The name Madam Rose is clearly visible in the simple marble headstone of this 38 year lady who passed away on 24 May 1941. The single name or mononym for Madam Rose is very unique for Bukit Brown cemetery. I don't recall encountering any tombs where a mononymous person was buried. That prompted me to go through the burial registrar and the name Matharum Rose comes up. Her dialect was listed as Kheh. Who is Matharum Rose ? The word Matharum fortunately was help deciphered from the community in Heritage Singapore-Bukit Brown Facebook, to be Sanskrit and when translated, The word Matharum (மாதரும்) means Mother.
It may be possible that Madam Matharum Rose could be of Indian descent or a lady adopted to an Indian family or of mixed Indian-Chinese heritage who married to a Chinese man of Khek dialect group. Whatever may be the case, this is still a wonderful find !
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| Madam Rose / Matharum Rose |
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| Burial entry for Matharum Rose |
Location of tomb
Block 5 Division A, plot 47
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| Madam Rose / Matharum Rose tomb (photo taken on 24 January 2026) |
I noticed a 2 month old baby in register ��
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