T

he National Library of Singapore is paying a wonderful tribute to a small but signifi cant part of Singapore’s ancient history.

Cities are home to hundreds or even thousands of streets. From alleys to highways, each city has its own story. Time fl ies but memory remains, and streets are living proof of how mankind has walked through the many different phases of history. Singapore, a city-state with classy touch of western modernization, has some street tales of its own. Back in 2003, 3,400 old street signs released for public bidding by the Community Chest and Land Transport Authority of Singapore. Both individuals and registered companies had the right to bid for them in order to keep memories lingering. It raised awareness and interest, and money went to charity.

It was a sign sent by the public that their history was put in the safe hands of those who wouldn’t easily forget Singapore’s past. It was also a homage to the early days of life in the Lion City. Remembering the past was important, so the release of the street signs gained special attention from public.

Perhaps a time traveler could easily spot that Singapore has gone through many dynasties and governments. The city-state has been a place of cultural mixes; where East meets West and vice versa. The tropical sun is a promising home for westerners who seek warmth. On the other hand, Asians think that Singapore is suitable place for pushing their luck in order to secure a better living.

Of course, it’s very debatable how hard Singapore can be for those who cannot survive the speed and harshness they have on their doorstep.

Here, interracial life has been a given for many years. People come and go, fortunes change from time to time but there’s one thing that people need to know: how the West won and placed its mark on modern Singapore.

As you can probably see in the blink of an eye, tall buildings are everywhere; it’s an instant clue to how the economy has changed the face of the country.

The pace of life here has always been very quick, and people don’t want to get left behind. If you’re new to town, here’s an easy step to survive: Go and grab a map, look around and then just walk.

Have you ever imagined pulling yourself into a labyrinth that takes you deep to the past of a simple street? Have you ever wondered what was it like back in the 1920s, the 1600s, or the 8th and 13th centuries? What was that street like in the 1960s, one of the toughest periods of this nation’s history?

The National Library of Singapore is now taking you back to that past. A series of stories about how the names of Singapore’s streets came to be is being showcased on the library’s seventh and eighth floors.

The exhibition is titled “Stories behind Singapore Streets” and was launched back in January. It will continue to late June 2012.

Why not take a stroll to October 1822 when the great Sir Thomas Raffl es journeyed back to Singapore? At that time, he was instantly dissatisfi ed with what he saw. Developments were progressing but the growth of infrastructure was not as he was expecting. So, he went to see few specialists in town reconstruction.

“Each street should receive some appropriate name and it will become the duty of the police to see them regularly numbered. Each street or division should also have a portion set apart for a police station,” said Raffl es as he was quoted as part of his brief to back the then Town Planning Committee that he had initiated.

The brief was a simple foundation for the city to progress, and the rest was history. Raffl es had his city separated into blocks; each of them had its own characteristic and culture.

Of course, he had European district that attracted people wishing to live highprofi le lives. The commercial district was positioned here. Then he decided to construct Chinese, Arab, Indian and Malayan districts. Singapore at that time even had special districts for the Jewish, Myanmarese and Armenian people.

Raffl es cleverly divided each district with its own character and the street naming process was adjusted to the local culture, which formed the real Singapore. This was done in order to keep the peace. Each society possessed a one representation of the whole city‘s structure. The exhibition records these processes very well.

As you can see at the exhibition, the stories behind places called Bugis Street or Oxford Street or Shenton Way are served with the most comprehensive of explanations.

The event itself briefl y opens a bigger view of how Singapore’s early days and transformation into a very cosmopolitan city, home to many cultures, became established as. Street names are just one of witnesses of this Singapore story.

Visitors should spend a minimum of one hour to look around and focus on the streets they’re familiar with during the visit to Singapore. Think back to what it was like and learn of the city’s beauty —then you can compare it to the present.

The exhibition runs until June 2012. If you are visiting Singapore or passing through, it’s really worth a visit.