RAMNANI, Guli (Mrs)
Communities of Singapore (Part 2),
Accession Number 000551
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 8
Total Reels
- Pitt Kuan Wah
Interviewer
- 03:38:31
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 8
Metadata
- 22 Apr 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:48
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Family background. Father first went to China to start departmental store type of business. Only one other Sindhi and one Parsi family nearby. Mother housewife; also as cashier in shop. Size of store; number of employees. Family spoke Mandarin to locals. Relationship with neighbours. Celebration only at Deepavali and New Year. Had more foreigners than Indians working. Wore western clothing. Father strict disciplinarian.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 8
Metadata
- 22 Apr 1985
Recording Date
- 00:30:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Religious practices at home. Description of father's house. Primary education in China in American school. Subjects studied; after school activities.Whole family returned to India. Father came back to Hong Kong to set up textile shop; went to Japan to look for expansion but died there. Compared life in Hong Kong, China and India. Why most people returned to India for marriage.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Apr 1985
Recording Date
- 00:27:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father's business in Hong Kong. Comparing financial position in China and Hong Kong. Her brother opened textiles shop in Singapore; expanded to Indonesia. Family moved to Singapore in 1954. Met husband in Indonesia. Her engagement ceremony in Bombay. Marriage one week later. Pre-wedding rituals; wedding ceremony and rituals.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Apr 1985
Recording Date
- 00:27:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
More on wedding rituals. Ghee and sandal wood used to start fire. Coconut ceremony. Sending gifts to bridegroom's family for life. Rituals relating to pregnancy and birth. Naming of child ceremony. Thread ceremony; its importance to male children. Only on this occasion mother of groom gives presents to bride's parents.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Apr 1985
Recording Date
- 00:27:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Upbringing and disciplining of her daughters. Taught them Sindhi values. Arranged marriage for eldest daughter. Daughter's wedding. Objections to her second daughter's marriage. Criteria for choosing husband. Sindhi community view on divorce. Attitudes towards widows in olden days; different for widower.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 8
Metadata
- 13 May 1985
Recording Date
- 00:28:41
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Sindhi calendar. Days for fasting, prayers and going vegetarian. Festivals celebrated by Sindhis - Deepavali and Holi. Rituals during Deepavali. Deepavali more important than New Year to Sindhis. Customs relating to death anniversary and funeral. Only men attend funeral. Husbands intending to re-marry, do not attend wife's funeral. Widows seldom re-marry.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 8
Metadata
- 13 May 1985
Recording Date
- 00:27:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Mourning custom for widows. Significance of wearing bangles for Sindhis and of thread ceremony for male children. More on funeral custom. Mourning rituals. Post-war Sindhi community in Singapore in 1950s and 1960s. Sindhi men returned to India every 2-3 years. Community enclave in High Street and Arab Street shophouses. Mainly in textile business; only in electronics after 1970s. No female employees before.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 8 of 8
Metadata
- 13 May 1985
Recording Date
- 00:20:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Not common for Sindhi girls to work. Sindhi Merchants Association Singapore. Businessmen community leaders. Sindhi House. Functions held there. Sindhi attitude towards politics. How Sindhis fit in multi-racial society. Future of Sindhi culture and community. Phasing out of traditional Sindhi business; need to diversify.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
