was released by the University of California, Berkeley. In 2004 the Indian government gave Tamil the status of a Classical language. In its citation, it mentioned that Prof Hart’s letter was one of the key documents that influenced its decision. Professor Hart will always have the appreciation and gratitude of every Tamil speaking individual.
Moderator: Dr. Elavazhagan Murugan is the Head of Young CSTC and Deputy Head of Programmes. He is a Research Scientist and Entrepreneur in the field of life sciences who is also involved in the Singapore theatre as script writer and director having written plays mostly in Literary Tamil and English.
Saturday, 23 Jul 2022, 8pm to 9.30pm
Kamban: One of World's Great Poets
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
The literary wealth in the Tamil language is immeasurable. One of the greatest Tamil epics is Kamba Ramayanam! One of the greatest Tamil poets is Kambar.
Ramayana, one of India’s greatest epics, has many versions in many languages and cultures, especially in South East Asia. Kamban’s Tamil version is unique in many aspects. It is known for its superlative verses and brilliant dimensions to the various characters and is exalted along the lines of the great 5 epics of Tamil literature. Kambar, in Kambaramayanam, treats the Indian civilization of his time in a way that makes his work universal, much like Homer’s epics, Virgil’s Aeneid, or Shakespeare’s plays. Written in the 12th century, the universality of Kambaramayanam is its main appeal to all Southeast Asia, where Ramayana is also one of the most popular stories of the region.
Many of us would have heard of Ramayana, particularly Valmiki’s Sanskrit version. In this new talk by CSTC, we discuss in-depth the Tamil translation of the original text by Kamban and its distinct qualities.
Speaker:
Professor George Hart is a world-renowned literary doyen and polymath, a widely respected scholar of both Tamil and Sanskrit, who also reads Greek, Latin and Russian. He has translated some of the best Tamil classical works into English. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Berkely, where he was formerly the Chair of Tamil Studies at the Department of South and South-east Asian Studies. He has written extensively on premodern Tamil, its relationship to classical Sanskrit, and South Indian religion and culture. He was the winner of the prestigious Ramanujam Prize for translation in 2002. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to the study and translation of Indian literature. He has been a consistent voice for Tamil’s recognition as a classical language 40 years.
The official letter he wrote in 2000 to support the efforts of the Tamil Nadu government to have Tamil recognised as a Classical language in India was released by the University of California, Berkeley. In 2004 the Indian government gave Tamil the status of a Classical language. In its citation, it mentioned that Prof Hart’s letter was one of the key documents that influenced its decision. Professor Hart will always have the appreciation and gratitude of every Tamil speaking individual.
Moderator: Dr. Elavazhagan Murugan is the Head of Young CSTC and Deputy Head of Programmes. He is a Research Scientist and Entrepreneur in the field of life sciences who is also involved in the Singapore theatre as script writer and director having written plays mostly in Literary Tamil and English.
Saturday, 23 Jul 2022, 8pm to 9.30pm
Kamban: One of World's Great Poets
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
The literary wealth in the Tamil language is immeasurable. One of the greatest Tamil epics is Kamba Ramayanam! One of the greatest Tamil poets is Kambar.
Ramayana, one of India’s greatest epics, has many versions in many languages and cultures, especially in South East Asia. Kamban’s Tamil version is unique in many aspects. It is known for its superlative verses and brilliant dimensions to the various characters and is exalted along the lines of the great 5 epics of Tamil literature. Kambar, in Kambaramayanam, treats the Indian civilization of his time in a way that makes his work universal, much like Homer’s epics, Virgil’s Aeneid, or Shakespeare’s plays. Written in the 12th century, the universality of Kambaramayanam is its main appeal to all Southeast Asia, where Ramayana is also one of the most popular stories of the region.
Many of us would have heard of Ramayana, particularly Valmiki’s Sanskrit version. In this new talk by CSTC, we discuss in-depth the Tamil translation of the original text by Kamban and its distinct qualities.
Speaker:
Professor George Hart is a world-renowned literary doyen and polymath, a widely respected scholar of both Tamil and Sanskrit, who also reads Greek, Latin and Russian. He has translated some of the best Tamil classical works into English. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Berkely, where he was formerly the Chair of Tamil Studies at the Department of South and South-east Asian Studies. He has written extensively on premodern Tamil, its relationship to classical Sanskrit, and South Indian religion and culture. He was the winner of the prestigious Ramanujam Prize for translation in 2002. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to the study and translation of Indian literature. He has been a consistent voice for Tamil’s recognition as a classical language 40 years.
The official letter he wrote in 2000 to support the efforts of the Tamil Nadu government to have Tamil recognised as a Classical language in India was released by the University of California, Berkeley. In 2004 the Indian government gave Tamil the status of a Classical language. In its citation, it mentioned that Prof Hart’s letter was one of the key documents that influenced its decision. Professor Hart will always have the appreciation and gratitude of every Tamil speaking individual.
Moderator: Dr. Elavazhagan Murugan is the Head of Young CSTC and Deputy Head of Programmes. He is a Research Scientist and Entrepreneur in the field of life sciences who is also involved in the Singapore theatre as script writer and director having written plays mostly in Literary Tamil and English.
Date: 14th May 2022
Building Bridges: Translating Chinese Literary Masterpieces into Tamil
Translating between two of the oldest languages in the world is a big challenge. Translating creative works is even more so. This talk in English will reveal the actual experiences of someone who translated the oldest Chinese classic and a Chinese Nobel Laureate’s novel into Tamil.
Payani Dharan (Sridharan Madhusudhanan), an Indian diplomat, is an avid translator. His postings in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei exposed him to Chinese literary treasures which he embraced readily. He has also published Journal articles on lexicography, ecology and literature. He is a recipient of SPARROW Literary Award for translation in 2016.
Discussants:
- Sithuraj Ponraj (Visiting Senior Fellow and Writer)
- Ravi Sarma (Partner of Comcenter China Ltd & Mandarin Speaker)
Date: 14th May 2022
Building Bridges: Translating Chinese Literary Masterpieces into Tamil
Translating between two of the oldest languages in the world is a big challenge. Translating creative works is even more so. This talk in English will reveal the actual experiences of someone who translated the oldest Chinese classic and a Chinese Nobel Laureate’s novel into Tamil.
Payani Dharan (Sridharan Madhusudhanan), an Indian diplomat, is an avid translator. His postings in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei exposed him to Chinese literary treasures which he embraced readily. He has also published Journal articles on lexicography, ecology and literature. He is a recipient of SPARROW Literary Award for translation in 2016.
Discussants:
- Sithuraj Ponraj (Visiting Senior Fellow and Writer)
- Ravi Sarma (Partner of Comcenter China Ltd & Mandarin Speaker)
Date: 14th May 2022
Building Bridges: Translating Chinese Literary Masterpieces into Tamil
Translating between two of the oldest languages in the world is a big challenge. Translating creative works is even more so. This talk in English will reveal the actual experiences of someone who translated the oldest Chinese classic and a Chinese Nobel Laureate’s novel into Tamil.
Payani Dharan (Sridharan Madhusudhanan), an Indian diplomat, is an avid translator. His postings in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei exposed him to Chinese literary treasures which he embraced readily. He has also published Journal articles on lexicography, ecology and literature. He is a recipient of SPARROW Literary Award for translation in 2016.
Discussants:
- Sithuraj Ponraj (Visiting Senior Fellow and Writer)
- Ravi Sarma (Partner of Comcenter China Ltd & Mandarin Speaker)
16 April 2022
Dravidian and Indus Valley Script By Professor Asko Parpola
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
Tamil is considered by many scholars to be the oldest spoken language in the world and is believed to have its roots in the Indus valley civilization. The Indus Valley scripts were discovered in 1921 and even after 100 years they have yet to be deciphered conclusively unlike Middle Eastern scripts like Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, etc. Many decipherments have been proposed and Prof Asko Parpola has been an early advocate of the script being of Proto-Dravidian origin. He led a team between 1960s to the 1980s to do original research using computer analytics. The culmination of his multi-decades of work was captured in his seminal book – Deciphering the Indus Script. In this talk he shares some of his key findings and insights.
Speaker: Professor Parpola is an Indologist who is currently Professor Emeritus of Indology and South Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He was awarded the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award at the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010 in India. In 2015, he was awarded India’s Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour in Sanskrit.
Moderator: Subbiah Lakshmanan, member of the Programmes Group at CSTC
16 April 2022
Dravidian and Indus Valley Script By Professor Asko Parpola
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
Tamil is considered by many scholars to be the oldest spoken language in the world and is believed to have its roots in the Indus valley civilization. The Indus Valley scripts were discovered in 1921 and even after 100 years they have yet to be deciphered conclusively unlike Middle Eastern scripts like Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, etc. Many decipherments have been proposed and Prof Asko Parpola has been an early advocate of the script being of Proto-Dravidian origin. He led a team between 1960s to the 1980s to do original research using computer analytics. The culmination of his multi-decades of work was captured in his seminal book – Deciphering the Indus Script. In this talk he shares some of his key findings and insights.
Speaker: Professor Parpola is an Indologist who is currently Professor Emeritus of Indology and South Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He was awarded the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award at the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010 in India. In 2015, he was awarded India’s Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour in Sanskrit.
Moderator: Subbiah Lakshmanan, member of the Programmes Group at CSTC
16 April 2022
Dravidian and Indus Valley Script By Professor Asko Parpola
Link: https://youtu.be/nbStc8vEeW0
Tamil is considered by many scholars to be the oldest spoken language in the world and is believed to have its roots in the Indus valley civilization. The Indus Valley scripts were discovered in 1921 and even after 100 years they have yet to be deciphered conclusively unlike Middle Eastern scripts like Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, etc. Many decipherments have been proposed and Prof Asko Parpola has been an early advocate of the script being of Proto-Dravidian origin. He led a team between 1960s to the 1980s to do original research using computer analytics. The culmination of his multi-decades of work was captured in his seminal book – Deciphering the Indus Script. In this talk he shares some of his key findings and insights.
Speaker: Professor Parpola is an Indologist who is currently Professor Emeritus of Indology and South Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He was awarded the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award at the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010 in India. In 2015, he was awarded India’s Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour in Sanskrit.
Moderator: Subbiah Lakshmanan, member of the Programmes Group at CSTC
Date: 26 March 2022
Interior Landscapes, Intercultural Explorations: Curiosity, Openness, Pleasure
The speaker says: “This dialogue is inspired by A.K. Ramanujan’s The Interior Landscape: Classical Tamil Love Poems and by the work of the Intercultural Theatre Institute and the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture. I explore, as an amateur, resonances and affinities between love poems in Tamil, Chinese, and Japanese. In doing so, I raise a few questions: What is entailed in trying to understand the inner life of another person, especially one who writes in a foreign language? If human beings have always known that there are others beyond their cultural community, isn’t some kind of “intercultural” encounter a fundamental part of human experience? Isn’t “translation” an essential human activity, and one that is always imperfect, incomplete, and unfinished? And all the more so in the face of a plurality of languages, cultural forms, and spatial experiences – not just across communities, but even within a single community through time and space? Do our intercultural explorations lead us to a broader and deeper understanding, not just of others, but ultimately also ourselves?”
Speaker: Prof Kwok Kian Woon is a professor of sociology at Nanyang Technological University and has strong interests in heritage and the arts. He has served on many boards including the National Arts Council and the National Heritage Board.
Moderator: Assoc Prof Chitra Sankaran, Acting Head, Department of English Language & Literature, National University of Singapore.
Date: 26 March 2022
Interior Landscapes, Intercultural Explorations: Curiosity, Openness, Pleasure
The speaker says: “This dialogue is inspired by A.K. Ramanujan’s The Interior Landscape: Classical Tamil Love Poems and by the work of the Intercultural Theatre Institute and the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture. I explore, as an amateur, resonances and affinities between love poems in Tamil, Chinese, and Japanese. In doing so, I raise a few questions: What is entailed in trying to understand the inner life of another person, especially one who writes in a foreign language? If human beings have always known that there are others beyond their cultural community, isn’t some kind of “intercultural” encounter a fundamental part of human experience? Isn’t “translation” an essential human activity, and one that is always imperfect, incomplete, and unfinished? And all the more so in the face of a plurality of languages, cultural forms, and spatial experiences – not just across communities, but even within a single community through time and space? Do our intercultural explorations lead us to a broader and deeper understanding, not just of others, but ultimately also ourselves?”
Speaker: Prof Kwok Kian Woon is a professor of sociology at Nanyang Technological University and has strong interests in heritage and the arts. He has served on many boards including the National Arts Council and the National Heritage Board.
Moderator: Assoc Prof Chitra Sankaran, Acting Head, Department of English Language & Literature, National University of Singapore.
26 March 2022
Interior Landscapes, Intercultural Explorations: Curiosity, Openness, Pleasure
The speaker says: “This dialogue is inspired by A.K. Ramanujan’s The Interior Landscape: Classical Tamil Love Poems and by the work of the Intercultural Theatre Institute and the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture. I explore, as an amateur, resonances and affinities between love poems in Tamil, Chinese, and Japanese. In doing so, I raise a few questions: What is entailed in trying to understand the inner life of another person, especially one who writes in a foreign language? If human beings have always known that there are others beyond their cultural community, isn’t some kind of “intercultural” encounter a fundamental part of human experience? Isn’t “translation” an essential human activity, and one that is always imperfect, incomplete, and unfinished? And all the more so in the face of a plurality of languages, cultural forms, and spatial experiences – not just across communities, but even within a single community through time and space? Do our intercultural explorations lead us to a broader and deeper understanding, not just of others, but ultimately also ourselves?”
Speaker: Prof Kwok Kian Woon is a professor of sociology at Nanyang Technological University and has strong interests in heritage and the arts. He has served on many boards including the National Arts Council and the National Heritage Board.
Moderator: Assoc Prof Chitra Sankaran, Acting Head, Department of English Language & Literature, National University of Singapore.
Date: 26 February 2022
Munshi Abdullah: The Making of a New Man in the Malay World
Link: https://youtu.be/GNpZOygG7lQ
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir (1796-1854) was a leading intellectual of his time whose legacy and contributions are still remembered and recognised today. Though Melaka-born, it was in Singapore that his illustrious career bloomed. He was a prolific writer and also a Malay language teacher to prominent colonial figures and Christian missionaries. The teaching vocation earned him the title of Munshi, which is the Malay term for teacher. Abdullah represents what can be called Manusia Selat or the “New Man of the Straits.” This New Man represents cosmopolitan outlook and thinking, living through an important era which saw the expansion of British colonialism, the emergence of a multi-cultural society and the employment of new technologies for the dissemination of ideas. Abdullah was an example of a Peranakan in a cosmopolitan region, with Tamil and Arab ancestry, though culturally Malayanised. Most importantly, Abdullah played the role of a critical observer of Malay/Straits society, witnessing both the collapse of Malay feudalism as well as the emergence of colonialism in this part of the world. This discussion will showcase his intellectual breadth and depth, which inevitably made him one of the most articulative and discerning figures in the history of our early pioneers.
Speaker: Dr Azhar Ibrahim is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. He teaches Malay-Indonesian literature and ideologies of development. His research interest includes sociology of literature, social theology religion, Islamic thought, critical literacy, and the Malay-Indonesian intellectual development.
Moderator: Elakeyaa Selvaraji is the Head of Communications at CSTC.
Date: 26 February 2022
Munshi Abdullah: The Making of a New Man in the Malay World
Link: https://youtu.be/GNpZOygG7lQ
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir (1796-1854) was a leading intellectual of his time whose legacy and contributions are still remembered and recognised today. Though Melaka-born, it was in Singapore that his illustrious career bloomed. He was a prolific writer and also a Malay language teacher to prominent colonial figures and Christian missionaries. The teaching vocation earned him the title of Munshi, which is the Malay term for teacher. Abdullah represents what can be called Manusia Selat or the “New Man of the Straits.” This New Man represents cosmopolitan outlook and thinking, living through an important era which saw the expansion of British colonialism, the emergence of a multi-cultural society and the employment of new technologies for the dissemination of ideas. Abdullah was an example of a Peranakan in a cosmopolitan region, with Tamil and Arab ancestry, though culturally Malayanised. Most importantly, Abdullah played the role of a critical observer of Malay/Straits society, witnessing both the collapse of Malay feudalism as well as the emergence of colonialism in this part of the world. This discussion will showcase his intellectual breadth and depth, which inevitably made him one of the most articulative and discerning figures in the history of our early pioneers.
Speaker: Dr Azhar Ibrahim is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. He teaches Malay-Indonesian literature and ideologies of development. His research interest includes sociology of literature, social theology religion, Islamic thought, critical literacy, and the Malay-Indonesian intellectual development.
Moderator: Elakeyaa Selvaraji is the Head of Communications at CSTC.
26 February 2022
Munshi Abdullah: The Making of a New Man in the Malay World
Link: https://youtu.be/GNpZOygG7lQ
Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir (1796-1854) was a leading intellectual of his time whose legacy and contributions are still remembered and recognised today. Though Melaka-born, it was in Singapore that his illustrious career bloomed. He was a prolific writer and also a Malay language teacher to prominent colonial figures and Christian missionaries. The teaching vocation earned him the title of Munshi, which is the Malay term for teacher. Abdullah represents what can be called Manusia Selat or the “New Man of the Straits.” This New Man represents cosmopolitan outlook and thinking, living through an important era which saw the expansion of British colonialism, the emergence of a multi-cultural society and the employment of new technologies for the dissemination of ideas. Abdullah was an example of a Peranakan in a cosmopolitan region, with Tamil and Arab ancestry, though culturally Malayanised. Most importantly, Abdullah played the role of a critical observer of Malay/Straits society, witnessing both the collapse of Malay feudalism as well as the emergence of colonialism in this part of the world. This discussion will showcase his intellectual breadth and depth, which inevitably made him one of the most articulative and discerning figures in the history of our early pioneers.
Speaker: Dr Azhar Ibrahim is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. He teaches Malay-Indonesian literature and ideologies of development. His research interest includes sociology of literature, social theology religion, Islamic thought, critical literacy, and the Malay-Indonesian intellectual development.
Moderator: Elakeyaa Selvaraji is the Head of Communications at CSTC.
18th September 2021
Tamil Muslims and Malay Publishing Houses
Did you know that some of the earliest Tamil books and newspapers in Singapore were published by the Tamil Muslim community here?
What’s more fascinating is that the same community was instrumental in early Malay publishing in Singapore!
Interested to know more about how the Tamil Muslim publishers and the Malay literati interacted and worked together?
Come join us in a specially curated seminar which will delve deep into this little-known subject.
Speakers:
- Dr Torsten Tschacher, Berlin Graduate School
- Dr Azhar Ibrahim, National University of Singapore (NUS)
Date: 18th September 2021
Tamil Muslims and Malay Publishing Houses
Did you know that some of the earliest Tamil books and newspapers in Singapore were published by the Tamil Muslim community here?
What’s more fascinating is that the same community was instrumental in early Malay publishing in Singapore!
Interested to know more about how the Tamil Muslim publishers and the Malay literati interacted and worked together?
Come join us in a specially curated seminar which will delve deep into this little-known subject.
Speakers:
- Dr Torsten Tschacher, Berlin Graduate School
- Dr Azhar Ibrahim, National University of Singapore (NUS)
Date: 18th September 2021
Tamil Muslims and Malay Publishing Houses
Did you know that some of the earliest Tamil books and newspapers in Singapore were published by the Tamil Muslim community here?
What’s more fascinating is that the same community was instrumental in early Malay publishing in Singapore!
Interested to know more about how the Tamil Muslim publishers and the Malay literati interacted and worked together?
Come join us in a specially curated seminar which will delve deep into this little-known subject.
Speakers:
- Dr Torsten Tschacher, Berlin Graduate School
- Dr Azhar Ibrahim, National University of Singapore (NUS)
18th September 2021
Musical Tribute to Bharathi
To commemorate Bharathi’s Centennial, CSTC joined hands with NLB and TLLPC to bring you these musical tributes. Please watch & enjoy!
Link: https://bit.ly/3BROflv
Date: 18th September 2021
Musical Tribute to Bharathi
To commemorate Bharathi’s Centennial, CSTC has joined hands with NLB and TLLPC to bring you these musical tributes. Please watch & enjoy!
Date: 18th September 2021
Musical Tribute to Bharathi
To commemorate Bharathi’s Centennial, CSTC has joined hands with NLB and TLLPC to bring you these musical tributes. Please watch & enjoy!
31st July 2021
Tamil & Sanskrit: The Two Eyes of Siva
This talk, aimed primarily at a Singaporean audience, is intended to enrich the understanding of the two great Indian classical languages of Tamil and Sanskrit and their continuous and complicated relationship over thousands of years. As Tamil is an official language of Singapore, and Sanskrit is widely known in Southeast Asia, their relationship with each other is of much interest to Singaporeans. Discourses such as these help us understand and appreciate the context of their relationship.
Prof George L Hart is a highly and widely acclaimed scholar in both languages, his erudition enhanced by knowledge of several other European and Indian languages. He is respected as an honest broker in language mediations. His judicious statement on the comparative merits of both languages and his recommendation for the recognition of Tamil as a Classical Language by the Indian Government can be read in full here.
At his advanced age and with other demands on his time, Prof Hart was a reluctant speaker, yielding only to the devotional pressures of his long-time friend Subbiah Lakshmanan, a member of CSTC and the moderator for this talk. CSTC would like to record its deep gratitude for his gracious agreement to participate.
Speaker: Prof George L Hart, University of California, Berkeley
Host: Subbiah Lakshmanan, CSTC
Date: 31st July 2021
Tamil & Sanskrit: The Two Eyes of Siva
This talk, aimed primarily at a Singaporean audience, is intended to enrich the understanding of the two great Indian classical languages of Tamil and Sanskrit and their continuous and complicated relationship over thousands of years. As Tamil is an official language of Singapore, and Sanskrit is widely known in Southeast Asia, their relationship with each other is of much interest to Singaporeans. Discourses such as these help us understand and appreciate the context of their relationship.
Prof George L Hart is a highly and widely acclaimed scholar in both languages, his erudition enhanced by knowledge of several other European and Indian languages. He is respected as an honest broker in language mediations. His judicious statement on the comparative merits of both languages and his recommendation for the recognition of Tamil as a Classical Language by the Indian Government can be read in full here.
At his advanced age and with other demands on his time, Prof Hart was a reluctant speaker, yielding only to the devotional pressures of his long-time friend Subbiah Lakshmanan, a member of CSTC and the moderator for this talk. CSTC would like to record its deep gratitude for his gracious agreement to participate.
Speaker: Prof George L Hart, University of California, Berkeley
Host: Subbiah Lakshmanan, CSTC
Date: 31st July 2021
Tamil & Sanskrit: The Two Eyes of Siva
This talk, aimed primarily at a Singaporean audience, is intended to enrich the understanding of the two great Indian classical languages of Tamil and Sanskrit and their continuous and complicated relationship over thousands of years. As Tamil is an official language of Singapore, and Sanskrit is widely known in Southeast Asia, their relationship with each other is of much interest to Singaporeans. Discourses such as these help us understand and appreciate the context of their relationship.
Prof George L Hart is a highly and widely acclaimed scholar in both languages, his erudition enhanced by knowledge of several other European and Indian languages. He is respected as an honest broker in language mediations. His judicious statement on the comparative merits of both languages and his recommendation for the recognition of Tamil as a Classical Language by the Indian Government can be read in full here.
At his advanced age and with other demands on his time, Prof Hart was a reluctant speaker, yielding only to the devotional pressures of his long-time friend Subbiah Lakshmanan, a member of CSTC and the moderator for this talk. CSTC would like to record its deep gratitude for his gracious agreement to participate.
Speaker: Prof George L Hart, University of California, Berkeley
Host: Subbiah Lakshmanan, CSTC
Past Events
Past Events
10th July 2021
Interview with Srijan
He was unable to articulate himself till the age of six. But, by the time he left primary school, S S Srijan became proficient in three languages i.e. English, Chinese and Tamil. His linguistic journey is akin to a roller-coaster ride. Taking up Chinese as his mother tongue in primary school, Srijan fails the subject in Primary 5 but goes on to score an ‘A’ in that subject at the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). He describes humbly his journey as an “interesting stroke of fate”. Whether it is divine agency or not, you will find out from his interview that there is no denying his diligence and determination in overcoming his linguistic challenges during his formative years.
Date: 10th July 2021
Interview with Srijan
He was unable to articulate himself till the age of six. But, by the time he left primary school, S S Srijan became proficient in three languages i.e. English, Chinese and Tamil. His linguistic journey is akin to a roller-coaster ride. Taking up Chinese as his mother tongue in primary school, Srijan fails the subject in Primary 5 but goes on to score an ‘A’ in that subject at the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). He describes humbly his journey as an “interesting stroke of fate”. Whether it is divine agency or not, you will find out from his interview that there is no denying his diligence and determination in overcoming his linguistic challenges during his formative years.
Date: 10th July 2021
Interview with Srijan
He was unable to articulate himself till the age of six. But, by the time he left primary school, S S Srijan became proficient in three languages i.e. English, Chinese and Tamil. His linguistic journey is akin to a roller-coaster ride. Taking up Chinese as his mother tongue in primary school, Srijan fails the subject in Primary 5 but goes on to score an ‘A’ in that subject at the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). He describes humbly his journey as an “interesting stroke of fate”. Whether it is divine agency or not, you will find out from his interview that there is no denying his diligence and determination in overcoming his linguistic challenges during his formative years.
8th May 2021
A Talk on Hari Raya Puasa & Hari Raya Haji
Did you know that Hari Raya is not the Muslim new year? Did you know that only in Singapore Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated for a month? Did you know that Singapore was the main embarkation and disembarkation point for Haj pilgrims in the 20th century? All these questions and more were answered by Mr Mohamed Imran Taib from the Centre for Interfaith Understanding (Singapore) in an engaging session organized by CSTC recently. Watch the full session here to learn more about the main religious festivals of the Singapore Malay/Muslims, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.
Speaker: Mohamed Imran Taib, Centre for Interfaith Understanding
Host: Harini V, CSTC
Date: 8th May 2021
A Talk on Hari Raya Puasa & Hari Raya Haji
Did you know that Hari Raya is not the Muslim new year? Did you know that only in Singapore Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated for a month? Did you know that Singapore was the main embarkation and disembarkation point for Haj pilgrims in the 20th century? All these questions and more were answered by Mr Mohamed Imran Taib from the Centre for Interfaith Understanding (Singapore) in an engaging session organized by CSTC recently. Watch the full session here to learn more about the main religious festivals of the Singapore Malay/Muslims, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.
Speaker: Mohamed Imran Taib, Centre for Interfaith Understanding
Host: Harini V, CSTC
Date: 8th May 2021
A Talk on Hari Raya Puasa & Hari Raya Haji
Did you know that Hari Raya is not the Muslim new year? Did you know that only in Singapore Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated for a month? Did you know that Singapore was the main embarkation and disembarkation point for Haj pilgrims in the 20th century? All these questions and more were answered by Mr Mohamed Imran Taib from the Centre for Interfaith Understanding (Singapore) in an engaging session organized by CSTC recently. Watch the full session here to learn more about the main religious festivals of the Singapore Malay/Muslims, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.
Speaker: Mohamed Imran Taib, Centre for Interfaith Understanding
Host: Harini V, CSTC
7th February 2021
Chinese New Year Traditions
Did you know that Yusheng was invented in Singapore? Did you also know that our favourite CNY goodies, pineapple tarts and love letters, are unique to Singapore and Malaysia? Learn more about the Singaporean Chinese culture and how our multiracial and multicultural environment has influenced the celebration of the traditional Lunar New Year. Shaun Choh from the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre explains what makes our CNY celebrations, uniquely Singapore.
Speakers: Shaun Choh, Assistant Curator, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
Host: Elakeyaa Selvaraji, CSTC
Date: 7th February 2021
Chinese New Year Traditions
Did you know that Yusheng was invented in Singapore? Did you also know that our favourite CNY goodies, pineapple tarts and love letters, are unique to Singapore and Malaysia? Learn more about the Singaporean Chinese culture and how our multiracial and multicultural environment has influenced the celebration of the traditional Lunar New Year. Shaun Choh from the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre explains what makes our CNY celebrations, uniquely Singapore.
Speakers: Shaun Choh, Assistant Curator, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
Host: Elakeyaa Selvaraji, CSTC
Date: 7th February 2021
Chinese New Year Traditions
Did you know that Yusheng was invented in Singapore? Did you also know that our favourite CNY goodies, pineapple tarts and love letters, are unique to Singapore and Malaysia? Learn more about the Singaporean Chinese culture and how our multiracial and multicultural environment has influenced the celebration of the traditional Lunar New Year. Shaun Choh from the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre explains what makes our CNY celebrations, uniquely Singapore.
Speakers: Shaun Choh, Assistant Curator, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
Host: Elakeyaa Selvaraji, CSTC
14th April 2020 - 14th June 2020
Naalum Oru Kavithai
During this corona virus pandemic, many Tamil students and youth may be sharing and consuming a variety of information on social media. Most of the content or campaigns created during this period are primarily in English and focus on creating awareness around the pandemic, health precautions, thanking frontline workers and sharing activities that are fun and entertaining while staying home i.e. reading, music, workout routines, health recipes, etc.
One of such activities that inspired this proposal was Sir Patrick Stewart’s daily reading of Shakespeare sonnets for his fans, while he was self-isolating. Fans of Stewart watch a new video each day from the actor, who has an extensive background in performing Shakespeare’s works on stage.
Date: 14th April 2020 - 14th June 2020
Naalum Oru Kavithai
During this corona virus pandemic, many Tamil students and youth may be sharing and consuming a variety of information on social media. Most of the content or campaigns created during this period are primarily in English and focus on creating awareness around the pandemic, health precautions, thanking frontline workers and sharing activities that are fun and entertaining while staying home i.e. reading, music, workout routines, health recipes, etc.
One of such activities that inspired this proposal was Sir Patrick Stewart’s daily reading of Shakespeare sonnets for his fans, while he was self-isolating. Fans of Stewart watch a new video each day from the actor, who has an extensive background in performing Shakespeare’s works on stage.
Date: 14th April 2020 - 14th June 2020
Naalum Oru Kavithai
During this corona virus pandemic, many Tamil students and youth may be sharing and consuming a variety of information on social media. Most of the content or campaigns created during this period are primarily in English and focus on creating awareness around the pandemic, health precautions, thanking frontline workers and sharing activities that are fun and entertaining while staying home i.e. reading, music, workout routines, health recipes, etc.
One of such activities that inspired this proposal was Sir Patrick Stewart’s daily reading of Shakespeare sonnets for his fans, while he was self-isolating. Fans of Stewart watch a new video each day from the actor, who has an extensive background in performing Shakespeare’s works on stage.
5th October 2019
Thirukkural: Sacred or Secular?
Venue: The Pod (Level 16), The National Library, 100 Victoria Street
Considered the greatest of the Tamil texts, it offers profound insights into how life should be lived, both externally and internally. While widely respected, Thirukkural has also generated spirited debates about its underlying perspective – is it a secular perspective or a religious perspective? If religious, which religion does it represent? Such questions are intriguing and have to be resolved entirely by reference to the text itself, as there is little external evidence one way or another.
To help us explore these questions, three thought leaders shared their views.
Prof S Thinnappan, a leading Tamil scholar in Singapore;
Mr Sabaratnam Ratnakumar, who has translated Thirukkural into English, and
Mr Subramaniam Nadaison, a Master Teacher in Tamil in the Ministry of Education.
The forum was presented in English and moderated by Mr. Arun Mahizhnan.
Date: 5th October 2019
Thirukkural: Sacred or Secular?
Venue: The Pod (Level 16), The National Library, 100 Victoria Street
Considered the greatest of the Tamil texts, it offers profound insights into how life should be lived, both externally and internally. While widely respected, Thirukkural has also generated spirited debates about its underlying perspective – is it a secular perspective or a religious perspective? If religious, which religion does it represent? Such questions are intriguing and have to be resolved entirely by reference to the text itself, as there is little external evidence one way or another.
To help us explore these questions, three thought leaders shared their views.
Prof S Thinnappan, a leading Tamil scholar in Singapore;
Mr Sabaratnam Ratnakumar, who has translated Thirukkural into English, and
Mr Subramaniam Nadaison, a Master Teacher in Tamil in the Ministry of Education.
The forum was presented in English and moderated by Mr. Arun Mahizhnan.
Date: 5th October 2019
Thirukkural: Sacred or Secular?
Venue: The Pod (Level 16), The National Library, 100 Victoria Street
Considered the greatest of the Tamil texts, it offers profound insights into how life should be lived, both externally and internally. While widely respected, Thirukkural has also generated spirited debates about its underlying perspective – is it a secular perspective or a religious perspective? If religious, which religion does it represent? Such questions are intriguing and have to be resolved entirely by reference to the text itself, as there is little external evidence one way or another.
To help us explore these questions, three thought leaders shared their views.
Prof S Thinnappan, a leading Tamil scholar in Singapore;
Mr Sabaratnam Ratnakumar, who has translated Thirukkural into English, and
Mr Subramaniam Nadaison, a Master Teacher in Tamil in the Ministry of Education.
The forum was presented in English and moderated by Mr. Arun Mahizhnan.
Date: 31th March 2019
What's in a New Year?
Venue: The Pod, Level 16, National Library, 100 Victoria Street
This programme discussed several New Years celebrated by different cultures in Singapore and provided not commonly known insights into the philosophy and significance of each celebration.
Panelists: Dr Geoff Benjamin, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, Dr Sureshkumar Muthukumar and Dr Vivienne Wee.
Host: Jayasutha Samuthiran
Date: 31th March 2019
What's in a New Year?
Venue: The Pod, Level 16, National Library, 100 Victoria Street
This programme discussed several New Years celebrated by different cultures in Singapore and provided not commonly known insights into the philosophy and significance of each celebration.
Panelists: Dr Geoff Benjamin, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, Dr Sureshkumar Muthukumar and Dr Vivienne Wee.
Host: Jayasutha Samuthiran
Date: 31th March 2019
What's in a New Year?
Venue: The Pod, Level 16, National Library, 100 Victoria Street
This programme discussed several New Years celebrated by different cultures in Singapore and provided not commonly known insights into the philosophy and significance of each celebration.
Panelists: Dr Geoff Benjamin, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, Dr Sureshkumar Muthukumar and Dr Vivienne Wee.
Host: Jayasutha Samuthiran