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Just Launched: Singapore’s South Asian Communities Book and Documentary Series

28/05/2022

IN BRIEF | 8 min read

The NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) showcased a series of books and short documentaries that focused on Singapore’s lesser-known South Asian communities at a book launch-cum-documentary screening at the Indian Heritage Centre on 28 May 2022.

**Prof Tan Tai Yong, Dr Jayati Bhattacharya, and Assoc Prof Rai (fifth, sixth and seventh from the left respectively), with former and current graduate students of the NUS South Asian Studies Programme.**

The NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) showcased a series of books and short documentaries that focused on Singapore’s lesser-known South Asian communities at a book launch-cum-documentary screening at the Indian Heritage Centre today. Titled “Hidden Heritage: Minority South Asian Communities in Singapore”, the series shines a spotlight on the Bengali, Gujarati, Hindustani (the diaspora from the Gangetic Heartland), Tamil Catholic and Telugu communities.

An initiative of the NUS FASS South Asian Studies Programme, the series explores the everyday experiences of these communities and demonstrates the unique and shared historical trajectories and cultural values made while interacting with other ‘Indian’ and non-‘Indian’ communities in Singapore; sifting the intricate tapestry within the ‘Indian’ ethnic category to unveil the rich heritage of the diaspora. The South Asian communities were chosen for their unique social, historical and cultural characteristics and the series aims to share and shape popular discourse beyond flattened, homogenised imaginations that do not match the histories, learned heritage, or lived realities of many Singaporean ‘Indians’.

The list of five books are as follows (the five documentaries bear the same title):

Sojourners and Settlers from the Gangetic Heartland: The Hindustani Diaspora in Singapore
'Bhadralok’ Connection: The Bengali Diaspora in Singapore
Being Catholic the Tamil Way or Being Tamil the Catholic Way? The Tamil Catholic Community in Singapore
Telugus in Singapore: Re-making Diasporic Identities
Business Connections, Culture and its Continuities: The Gujarati Diaspora in Singapore

The series explores the everyday experiences of these communities and demonstrates the unique and shared historical trajectories and cultural values made while interacting with other ‘Indian’ and non-‘Indian’ communities in Singapore.

The project is led by Head of the Programme Associate Professor Rajesh Rai, and Senior Lecturer Dr Jayati Bhattacharya, with research and writing support from the Programme’s former and current students. It is supported by the Heritage Research Grant of the National Heritage Board.

Professor Tan Tai Yong, Chairman of the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies and Guest-of-Honour at the event, said, “The Hidden Heritage Series contributes to our understanding of lesser-known South Asian communities in Singapore. Collectively the books and documentaries raise awareness of the intricate tapestry of Singapore’s diverse multicultural society.”

Associate Professor Rajesh Rai added, “A fascinating aspect of this research has been in the unveiling of the immense contribution of these small communities in the historical development of Singapore. At the same time, these studies also draw attention to how their identities have transformed over time in the context of living in a global city.”

The event saw a panel discussion with the authors to introduce the series. This was followed by a screening of the documentaries. The event was attended by distinguished members of the local Indian community, guests from the Indian Heritage Centre and National Heritage Board, as well as representatives from FASS.

Book copies will be distributed to the National Library with the documentaries used as a teaching aid for NUS students. The Programme is planning to produce a second series that will focus on five other minority South Asian communities in two years’ time.

Click here for the synopses of the books and documentaries.

This article first appeared in NUSNews on 28 May 2022.

Prospective Students

The Department offers one intake per academic year, which is the August intake. The application period is from 16 May to 1 November, in the year preceding the intake.

Important: The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf. Candidates interested in our graduate programmes are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Candidates who apply through agents will not have any added advantage in gaining admission and the University reserves the right to reject such applications without giving reasons.

Application Procedure

Applicants must apply online. Please access the online system and complete the application.

You will only be required to submit your application online. There is no need for you to send anything to us by post by the application deadline. If your application is shortlisted for admission, you will be contacted by the department after the deadline and will be asked to submit your application package to them by post.

Admission Requirements

In general, applicants without a background in Sociology or Anthropology can be considered for admission. However, the minimum criteria are as follows:

Sociology/Anthropology

A good first degree, usually the equivalent of a good NUS Honours degree, such as a Bachelor degree earned from a four-year programme. For PhD applicants, a Masters degree from a relevant discipline would be an added bonus, but those without such postgraduate qualifications will not necessarily be disadvantaged;
A deep interest in the discipline. Applicants are to submit relevant official documentation proving that they have adequate training and/or ability to undertake the proposed course;
An original research thesis proposal.

Please note that admission is highly competitive – meeting the minimum criteria for admission does not imply automatic acceptance into any of the programmes hosted by the Department. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interviews, either face-to-face or via telephone.

Research Proposal

As mentioned, a research proposal is required as a supporting document. The proposal must be of your own design and concept. You may approach any faculty member for advice. However, please do not expect them to work out a proposal with/for you. After all, the primary purpose of submitting a research proposal is for us to have a better idea of your potential to succeed in our research programmes.

For general guidelines to writing a research proposal, please refer to this document: Research Proposal Guidelines for Applicants. In addition, this document provides a few tips to get you started: How to Write a Research Proposal.

Supervision

Prior to submitting the application, applicants may seek the consent of any faculty member to be the thesis advisor. However, for successful Sociology candidates, the Department reserves the right to assign a thesis advisor(s) and will make arrangements for a mentorship programme, whereby a mentor will be assigned to guide the Sociology newcomer for the first semester. Subsequently, if the partnership works out well, the mentor will become the official thesis advisor. Students are expected to communicate regularly with their thesis advisor about their progress.

Financial Assistance

If you have further enquiries about the admissions process, please email the Graduate Studies Division at fasbox3@nus.edu.sg.

For other matters concerning the programme, please email the Department at socbox1@nus.edu.sg.

M.Soc.Sci (Sociology)

The Master in Social Science (Sociology) programme aims to train students in advanced theoretical application and enhance their research capabilities, so that they are able to initiate, conduct and complete independent exploratory research in new knowledge frontiers. The programme is best suited for returning students who have had a few years of work experience or who are currently working as research assistants.

Programme Requirements

Please refer to the FASS website for more information on requirements to complete the graduate programme. The Sociology graduate programme abides by most of the guidelines described in the FASS website. However, the information listed below is specific to students of the Department, in relation to coursework requirements. Please also note that the Department does not take in part-time students; the Masters programme is offered on a full-time basis only.

From the August 2010 intake onwards, the Department has introduced significant changes so as to make graduate studies more rigorous and give students more exposure to different areas of the discipline. The goal is to create a more vibrant and scholarly milieu for graduate students to engage in peer evaluation and grow into well-rounded scholars who are competent beyond their chosen areas of specialisation.

Part of the new programme requirements involves graduate students attending and presenting at the Department Seminar Series and Graduate Seminar Series. Students are expected to keep close watch on the seminar listings on our Department's website. They are expected to contact the respective seminar convenors/chairs when they are ready to present their papers.

August 2010 Intake Onwards

Required Coursework

M.Soc.Sci. candidates must read and pass five courses, which must include the following compulsory courses:

SC5101 Graduate Research Methods
SC5102 Quantitative Data Analysis OR SC5103 Qualitative Data Analysis
SC6102 Sociological Theory and Social Reality
SC5770 Graduate Research Seminar

This means that candidates can select any relevant elective to read as the fifth course. However, please note that up to 25% of the total course units can be at level-4000, with at least 75% at level-5000 or -6000.

Mandatory Seminar Attendance and Paper Presentations

M.Soc.Sci. candidates should increase seminar attendance and paper presentations, not only voluntarily in overseas/local conferences, but also in avenues which the Department has created for them, on a mandatory basis:

To attend the Graduate Seminar Series'
To present at least one paper at the Graduate Seminar Series

The students' attendance and presentations will be monitored by the General Office. Students are actively encouraged to attend, and those who do not do so will be given counselling.

Intensified Pace of M.Soc.Sci. Candidature

The Department proposes the following to set the pace of candidature for M.Soc.Sci. students:

The Department recommends that M.Soc.Sci. candidates finish their degrees within two and a half years.
By the end of the first semester, M.Soc.Sci. candidates must have passed three out of five courses, excluding the compulsory Graduate Research Seminar and SC5102 or SC5103.
By the end of the second semester, M.Soc.Sci. candidates must have passed these two remaining courses, which are the compulsory Graduate Research Seminar and SC5102 or SC5103.
In the second year of candidature, fieldwork and data collection should be undertaken. The department recommends that thesis drafting and writing should commence shortly after fieldwork has been done.
Throughout their candidature, students should be regularly attending the student-run Graduate Seminar Series. However, in the fourth semester, they will make one compulsory paper presentation in the Graduate Seminar Series.
By the end of the fifth semester, the theses would have been examined and revisions done to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Please address enquiries to socbox1@nus.edu.sg.

Course Information

Prospective Students

Current Students

Search Results for: short course

Prospective Students

M.Soc.Sci (Sociology)

Programme Requirements

August 2010 Intake Onwards