The Indian Merchants' Association is formed

The Indian Merchants' Association (IMA) was founded by Bhujangilal Mehta in December 1924.^[1] The need for such a body was expressed as early as 1907.^[2] Not only were Indian businessmen a minority, but they were also a heterogeneous group,^[3] and unlike the Chinese, were less inclined to co-operate among themselves.^[4] Despite their flourishing numbers, the Indian merchants were "too much steeped in their own personal concerns" and were "vying with each other in disposing off their particular merchandise".^[5] Rajabali Jumabhoy (b.1898–d.1998),^[6] a pioneer of the association, recalled that the association was formed to unite Indian traders and protect their interests.^[7] However, when the association began, almost all of its 35 members were Bombay traders.^[8] The other Indian merchants refrained from joining as they were not willing to pay the subscription fee unless membership brought them immediate benefits.^[9] Their refusal to join the association drastically diminished its ability to represent the Indian business community.

Despite its modest membership size, the IMA keenly fought off the shipping monopoly created by the Straits Shipping Conferences, particularly the Straits Bombay Conference. The association chartered its own ships and participated actively in the Trade Commission (of enquiry) which was appointed on 18 February 1933 to investigate trade in the colony of Singapore, including the shipping monopolies.^[10] The association was also responsible for forging better relations between the Shipping Conferences and the Chinese and Indian merchants.^[11]

In May 1935, there was a clamour for an Indian body that could match the clout and resources of the powerful Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Although the Indian community acknowledged the existence of the IMA, it claimed that the body was not well known and fell short of being an effective mouthpiece for the community.^[12] The IMA answered this call and held a membership drive in August 1935 that increased the size of the association to 50 members.^[13] In September the same year, the IMA was transformed into the Indian Chamber of Commerce, largely through the efforts of Rajabali Jumabhoy.^[14]

References
1. Indian Chamber of Commerce (Singapore). (1937).The Indian Chamber of Commerce Singapore report for the year 1936 [Microfilm: NL7300] (p. 10). Singapore: Indian Chamber of Commerce, 1937–1970. The registration of the Association under the Societies Ordinance was however done before December 1924. Untitled. See, Untitled. (1924, November 29).The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Other sources also mentioned the founding year of the Association as 1923. See, Huff, W. G. (1994). The economic growth of Singapore: Trade and development in the twentieth century (p. 165). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Call no.: RSING 338.959570094 HUF.
2. The necessity of an Indian Merchants' Association. (1907, March 14). Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Battarcharya, J. (2011). Beyond the myth: Indian business communities in Singapore (pp. 32–33). Singapore: ISEAS. Call no.: RSING 338.708991405957 BHA.
4. Huff, 1994, p. 165.
5. Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, 14 Mar 1907, p. 2.
6. Patriarch dies just as Scotts trust breaks up. (1998, Nov 28). The Business Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Lim, H. S. (Interviewer) & Jumabhoy, R. (Interviewee). (1981, June 24).Oral history [Interview Transcript, p. 57]. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://archivesonline.nas.sg/
8. Huff, 1994, p. 165.
9. Lim & Jumabhoy, 1981, p. 57.
10. Lim & Jumabhoy, 1981, pp. 57–58; Singapore's trade and industry. (1931, October 3).The Straits Times, p. 6; Colony Trade Commission personnel. (1933, February 19). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. First meeting Of Indian Chamber Of Commerce. President on achievements. (1935, September 17). The Straits Times, p. 13; Indian merchants. (1927, February 24). The Straits Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. An Indian protest. (1935, May 31). The Straits Times, p.10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
13. Indian Chamber of Commerce, 1937, p. 10.
14. Krishnan, R. B. (1936). Indians in Malaya: A pageant of greater India: A rapid survey of over 2,000 years of maritime and colonising activities across the Bay of Bengal [Microfilm: NL8451] (p. 31). Singapore: Malayan Publishers.