Campbell Lane

Campbell lane was named after Sir Colin Campbell (1792-1863) who was born in Scotland and rose to become a field marshal. He was involved in victorious campaigns in China such as the second Sikh War, the Crimean War, dealt with the 'null Mutiny' among East India Company troops, and organised the army sent east in the Second Opium War.

There are however also accounts stating that Campbell Lane was named after Robert Campbell, managing partner of Martin Dyce and Company in the 1870s.  As we walked along Campell Lane, we saw many shophouses selling flower garlands. Campbell lane truly depicts the Indian culture and traditions through the numerous amenities housed here.  One can easily find a wide assortment of shops; stores and stalls selling an array of items. Flowers, specially carved wooden furniture and other wood made products; one can find all of these around. Garland makers sitting with their colourful collections of garlands are a refreshing sight to watch for all. Indian women purchasing garlands of fresh flowers are a common sight here at the Campbell Lane.

What is the significance of the flower garlands?
Flower garlands are worn or given to show high respect to an individual or deity. The garlands symbolise prosperity and Hindu devotees buy them to offer their gods as a sign of respect. It is placed on statues of deities as prayer offerings, they’re also used to garland important guests during official functions, as a symbol of respect. Indian women often thread pretty flowers into their hair as a form of adornment during weddings.

Can you find the information board of "The Shop of P Govindasamy Pillai?" What does it tell about the man?

P Govindasamy Pillai was a poor immigrant who came to Singapore almost penniless. His rags to riches story began after he arrived in Singapore with only 13 Rupees. He epitomised the Singapore dream by transforming his life around on the basis of  determination and hard work. With the help of a bank loan, he embarked on a new retail career. His business included quality textiles and sarees and with strong determination, he became very successful. He eventually became the King of Textile industry. The taste of success did not stop him from reciprocating back to society. He has also helped in many worthy causes such as Sri Perumal Temple, Mount Alvernia Hosptial, the establishment of the University of Malaya and the Ghandi memorial fund. He was also remembered as a social reformer, , king of the textile industry, a philanthropist and a local legend. A very humbling value that he had was that he reciprocated the kindness given to him when he was down under.

References:

http://www.ghettosingapore.com/the-transformation-of-campbell-lane/

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/campbell.html

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/pictures/Details/eb7e7421-ecf7-48bf-8c09-2e0127c5826b

Hastings Road

Hastings Road is located opposite the Tekka Mall. We passed the road as we walked around Little India Arcade. The road is named after Warren Hastings (1732-1818) Governor-General of British India.

As a Governor-General Lord Hastings was a competent administrator and diplomat and he carried out several reforms during the period that he was Governor-General. He also established the Board of Revenue Collection in Bengal, a significant contribution for the collection of taxes and revenue. There is no monument for Hastings either in England or India by the EIC but only a table in the Abbey by his wife Marion (1747-1837) and hastings road is one way that he could be remembered.

References:

http://countrystudies.us/singapore/4.htm

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/history/chew/chew2.html

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. It is located in Little India on Serangoon Road, where its tall Gopuram (tower) shows the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. This large complex, dedicated to Vishnu, dates from 1855, but the 20-metres-tall Gopuram is a relatively recent addition, built in 1966 at a cost of S$300,000.

In 1851, a group of influential Indian community leaders – including Arunachala Pillay, Cootaperumal Pillay, Ramasamy Pillay, Appasamy Pillay, Chockalingam Pillay, and Ramasamy Jamidar – collectively purchased a piece of land from the British East India Company for 26 rupees and 8 annas. They constructed a temple dedicated to Narasimha Perumal, an avatar of Vishnu, on the site in 1855. This was the foundation of the present-day Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

The land that the temple sits on was purchased from the government in the 1850s, but the temple was constructed only in the 1870s. A large pond and the mandapam or main hall were the main features of the original temple, known as Narasinga Perumal Kovil.

The traditional South Indian-style Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple features a magnificent five-tier gopuram (entrance tower). Added when the temple was rebuilt, the tower is striking for its depiction of various avatars of Vishnu and other Hindu deities, as well as the floral and abstract patterns. Due to its monumental height, the gopuram can be seen from a great distance; this allows devotees who are not able to visit the temple to still offer prayers to the deities from afar.

Elaborate relief carvings and colourful circular mandalas, symbolising the universe and nirvana, decorate the mandapam (prayer hall). Inside, a statue of Srinivasa Perumal is enshrined in the main sanctum where only priests can enter to perform religious rituals. Flanking the entrance to this sanctum are two figures known as Dwarapalakas, or door deities. The various avatars of Vishnu line the top of the walls just in front of the entrance to the main sanctum.


There are also shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities in the temple. On the two sides of the main sanctum are the shrines of Vishnu’s consorts, Lakshmi and Andal. Hanuman, the monkey deity (known as Anjaneyar to Tamils), and the elephant-headed god Ganesha are also honoured in the temple. Crowning each of the temple’s sanctums is a vimanam, a highly decorated dome.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple at 141,Serangoon Road is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. Built by Indian pioneers in 1855, who came to work and live here, the temple was the first in the Serangoon area and became a focus of early Indian Social Cultural activities there.

The  choice  of Sri Veeramakaliamman as the chief deity of the temple is significant. Referred as a powerful goddess and Destroyer of Evil, her presence answered an important need of the early migrants  – the need to feel secure in a new land. The building is constructed in the style of South Indian Tamil temples common in Tamil Nadu as opposed to the style of Northeastern Indian Kali temples in Bengal, where Her worship is extremely widespread but the style of temple construction differs considerably.

In the old days, the temple came to be known as the "Soonambu Kambam Kovil", that is, temple at the lime village. This was because many Indians who attended the temple worked in lime kilns in the area. (Lime formed part of the mixture that was used for buildings in those days). Many of the devotees were daily-rated workers of the Singapore Municipality.By the end of the 19th century there was daily worship and regular religious functions held at the temple. As the Indian population continued to grow, the temple was increasingly the focus of religious,social and other cultural activities.

Little India Arcade

Discovery Travel channel found our way to a very interesting place. Little India Arcade as the place is called is a unique cluster of shop house buildings which were first built in 1913, at the tail end of colonial Singapore and has been preserved till today.

Right outside the entrance of Little India Arcade!

Located very near Little India MRT and opposite the current Tekka centre, the place is home to a variety of neatly, renovated novelty shops and eateries. The building has been carefully preserved to capture the essence of the early Indian settlement which occupied the area during colonial times. The winding alleys in the arcade host Indian bric-a-brac stalls, curio and sweet shops, restaurants, and bookshops. A prominent landmark in the Little India district, it is a favourite haunt of tourists and locals looking for best Indian buys.

Now owned by the Hindu Endowments Board, the conserved building pays tribute in its design to the different geographical origins of Indians who make up the community in Singapore. One plaque dated 1826-1827 on a pillar at the corner of Hastings Road and Serangoon Road refers to immigrants from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The array of items sold at Little India Arcade such as accessories and gifts.

Traditional Indian Sweets for sale. These sweets are not sold widely around town.

Close-up of an animal head that sits atop a plaque dated 1826-1827. It is a reminder of the cattle related trade activities in the area then.​

A zoomed in portion of the tow plaque that shows "1828"

Discovery Travel bite facts:

What is the address of this cluster of buildings?

48 Serangoon Road

How old are the buildings?

The building dates back to 1913 and would be 98 years old by now after restoration works! 

There are two tow plaques that one can find at the Little India Arcade.  The first plaque is seen on a pillar at the corner of Hastings and Serangoon Road. The second is found on the corner of Campbell lane and Serangoon Road. The plagues are written in Tamil and the first tell us about the people who came to work here from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and has an animal head which is believed to represent a cow or a buffalo. It serves as a reminder of the cattle trade activities in the area. The second plaque has inscriptions referring to the ‘burning ground’ (probably refers to cremation) belonging to the ‘Hindoo people of Madras and Singapore’.

Discovery fun fact:

Did you know that the Little India arcade was awarded the “Architectural Heritage Award”  in 1996 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority as part of its heritage recognition and conservation efforts?

Development and conservation:

The 1960s and 1970s saw many Indians moving out of Little India as they found housing either in the newly built HDB public housing or private estates. This was especially so with the clearance of slum in the 1970s. Thus, Little India became more of a centre of commerce for Indians all across Singapore. In the 1980s, several public housing projects in the area were completed, including those of Zhujiao Centre and Rowell Court. In 1989, Little India's significance as a part of Singapore history was recognised when it was gazetted as a conservation site. 

References:

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1456_2009-02-11.html

http://littleindiaarcade.com.sg/

Church of the True Light

In the early 1900s, a missionary from the Church of Englah Zananas Missionary Society in Singapore named Ms Apple proposed the idea of starting a mission for the Hing-Hwa (Chinese dialect) speaking Chinese here.

21-year-old Guok Koh Muo, a young schoolmaster, responded to the call. With the help of a friend, he begin organising gospel meetings in a barber shop along Bencoolen Street. Slowly but surely, this group of Christians grew significantly in numbers. Later on, they shifted their gospel meetings to a nunnery on Victoria Street and named in 'Church of the True Light'. The church continued to shift from place to place until it settled down at Jalan Besar.

After the Second World War in 1952, a church building was finally completed. It continued to serve the Chinese community that consisted mainly of trishaw riders who lived and worked in the area. Other than the regular Sunday services, the church also run a kindergarten and provided free medical care.

On the 24th of Februrary 1963, the Church of the True Light officially became an Anglican parish with Rev (Canon) Guok Koh Muo as its first Vicar.