Ethnic Insularity and National Identification in a Plural Society Indian Malaysians: A Case Study

What kinds of distinctions are there among the Indians, the Malays and the Chinese in a particular Malaysian context? In relation to what kinds of situations do the people of different ethnic groups interact frequently? What kinds of views, relationships and identities do the Indians in such a setting have of India and Malaysia? Answers to questions such as these - though obviously limited in the extent to which they can be generalised - allow for an understanding of the patterns according to which Indian Malaysians live. It is the general objective of this paper to provide such an understanding.