INGREDIENTS THAT BIND: FOOD AND IDENTITY IN THE CHETTI MELAKA COMMUNITY

Abstract

This thesis looks at the hybrid Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indian) community in Singapore. What is their position in relation to the wider multiracial Singapore society? The CMIO framework is critically analysed, and Chetti experiences with other communities are examined. It is proposed that the ‘local’, mixed identity of the Chetti Melaka can provide an alternative understanding of what it means to be Singaporean. The construction of Chetti identity through the lens of Chetti cuisine, and the role of food in establishing and strengthening relationships is discussed. The hybridity of the community and its effects on the formation of group identity is considered. Through the discussion of the Chetti Melaka, this thesis aims to gain a deeper understanding of food, hybridity and identity.