Community Involvement of Indian Immigrants

Source 1: The history of Wakaf in Singapore during the 1800s.

Wakaf were also established by those traders and money changers who had come from India. They began with the building of Masjid Jamae in the 1820s, followed by other mosques and they established a number of Wakaf – such as the Wakaf of Ahna Ally Mohammad Kassim – so that we now have a total of 14 Wakaf founded by the Indian community.

Reference:

Majilis Ugama Islam Singapura. (Accessed in 2020). History of Wakaf in Singapore. Retrieved from https://www.muis.gov.sg/wakaf/About/History-of-Wakaf-in-Singapore 

Source 2: An extract of the community involvement of the Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore during the 1920s.

The devotees and admirers of Singapore requested the authorities of the Ramakrishna Mission in India to start a branch here.

In response to their earnest appeal Swami Adyananda was sent to Singapore in May 1928. The Swami with the help of devotees and well-wishers started a branch center of the Mission on the 7th of August 1928. The Mission set before itself some general guidelines to direct its activities:

1. Educational work – starting a day school for children and night school for adults.

2. Charitable works for all people.

3. Dissemination of spiritual ideas

Reference:

Ramakrishna Mission Singapore (2012). History.  Ramakrishna Mission Singapore, Retrieved from http://ramakrishna.org.sg/rkmsg/index.php/singapore-mission/history-2/

Source 3: The community contributions of Somapah, an Indian immigrant in Singapore during the late 1800s.

Somapah proved to be an even more astute businessman than his father. A frugal, hardworking man, he added substantially to the family’s land-ownership – and donated generously towards the Hindu community. He financed some of the further development of Sri Krishna temple in Waterloo Street, which Hunmapah had – under the pseudonym Hanuman Beem Singh – initiated in 1870 as a shrine, and which is a heritage site in Singapore. Somapah included in its further development an “alms house” to provide food and lodging, clothing and medicine, for the poor.

Reference:

The Basapas of Singapore (2011). Somapah’s place in Singapore History.  The Basapas of Singapore, Retrieved from http://www.singaporebasapa.com/Somapah%E2%80%99s%20Place%20in%20Singapore%20History.html

Source 4: The history of Navroji R. Mistri, a well-known Indian businessman in the 19th and 20th centuries Singapore.

Navroji R. Mistri was a prominent Parsi entrepreneur. As an engineer, he helped to construct Keppel Wharfs. Later, he established the Phoenix Aerated Water Company and made his fortune selling soda water in Singapore. Known as the ‘godfather of the poor’ and the ‘bachelor godfather’ of Singapore’s poor children, Mistri donated a significant part of his wealth towards the improvement of medical services in Singapore. The Mistri Wing of the General Hospital (now Singapore General Hospital), which housed the paediatric wards, and Mistri Road in Tanjong Pagar are named after him.

Reference:

Indian Heritage Centre (2020). 1885, Mistri, Navroji R. (b. 1885 – d. 1953). Singapore.

Source 5: An extract of Shaik Abdul Gaffoor’s community contributions in the 1900s Singapore.

Prominent businessman and landowner Shaik Abdul Gaffoor was instrumental in building what is now known as the Abdul Gaffoor Mosque. In 1887, as mosque trustee, Shaik Abdul Gaffoor applied to construct shophouses and sheds on land around the original mosque. The rental of these buildings generated income which then went towards building the new mosque, which was started building in 1909.

Reference:

Indian Heritage Centre (2020). 1887, Gafoor, Shaik Abdul. Singapore.

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