Heritage Journey

The Stories behind Chinatown and Little India Sunday, 21 July 2013 @ 01:52

Hi guys, sorry about the long wait. We ladies have been busy with studying and sitting for Common test. Now I believe Charlotte has mentioned that I will be talking about the histories of Chinatown and Little India so here I am! So let’s get the history lesson begin shall we?

Chinatown
Chinatown is an ethnic neighborhood which features distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram.

As the largest ethnic group in Singapore is Chinese, Chinatown is now significantly less of a Chinese territory than it once was. The name Chinatown is given by the British and today usually used by non-Chinese Singaporeans, whereas Chinese Singaporeans usually use the term 牛车水 or in pinyin Niu Che Shui, which literally means “Bull-cart Water” because of the fact of its location. Chinatown’s water supply was mainly transported by animal-driven carts in the 19th Century. The name is also echoed in the Malay name, Kreta Ayer, with the same meaning.The district still retains significant historical and cultural significance. Large sections of it have been declared national heritage sites officially designated for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.  

Wang Dayuan, who was a Chinese traveler who visited many places and Singapore, was one such place that he visited in 1300 and he recorded that there was a Chinese community in Singapore. This makes Singapore one of the oldest Chinese communities. Chinatown was one of the areas which had been under the Raffles Plan of Singapore where the Chinese community was designated to reside in. Since Sir Stamford Raffles foresaw the fact that the Chinese community would always form the largest portion of the population, he designated all of the land southwest of the Singapore River for their accommodation but also insisted that the different classes and provinces be concentrated in their different areas. Till this day, the effects of diversity of Chinatown are still present. 

The Hokkiens (Fukiens) are associated with Havelock Road, Telok Ayer Street, China Street and Chulia Street, the Teochew merchants are mostly in Circular Road, River Valley Road, Boat Quay and South Bridge Road, while the abundant Cantonese are scattered around South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street, New Bridge Road and Pasoh Road. These days, the Hokkiens and Teochews have largely scattered to other parts of Singapore, leaving the Cantonese as the dominant dialect group in Chinatown. In the 1880s, Kreta Ayer was the red light district in Chinatown. There were many clans, guilds, trade unions and associations in the olden Chinatown which were all secret societies who provided support to the later immigrants by paying for their passage and permitted to paying it off by working.

Alright, I know at time point you’re probably no wait, you are already yawning and falling asleep so here’s some pictures to help you stay awake!
Chinatown Heritage Centre where people can go in and learn about the untold stories of Singapore’s forefathers.
Chinatown Shop houses 


Chinatown Light up During CNY
 Chinese New Year Goodies sold in Chinatown. Yum!

Okay! Let’s get started on the story behind Little India shall we?

Little India is an ethnic neighborhood in Singapore that has Tamil cultural elements and aspects of other cultures. Little India is across Chinatown and Kampong Glam and lies to the east of the Singapore River. 

Little India is more commonly known as Tekka in the local Tamil Community. Little India is separated from the Chulia Kampong area which, under the Raffles Plan of Singapore, was originally a division of colonial Singapore where Tamil immigrants would reside under the British policy of ethnic segregation. However, Chulia Kampong become overcrowded and the competition for land increased and many ethnic Tamils moved into what is now known as Little India.

The neighborhood has the patronage of people from all races who wants to eat or buy something specific to Tamils culture, such as curry or Tamil clothing. On such example of cross cultural patronage besides those regarding food is that many Chinese parents go to shops in Little India to grind rice to make congee for infants. This is because the shops have machinery primarily meant to grind spices into powder for use in Tamil Cuisine.


Some photos to enjoy.
Little India during Deepavali

Shop houses in Little India
 I do hope that I didn't bore everyone to death! Alrighty, it is time for moi to sign off. Au Revoir!

Justina. (:

References:


Photos:

Chinatown:


Little India:





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