Overseas Travel with Family

In the early part of 2019, I came across, through various channels of communication, about Singapore's Bicentennial celebrations.

It's a common and well known fact that Singapore's cultural diversity is brought about by it's multi-ethnic and multi-racial society. People of different nations, especially, Chinese, Indians, and Malayas, have sought, and continue to do so, to this day, their fortunes, in this land of Temasek.

One of the YouTube videos, talks about traders arriving from Riau, in the year 1820. In the same video, that runs for two minutes, between 0:30 and 0:45, the narrator (and the accompanying sub-titles) outlines the relief expressed by the locals, when it's realized that the traders' families had accompanied them.

Intent of the traders is quite clear: conduct business and settle in Singapore.

From David West Rudner's, Caste and Capitalism in Colonial India: The Nattukottai Chettiars, well researched, but, sadly, out of print book, it's well established that Nattukottai Nagarattars (a.k.a Nattukottai Chettiars) played a key role in the banking business of Singapore, initially part of the Straits Settlements, latter a Crown Colony.

How is the topic of traders from Riau linked to the Nagarattars from India? Well, here it is : on frequent travel to the Straits Settlements, did the Nattukottai Chettiars take their families, with them, to Malaya or Singapore or Penang? On the quest to find out more, let us explore the various avenues available.

To keep the readers hooked, here is a tid-bit: Local newspapers reported the arrival of Nagarattars' family, in special columns, highlighting the breaking of tradition!

For the latest video updates, check out this YouTube channel of Singapore Bicentennial