LOOKING INTO CHINDIAN LIVES: COLOURISM, LANGUAGE AND RELIGION IN THE MAKING OF A BI-ETHNIC IDENTITY

Abstract

This thesis aims to understand the experiences of individuals of Chinese-Indian parentage, popularly known as Chindians. It seeks to dwell deeper into realising the challenges faced by these bi-ethnic individuals on grounds of language, colour and ethnicity. Furthermore it attempts to understand how parental ideologies, language preferences and religious affiliations influence the way in which Chindians identify themselves ethnically. In light of the growing discussion on majoritarian privilege an inherent curiosity lies in this thesis in unravelling the impact of such discussions on Chindians. Gaining further insights on the impact becomes crucial in order to fathom if the concept of majoritarian privilege exists in the racial understandings of Chindians given that they are bi-ethnic individuals who have origins from both the ethnic majority and the ethnic minority. Through the application of concepts that include ‘identity’, ‘cultural homelessness’ and ‘performative sustainability’ this thesis ultimately aims to analyse and assess how connected Chindians are with the Indian aspect of their identity in the context of multiracial Singapore.