Sub-inquiry question: What was life like for the Indians in Singapore during the 19th Century?

1. Transportation

1.1. Source A: What mode of transportation did the Indians take in the 19th century?

1.2. They rode on oxen. Source A provides evidence as it shows the Indians riding on bullock carts. This means that the oxen were very important to the Indians, especially the labourers as they helped to transport materials needed for construction. Oxen were strong and could travel long distances whilst carrying items.

1.3. Source B: Other than bullock carts, what other modes of transportation did the Indians take in the 19th century?

1.4. They used rickshaws. Source B provides evidence as it shows a rickshaw used by the Indians in the 19th century. This means that the Indians also looked for convenience in their mode of transportation as they were ideal for short journeys through crowded inner-city streets and alleys in 19th century Singapore. I can also infer that rickshaws were important to the Indian labourers as rickshaws were also used for carrying coal, building materials or other materials and transporting them to the construction site.

1.5. Source C: What other modes of transportation did the Indians in 19th century?

1.6. They used boats. Source C provides evidence as it shows many boats used by the Indians to transport people, goods and materials.

1.7. Source C: Were the boats convenient/safe?

1.8. The boats were small in size, hence, if there was a storm, the boats had a chance of capsizing. Source C provides evidence as it shows that the boats were small in size

2. Work/jobs

2.1. Source D: Why did Indians workers come to South East Asia?

2.2. They came to Singapore as the plantation sector had risen and was very popular in 19th century South East Asia. Source D provides evidence as it shows an Indian plantation worker. During the 19th century, the growth of the plantation sector resulted in the widespread migration of Indian agricultural workers to Southeast Asia. From various Indian ports, these migrants traveled to the Straits Settlements and Malaya. This means that the rise in the plantation sector was one of the key reasons why the Indian workers migrated to Singapore in the 19th century.

2.3. I can also infer from Source D that the Government recruited well-educated Indians to serve in higher-ranking professions. The colonial government in the Straits Settlement relied on the Indian Subcontinent for much of its administrative support staff and English educated Indians migrated to Singapore to serve in the police, military, medical, harbor, and railway services, and to work as clerks, court interpreters, civil servants, and educators.

2.4. Source E: How did the presence of Indian traders and businesses start in the straits settlements and Malaya?

2.5. Businesses and trade started to flourish after traders and merchants established themselves in the straits settlements and Malaya. Source E provides evidence as it states that "After the founding of Penang in 1786, traders from the Coromandel and Malabar coasts, commodity traders from Gujarat, and textile merchants from Sindh and Punjab have established themselves in the Straits Settlement and Malaya. From the 19th century onward, Indian and Sri Lankan professionals including surveyors, medical practitioners, and lawyers, also migrated to the straits settlement and Malaya."

2.6. Source E: Which were the early groups of Indians to arrive in Singapore?

2.7. Migrants who established small-scale businesses were one of the early groups of Indians to arrive in Singapore. Source E provides evidence as it states that "Migrants who established sundry shops, food businesses, craftsmen and goldsmiths, milkmen, washermen, and barbers were the early groups who arrived in Singapore."

3. Language

3.1. Source F: How long have Hinduism and Buddhism existed in southeast Asia?

3.2. Hinduism and Buddhism have existed in South East Asia for more than 2000 years. This is stated in Source F.

3.3. Source F: Which is the oldest known language (spoken by the southwestern region of India)?

3.4. Kanada. Source F provides evidence as it shows the Halmidi Inscription, the oldest known Kannada language inscription in the Kadamba script. While estimates vary slightly the inscription is often dated to between 450CE-500CE. The inscription was discovered in 1936 by Dr.M.H.Krishna.

4. Food

4.1. Source G: Did the Indians from the different regions eat the same or different type of food and dishes?

4.2. The Indians from different regions ate different types of food, some prefer foods with stronger flavour while others prefer blander foods.

4.3. Source G provides evidence as it states that “They are the Tamils who love spices. Hindus do not eat beef and in most cases they are vegetarians. Common ingredients in their dishes are chilli, coconut milk, beans, yogurt and mustard seeds. Rice is their staple. North Indian food is different, less spicy and has bread to accompany their dishes. Cow's milk, cream and Ghee are used for North Indian Cuisine instead of coconut milk.”

4.4. Source G: In general, what types of foods did the Indian labourers eat?

4.5. The Indian labourers ate more foods that came from plants (eg beans, mustard seed, rice) than foods that came from animals (eg cow milk). This is evident in the source as it states that “Hindus do not eat beef and in most cases they are vegetarians. Common ingredients in their dishes are chilli, coconut milk, beans, yogurt, and mustard seeds. Rice is their staple. North Indian food is different, less spicy, and has bread to accompany their dishes. Cow's milk, cream, and Ghee are used for North Indian Cuisine instead of coconut milk.”

5. Contributions

5.1. Source H: Were the jobs of the Indian labourers difficult?

5.2. The Indian labourers’ jobs were difficult as they had to build the government house level by level without the use of technology. Source H provides evidence as it shows the Indian labourers building the Government House.

5.3. Source H: What did the Indian labourers do to make their jobs easier?

5.4. The Indian labourers made use of animals (oxen) to make their jobs easier and transport goods faster. Source H provides evidence as it shows the Indian labourers making use of bullock carts to transport materials.

5.5. Source I: What were some of the contributions of the Indian labourers that benefited Singapore?

5.6. The Indian labourers helped to make Singapore accessible from Johor by land and also opened up the land for farming and plantations. Source I provides evidence as it states that “DURING the year 1845 the Bukit Timah Road was opened up by convict labour between Bukit Timah and Kranji so that the produce hitherto carried by water to Singapore from the neighbouring country of Johore could now be brought into town by road, while at the same time land was thus opened up for cultivation.”

5.7. Source I: Was the construction of the road of the road on the summit of Mount Faber difficult?

5.8. The construction of the road on the summit of Mount Faber was difficult as it was on the summit so all the materials needed for constructing the road needed to be transported up the hill. Source I provides evidence as it states that “The convicts were also employed in this year in constructing a road to the summit of Telok Blangah Hill, now called Mount Faber, for the purpose of building there a signal station…”