Proposal for a PIO Studies Chair in Malaysia

On 14th September 2024, the Honourable Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, convened a meeting with academics at Vivekananda Ashrama Hall in Brickfields, Little India, Kuala Lumpur, to deliberate on the proposed establishment of a PIO Studies Chair in Malaysia. Representing GOPIO Malaysia were President Mr. Gunasekaren Sreerangan and Secretary General Mr. Sashidharan Santhesegaran.

The meeting was attended by prominent Indian officials, including Shri Ved Prakash Singh, Deputy Secretary from the Minister’s office, Shri Ankan Banerjee, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs, and the High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, His Excellency Mr. B.N. Reddy, along with the Deputy High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms. Subhashini, and Counsellor Ms. Amrita Dash.

Prominent academics in attendance included Professor Datuk Dr. N.S. Rajendran, Professor Dr. Ravichandran Moorthy, Dr. Manimaran Subramaniam, and Dr. Sivapalan Selvadurai, who collectively emphasized the importance of establishing a PIO Studies Chair. The Chair would facilitate research, promote academic dialogue, and deepen the understanding of the Indian diaspora’s contributions and challenges. The meeting highlighted the significance of this initiative as a means of strengthening ties between India and the PIO community in Malaysia.

During the discussion, a formal document justifying the establishment of the PIO Studies Chair, along with copies of the inaugural PIO Studies Journal, was presented to Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh. These materials underscored the potential of the Chair to enhance academic inquiry and collaboration while preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of the Indian diaspora.

GOPIO Malaysia formally requested the Government of India to support the creation of the PIO Studies Chair and to continue backing the publication of the PIO Studies Journal. This initiative represents a significant step toward advancing research on the Indian diaspora, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and cementing the legacy of Indian-origin communities in Malaysia.

People of Indian Origin (PIO) Chair at a Malaysian Public University

 GOPIO (Malaysia) intends to set up an Academic Chair at one of the public universities in Malaysia. The Chair aims to spur in-depth research and publication initiatives on all facets of PIOs in Malaysia. The activities of the Chair will help to further research, discussion, and publications on PIO’s in Malaysia.

Justifications

1. Despite Malaysia hosting the second largest Indian diaspora community, there is no academic Chair on Ethnic Indian or PIO studies in the Malaysian universities.
2. The creation of the Chair can spur more organized academic activities (academic discourses, research collaboration, publication initiatives, and facilitate overall interaction between academics and researchers in PIO studies from the region and beyond.
3. At present there is vacuum on PIO studies in Malaysia and in the region especially regarding early conquests, early Indian settlements, the role of Indian thoughts and civilization that influenced local worldviews and knowledge systems, sea-voyagers, early migration, PIO is contemporary Malaysia, PIO roles in nation-building and economic development etc.
4. Therefore, there is an urgent need to stimulate credible research on these areas, with the goal to create new data and findings. These initiatives will help to expand the corpus of knowledge regarding the PIO. The PIO Chair will head and spur these initiatives.
5. The new scholarly findings and knowledge will assist to strengthen the contribution and claims of the PIO. Simultaneously, the findings and discoveries will serve as a repository of knowledge and documentation on many areas of the PIO. Further, it can be utilized by future researchers to build on the earlier works.
6. These research-based knowledge and documentations will be an important resource to ‘affirm & support’ the sacrifices, presence, contribution, fears & concerns and the future of PIO in the country.
7. The research-based new knowledge and documentations will provide more accurate presentation of historical facts and interpretations of events for the Malaysian public, and contribute to the academic novelty of the PIO studies in Malaysia and beyond.
8. The Chair (during the term of service) will serve as the Chief Editor for the upcoming ‘Journal of People of Indian Origin’. This bi-annual journal will feature academic works of the Chair, academic outputs facilitated by the activities of the Chair, and by other researchers on PIO studies worldwide.
9. The Chair will also contribute for the dissemination of knowledge through lectures and facilitation of post-graduate studies with universities & research think-tanks in the PIO diaspora countries.
10. The PIO Studies Chair will also function as a focal point for research and education concerning People of Indian Origin (PIO) in Southeast Asia, encompassing a population estimated to range between 6 to 7 million individuals. This region has historically hosted significant Indian diaspora communities, particularly in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines.