Little India: a Cultural and Historical Precinct
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NO. 35 VOL. 10 ISS. 01 LITTLE INDIA: A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PRECINCT THE LEGACY OF JOSEON KOREA (1392–1897) #GALLERY 10: THE DIGITAL REALM IN MUSEUMS TODAY Front Cover Navin Rawanchaikul. Passage to Little India, 2016. Collection of Indian Heritage Centre. Inside Front Cover Bridal Robe from Late Joseon dynasty. 19th century or early 20th century. Silk with embroidered decoration. Collection of National Palace Museum of Korea, Seoul [don 4937]. Gift of Lee Sang-ryong, 2002. Read more about The Legacy of Joseon Korea on page 27. FOREWORD Publisher National Heritage Board In spite of its small land mass of less Leaving our shores, we turn the spotlight 61 Stamford Road, #03-08, Stamford Court, than 750 square kilometres, Singapore is on Korea with our feature on The Legacy Singapore 178892 composed of different estates which hold of Joseon Korea (1392–1897), which can be many unique and interesting stories that found on page 27. Written in conjunction Chief Executive Officer are just waiting to be told. This issue, we with the exhibition – Joseon Korea: Court Chang Hwee Nee focus on the history behind several of Treasures and City Life, we learn more about Assistant Chief Executive Singapore’s early estates, and how they the Joseon dynasty – one of Korea’s most Alvin Tan came to be shaped by commercial and influential time periods, and its impact on (Policy & Community) industrial factors as well as governmental numerous aspects of modern-day Korea’s policies. art, culture and social structure. MUSE SG Team Editor-in-chief Our cover story – Little India: A Cultural Continuing our tribute to the 75th Norsaleen Salleh and Historical Precinct (page 4) traces the Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore, we David Chew journey of how Little India developed showcase two lesser examined sides of Editorial Manager Stefanie Tham from a predominantly Malay and Chinese the war. Nicky Loh discovers in A Time Production Manager district driven primarily by commerce to Remember (page 18) how survivors of Lawrence Low during the 19th century into the multi- WWII have chosen to turn their difficult Layout faceted Indian enclave that exists today. experiences into positive reminders to Design Fusion Pte Ltd We then dig deeper under the surface with keep living life to the fullest, while our Copy-editing SIT Houses along Serangoon Road (page 12) review of the recently launched Singapore Rufus Tan, Hedgehog to study how government and municipal War Crimes Trials web portal (page Communications policies on worker’s quarters and housing 63) examines the fates of the Japanese Printing were instrumental to the development of occupiers who stood trial for war crimes Hobee Print Pte Ltd former housing estates such as Kampong from 1945 to 1948. Contributors Kapor, Race Course Road and Jalan Besar. Clement Liew Dr Anitha Devi Pillai Finally, #Gallery 10 – An Eye on Tomorrow Fairuz Iman Ismail Still on the topic of Singapore’s (page 49) takes a much-needed look Jervais Choo development, read about what our into the growing influence of the digital Joanne Chen museums are doing to preserve the medium and its impact on the traditional Joshua Goh history of two prominent Singapore museum model, as well as what the Kan Shuyi Matthew Lim estates. Dichetak Oleh: A Walk Through National Museum of Singapore is doing to Nasri Shah Kampong Gelam (page 32) showcases respond to this digital challenge. Nicky Loh the effort of the Malay Heritage Centre Raudha Muntadar in documenting Kampong Gelam’s On behalf of the team at MUSE SG, we Ruchi Mittal Wynnie Kwok development through the eyes of the wish you many pleasurable moments printing and publishing industry, while reading these and the many other articles Celebrating Jurong and its Industrious that we’ve had fun piecing together for Pioneers (page 43) demonstrates how Our you. Museum @ Taman Jurong is preserving heritage by collecting social memories contained in the form of personal MUSE SG TEAM accounts and old photographs. SINGAPORE: A BOOK OF DAYS A NEW LINE OF MUSEUM LABEL MERCHANDISE The National Museum of Singapore’s collection, which began to be assembled from the 19th century, contains a diverse range of artefacts of historical and cultural significance to Singapore. This includes everything from treasured objects like the Mace of the City of Singapore, commissioned to mark Singapore’s attainment of city status in 1951, to everyday items like a 1950s Singapore Traction Company driver’s badge. Both of these artefacts, along with many more from the museum’s collection, are featured in this diary. Big or s mall, they serve as visual and tangible reminders of important dates through the year in Singapore’s illustrious history, one that continues to be written today. The Book Of Days is available for purchase at Museum Label shops for $28. For more information or purchase inquiry, please contact Retail and Merchandising Division at: [email protected]. AVAILABLE AT: National Museum of Singapore A NEW LINE 93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897 OF MUSEUM LABEL Mondays to Sundays | 10 am to 6.30 pm MERCHANDISE *Limited stocks available CONTENTS 04 12 18 COVER STORY HISTORICAL SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW LITTLE INDIA: SIT HOUSES ALONG A TIME TO REMEMBER A Cultural and Historical SERANGOON ROAD: Precinct Singapore’s Forgotten Urban Heritage 22 27 32 EXHIBITION EXHIBITION EXHIBITION & TRAIL THE STORY THE LEGACY OF JOSEON DICHETAK OLEH: (OF THE FOREST) KOREA (1392–1897): A Walk Through Kampong Gelam Exploring 500 Years of Art and Culture 37 43 49 HISTORICAL SPOTLIGHT EXHIBITION MUSEOLOGY BEYOND KAYA TOAST: CELEBRATING JURONG #GALLERY 10 – AN EYE ON The Culturally Cosmopolitan AND ITS INDUSTRIOUS TOMORROW: Coffee Shop of 1960s Singapore PIONEERS The Digital Realm in Museums Today 54 57 60 EDUCATION EDUCATION BOOKS HERITAGE TRAIL ADOPTION TREASURES RETOLD @ AN INTERVIEW WITH SCHEME ACM DR ANITHA DEVI PILLAI 63 66 72 RESOURCES EVENTS LISTING DIRECTORY THE SINGAPORE WAR WHAT'S ON MUSEUM ROUNDTABLE CRIMES TRIALS: A Web Portal for All LITTLE INDIA A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PRECINCT Photo on this page Text by Ruchi Mittal Little India, 2016. Courtesy of National Heritage Board. COVER STORY 01 Little India is a precinct that is not AN IMPORTANT quite like any other in Singapore. THOROUGHFARE: 1819 TO Together with Chinatown and 1860 Kampong Glam, it is part of the popular trio of cultural precincts Serangoon Road got its name from on the tourist circuit. It is also an the Malay word saranggong. It is important place for the local Indian likely that this derived either from community who visit it to eat, shop, a marsh bird called ranggong or socialise and pray. the term serang dengan gong, which means to beat a gong. It began as 02 Today, it has come to be known as an important artery of commerce 01. Postcard showing the Indian precinct, but this was and transport for the plantations bullock carts being not always the case. In fact, Little in the interior of the island along used to transport goods, late 19th India was not designated by Sir the route to Serangoon Harbour. century. Courtesy of Stamford Raffles as an area for the This northern harbour was never National Museum of Indian community in the Raffles a major port of call for Singapore’s Singapore. Town Plan. Before Little India got entrepôt trade. However, it was a 02. A print titled its current name in the 1980s, it was “Rochor, Singapore”, vital loading and unloading point 1866. Courtesy of just known as Serangoon, after one for the Johor gambier and pepper National Museum of of the earliest roads in Singapore. planters. These goods would then Singapore. This road was indicated on an 1828 be transported to town by bullock map as the “road leading across the carts. island”. The road remained a buffalo- trodden dirt track for many decades. In the 19th century, the - 05 - COVER STORY 04 03 05 06 03. Workers at a betel labour and were held at a prison at nut plantation opportunities available in Serangoon in Singapore, c. drew various communities there. Bras Basah Road. Many of them 1880s–90s. Courtesy Possibly the most important was the settled nearby after serving their of National Museum of Singapore. presence of waterways. The Kallang sentences. Other Indians also and Rochor rivers facilitated gathered in that area to practice 04. Postcard titled “Kampong habitation, transportation and supporting trades. This was the Boyan” showing commerce. genesis of an Indian district, which the Baweanese later extended down Selegie Road kampong, 19th For these reasons, many kampongs century. Courtesy of and into Serangoon Road. National Museum of (Malay for “villages”) were established Singapore. around the Serangoon area. The Indians called the Serangoon area Soonambu Kambam, meaning 05. View of the convict Chinese community congregated jail between Bras around the present-day Syed Alwi “Village of Lime” in Tamil. In Basah Road and the past, lime was an important Road and Balestier Road areas, and Stamford Road, c. ingredient of Madras Chunam. 1870. Courtesy of were largely involved in farming and National Museum of This was a kind of cement or plaster Singapore. plantation activities. The Javanese brick that was introduced from lived at Kampong Java, while the 06. Serangoon Road, India and used in construction 1900s. Courtesy of Baweanese established themselves work. By the 1820s, the British set National Archives of at Kampong Kapor, many of whom Singapore. up lime pits and brick kilns along worked at the nearby racecourse. Serangoon Road, where many Kampong Kapor also attracted Indians found employment. Indian Muslims, who worked mainly as port labourers and peons (low- AN ERA OF COWS AND ranking office workers). BUFFALOES: 1860 TO 1930 Serangoon Road proper was laid by The brick kilns were discontinued convicts who had been brought to in 1860.