THE EVOLUTION OF SIKH RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This thesis seeks to shed light on the Sikhs in Singapore by studying their institutions. The Sikh religious institutions in Singapore have provided a wide range of services to the local Sikhs and as such have assisted the community in facing the challenges that confronted the Sikhs in their adopted homeland. A study of the evolution of their institutions will give us an insight into the social history of the local Sikh community, as the changes and developments in the institutions are reflections of developments within the community. It is not the aim of this thesis to give a comprehensive study of how the institutions have evolved over the years. Instead it will focus on three aspects of the development of the institutions. The development of regional and caste based Gurdwaras, the changes in the administration of the Gurdwaras with specific focus on the developments that led to the Queen Street Gurdwara Ordinance and the reactions to this Ordinance, and most importantly, the evolution of the services provided by the religious institutions. Over the years, the Sikh religious institutions in Singapore have played a crucial role in preserving, nurturing and reinforcing Sikh identity. It is the aim of this academic exercise to demonstrate that the evolution of the Sikh religious institutions reflect attempts by the Sikh community in Singapore to preserve and develop their identity amidst a large population that is 'other'.