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New gallery provides in-depth look at history of Indian Muslim community

SINGAPORE — When the Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre (NDIMHC) opened in 2011, Ameer Roshan’s father asked him to help out as a docent to guide visitors through the centre. Though he had no interest in Indian Muslim culture, the 23-year-old agreed to do so.

The new gallery at the Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre tells the story of the pioneers through the use of visual ethnography and images. Photo: Elgin Chong/TODAY

The new gallery at the Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre tells the story of the pioneers through the use of visual ethnography and images. Photo: Elgin Chong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — When the Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre (NDIMHC) opened in 2011, Ameer Roshan’s father asked him to help out as a docent to guide visitors through the centre. Though he had no interest in Indian Muslim culture, the 23-year-old agreed to do so.

While at the NDIMHC, stories about the pioneers in the Indian Muslim community piqued his interest and since then, he has been helping out at the heritage centre whenever he can.

Mr Ameer said it was the setting up of the Umar Pulavar Language Centre in 1945 — the first Tamil high school in South-east Asia — that compelled him to appreciate the Indian Muslim culture and help out at the heritage centre.

“Back then, my pioneers were just migrants from India, and they were a minority here, so, I was very surprised to note that they were able to build the school,” he said. “It was a striking moment, when I knew about the efforts they had put in to contribute to Singapore.”

Today (Jan 6), a new gallery at the NDIMHC in Telok Ayer was unveiled. The gallery provides a glimpse into the community’s yesteryear and pays homage to key contributors who led the growth of the Indian Muslim community. It also aims to inspire youths with the values and contributions of their pioneers.

However, visitorship has not been strong since the heritage centre’s inception, with only 25,000 visitors having walked through its doors so far.

The centre’s planning committee has been thinking up new ideas to help bring in the younger crowd, said Mr Naseer Ghani, Secretary of NDIMHC, at the gallery’s unveiling ceremony.

“Some of these static (exhibits) may not attract the youths so we need to think about how to make it more interactive for them.

“But it all depends on whether we can get the funding, and whatever we display here has to sync with the rest of the exhibits,” said Mr Naseer, while adding that the NDIMHC hopes to get approved funding from the National Heritage Board, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and businesses in the Indian Muslim community for such plans.

Mr Ameer, who is studying to be a teacher at the National Institute of Education, said he hopes more youths will begin to volunteer as docents or helpers at NDIMHC’s events, such as the annual Kandoori Festival held in the sixth month of the Islamic calendar.

“I think we can involve more youths by getting Indian Muslim organisations in Singapore to use the centre as a venue for events for youths, like congratulatory ceremonies for Indian Muslim students who have done well in school,” suggested Mr Ameer. “I will do whatever I can to help inspire others with the efforts our forefathers put in, because without their hard work, I would not be here.”

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