We acknowledge, from the outset, that our own identities shape this project. Two out of three of us are Bengali. This has inevitably influenced the perspectives we bring and the stories we have prioritised. But this archive is not meant to exclude. It is, at its core, an invitation to expand, listen and include. While we have worked to include diverse voices across the NTIL spectrum, at this juncture, the Bengali experience may be more prominently represented due to our personal networks and available resources. This is not an intentional exclusion, but rather a limitation we openly recognise and aim to address as the archive grows.

We also wish to clarify that this is not an academic source – it is more personal than that, and perhaps more fragile.

Think of this  as a collection of memories, voices, and reflections, gathered in an effort to dignify the NTIL experience. We aim to make this a communal space for preserving memories and amplifying the voices of those often overlooked in Singapore’s multicultural narrative. 

At its core, this project challenges simplistic portrayals of our communities as mere statistics. We are individuals, families, and groups who have worked tirelessly to sustain vibrant linguistic and cultural traditions. By focusing on the teaching of NTIL languages, we aim to honour the dedication of students, parents, and educators, while also celebrating the efforts of community pioneers whose contributions to Singapore’s heritage deserve recognition. Singapore’s history as a migrant city is often oversimplified, and through this archive, we hope to capture the complexities of these immigrant histories and their struggles as minorities.

Singapore is a city shaped by migrants, but the stories of its minority South Asian diasporas are often missing from its narrative. The history we hope to capture here is one of resilience— of people making space for themselves in a system that often overlooks them. There are struggles in these stories, but there is also extraordinary hope.

As you explore this archive, you will encounter the voices of students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. Their stories are deeply personal, and yet they speak to something larger – to the persistence of identity and the effort of holding onto something precious in the inevitable face of change.

This archive is far from complete. There are other communities—Telugu, Malayalee, and more – that we have yet to include but as we progress, we hope to. For now, we are grateful to share what we have, knowing it is only the beginning.

With warmth,  

Shazneen, Nigel, and Mehtaz  

Undergraduates, College of Humanities (History)

Nanyang Technological University
Class of 2025