This is the story of Kampong Gelam, Singapore’s heritage district. Kampong Gelam, a cosmopolitan village named after the Gelam (Kayu putih or Melaleuca cajuputi) tree which once grew in abundance in the area. Once the centre of trade and commerce connecting Singapore to the rest of the Malay Archipelago, Kampong Gelam served as a religious, intellectual and social hub for the Malays in Singapore.

*This book was the winner of the 2021 NUS Singapore History Prize.