The Singaporean Indian and the local arts scene — A frank broadcast of the Elephant in the Room
What message are we carrying to our next generation of Singaporean Indians?
It is not necessary for me to paint a background to this. You see them in our community shows, our mainstream media, schools, sports events and just about everywhere. If you are a Singaporean Indian, you know it.
Native Indian talents being nurtured by the local media. In fact, I reckon we can expect to a lot more of them. Personally speaking, it seems to be a proud admission, by our very own at that, that perhaps our local talents are just not good enough, hence our need to turn to imports. Such a declaration, is disturbing to say the least.
It’s particularly frustrating because such foreign ‘talents’ have practically hundreds of medium back in their country that they can showcase their talents on. Whereas us locals only have a couple. And yet our opportunities are being auctioned off.
One school of thought may argue that the mediums in India have given foreigners an opportunity on their platforms and there’s absolutely nothing wrong in returning the favour. Agreed! Here’s the difference though. They do so sparingly and only while ensuring that 99% of their artistic placements still consist of their natives. Where that comparison is in a ratio of 1:1 over in our country, it is rather worrying. And did anyone ever notice the population difference? 77.80 million Indians in Tamil Nadu vs 0.43 Indians in Singapore.
So is there a need for a return of favour?
We need to start thinking about this deeply. As a citizen of this land and an appreciator/audience/recipient of the arts, in a nation where the arts is not particularly held at a prestigious esteem, why is it that foreign talents are being groomed and recognized when those same platforms and resources can be dedicated to local talents looking to gain some recognition and get that break? More often that not, we consume the enjoyment derived from the arts but fail to question the inner mechanics. Are artists not people with citizenry and patriotic inclinations? It is further disturbing when the community is only that small and it happens to us.
This comes to mind: Singapore hiring native Chinese players, branding them as Singaporeans to compete against China in the Olympics for table-tennis and chest-thumping in the event of a victory, all in the pursuit of glory and fame. Aren’t we just a cute bunch of people? This has become a habit in many industries and organisations, with no two-cents being spared on the impact of the society. Are we just ignorant, or truly blind?
The situation is somewhat similar here.
The lack of cognizance for this issue is going to drive a certain behaviour among the local talents. Lack of motivation, feeling of disconnect and isolation from one’s own community, lack of respect for its culture (that’s when they go “what’s the point? They foreigner’s going to get the glory anyway”), etc. — and then we fret about why our children are not identifying with our culture or speaking our language. To further add salt to the wound, local Indians are portrayed as gangsters, drug dealers, and hardwired criminals in mainstream media and minimally as high-flying respectable people of society. We rarely see this as an issue with the Chinese or Malay community. It may sound roundabout, but let’s face it — it is a pressing concern and we are drawing our own people into a disappearing cultural whirlpool. The average Singaporean Indian has progressed so much further ahead.
It’s the same case with local university placements for Singaporeans. The ratio of locals to foreigners is pretty darn high in the leading two universities. When you look at the statistics however, it would show that more Singaporeans have been placed over the years. But does that mean less foreigners have been placed? Who’s bothered to ask for a comparison, or question the merits, validity and method in which the study leading up to the statistics was carried out? Besides, statistics can be tweaked in many different ways to angle a message. Friends in the government sector would know.
I’m not saying strictly No to foreign talent here. I’m just saying, use them like salt. Only sparingly. They’re ornamental, not functional. Yes they can contribute to the economy, but relying on them to do so is extremely risky. Let’s keep that in mind as we square off the citizen to non-citizen population ratio to 1:1. (www.singstat.gov.sg)
Our leaders need to consider the intricacies and sensitivities of our social fabric very carefully. Especially being the sole representative of a certain community and advocating for its values and culture. Appeal to the locals, cherish them, nourish them, nurture them, respect them, value them. Take not your default for granted. Sitting in that high horse and looking over people never helped anyone and all that gloss and pretty only eggs invalidation. If there is need to get off, get your hands dirty, and walk the ground for real change to happen and for real respect to be earned, do it.
Otherwise, all that fare is just big talk.
