Recently, I heard that Bukit Brown Cemetery in Singapore has been gazetted as a site for development such as for public housing. Unfortunately, such “ordinary” places will soon be memories in the past and its physical historical evidence will be removed from the site and go into various digital platforms or textbooks.
Such historical cemeteries revealed the myriad dreams of our ancestors who had arrived in early Singapore to forge a common goals among its community when they decided to make this new found place their new home away from home.
The past is not just stories of the elite pioneers and administrators. They also provide Singapore’s version of preserved history on the memories of colonialism and the struggle for independence. Besides, Bukit Brown’s wide expense of lush greenery and variety of flora and fauna make it a relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of the hectic modern life for simple nature walk and jog-a-walk activities.
This silent cemetery is not only a vessel for the memories of those who have come before us but of the living today and tomorrow. Finally, it is a significant marker of the Singapore past and an icon of our nation-building records.
There were many famous early pioneer names inscribed on the tombstones such as Sam Leong ( A road name after him) , Gan Eng Seng ( A Secondary School name) , Chew Boon Lay ( Boon Lay MRT station) , Father of Khoo Teck Puat ( as in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun ) , and many more local names where their descendants are still alive today and holding important positions or appointments in various quarters of society today.
Not to mention, there are traces of Feng Shui significance and its influence on their future generations of descendants and how prosperity or otherwise comes about into the family lineage.
Also, visit http://www.ancientfengshui.com for more information on Feng Shui related discussions and views.
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| Gate Enclosure to Keep Unwanted "Guests" Out. |
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| Largest Grave Site in Bukit Brown Cemetery named after Sam Leong |
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| Interesting Addition of a Fierce looking Indian Sepoy as Guard in front of the Grave |
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