1914-made Kasumalai showcased in Singapore

A 1914-made gold necklace from Chennai and the portrait of a pioneer entrepreneur from India are being displayed among the priceless artefacts at the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) in Singapore.
Both the artefacts were donated by family members of Gnanapragasam Pillai who had migrated to Singapore in 1895.
The Pondicherry-born Pillai bought the necklace, called Kasumalai, for his wife in 1914. Today, the Kasumalai is valued at SGD 100,000.
The National Heritage Board (NHB), manager of IHC, felicitated the family members and other heritage artifact donors yesterday.
The family members, led by London-based John Santhanam, 73, said the priceless Kasumalai belonged to their late grandmother but the family wants to share it with future generations by showcasing it at the heritage centre.

The NHB also felicitated NRI Vinod Nair who has donated an intricate wedding pendant and a pair of pillars that reflect cultures of the Chettiars and Malayalees.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Grace Fu, applauded the artefact donations, saying the portrait of the Pillai family patriarch displayed at IHC is part of the "Once Upon a Time in Little India" exhibition.
Fu expressed her appreciation towards the donors for helping to "create a sustainable heritage landscape".
"Your donations have enriched our cultural offerings through exhibitions," she said.