Inside Number 6, Koon Seng Road
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Many people in Singapore would recognise the iconic row of colourful shophouses, although few would know the name of the road they stood upon -- Koon Seng Road -- much less the chances that they might be acquainted with the people living in it. Singaporean of the Day project delves into the lives of the family in the peach house, number 6.
We may recognise this row of colourful shophouses, but not many of us are aware of the lives that were built inside them.
Gangabai's grandfather first purchased two houses -- number 6, where she lives, and number 4, beside it (on the right in this picture)
The youngest of five, 86-year-old Arumugam Gangabai was among the first generation to be born and raised in the peach unit on Koon Seng Road
The inside wall of the house, which Haridass and his wife say was knocked down by a Mercedes driver some years ago. The driver subsequently had to pay for its restoration -- it had by then already been designated as a heritage site!
The walls in the house are filled with religious images and pictures from almost 90 years of history with Gangabai's family. Pictured here is the alcove beneath the staircase where Gangabai sleeps, now that she is unable to climb the stairs.
The dining room is vast, its table seats at least six people, and leads into a large kitchen visible through the window.
In the dining room and outside the kitchen is a portrait of Gangabai's uncle and husband -- a very respected father-figure in the family.
Part of the vast country-style kitchen all the way inside the house, where Gangabai used to cook for more than 30 people at one point.
These paintings on the wall are done by Gangabai's children, in-laws and grandchildren -- many of whom happen to be very artistically-inclined
This copper carving was also done by one of Gangabai's children
This bathroom wall was hand-painted by Gangabai's youngest daughter Mala, a retired army officer-turned childcare teacher
These beautifully-painted tiles were from the original roof of the house, before the tiling was replaced. They were, of course, painted on by Gangabai's daughters.
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88-year-old Rajandran is Gangabai's older brother, and only other living sibling. He, too, grew up in the same house
The genuine deer's head (on the right) above the entrance to the kitchen, alongside the wood-carved elephant statues on the mantelpiece, were all gifts from the British, said Gangabai's son Haridass
These china cups were presented to Gangabai on her wedding day in 1942
An old photograph of Gangabai's father, who worked as a television news reader during British rule
Gangabai used to be so particular about the upkeep of the house that she would make her daughters climb up to the cornices close to the ceiling and paint the detail on them. The genuine deer head, also pictured, was a gift from the British to Gangabai's father for his service to them.
The fact that there is a dedicated prayer room in the house reflects how religious Gangabai and her family is.
It was interesting to discover that despite Gangabai's fiercely-religious Hindu heritage, many members of her family also believe in the merit of other religions -- which is why these images of the Virgin Mary (from the Catholic faith) are also present in various parts of the house.
All the members of Gangabai's family who were present assemble for a picture. In the front row is Gangabai, her brother Rajandran, and three of her children -- Meera, Mala and Haridass. Behind are some of her grandchildren, and in her arms is one of her 10 great-grandchildren.
Gangabai poses with three of her four children for a picture. On the left is her oldest, Meera, beside her her youngest, Mala, and behind them the younger of her two sons Haridass.
