Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praises is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompose. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your) anger or of those
who are astray. Ameen.
Indian Singaporeans are an ethnic minority in Singapore. They have played a key role in all sectors of the economy and politics.
Back then, the Indians used to construct roads and public buildings, the milkman who provided milk to British establishments, dhobis who washed linen for the English sahibs, Sikh watchmen and policemen, Gujarati spice merchants, Chettiar moneylenders, goldsmiths and so on.
Here are some names often invoked when talking of the contributions of Indian Singaporeans to nation building.
Mr Nair was instrumental in playing a key role in the reformation of the trade union movement in Singapore after 1965. His contributions laid the foundation for the peace among trade union members for the stable industrialisation of Singapore.
Mr Kandasamy was the longest serving leader of the public employees union who contributed to the growth of a responsible trade union movement for public sector employees.
P. Govindasamy, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, have made way to new entrepreneurs who increasingly look to the global arena to accumulate their wealth.
Mr Girija Pande, the chairman of Tata Consultancy Services in Asia-Pacific, was presented with the Leading CEO Award for 2010 in Singapore.
As Muslims living in a multicultural and multireligious country, it is important that we open up our mind to educate ourself on other community contributions and philantrophic acts. This will assist us in appreciating and be grateful to the other community while be inspired by them. May we too be like them in being a useful member of the community. Ameen.
