In a society that is increasingly global and interconnected, Singaporeans need to know their own story better. That is why the Singapore prize aims to recognise outstanding books that illuminate the island nation’s past and make it more accessible to readers.
The prize is open to non-fiction or fiction work from around the world as long as it focuses on Singapore history. Submissions can be published between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024.
Kishore Mahbubani, the former Singapore diplomat who chaired the prize’s five-member jury panel and set up the prize in 2014 with an anonymous donor, said at a media conference that the biggest challenge to the country now is not economic but developing a strong sense of national identity through a common history. He added that there were plans to expand the scope of the prize in future to include works such as movies and comic books, which might better tell Singapore’s story to a wider audience.
The winner will be announced at a special ceremony on September 21 at the National Museum of Singapore. The winning book will be available in three editions: one for the general public, one for students and teachers, and a third — a hardback with detailed maps — for academic libraries. A prize booklet and website will also be launched to support the book.
In addition to the main prize, there are two honourable mentions, and the judges will select four additional titles to be included in the catalogue. This year’s shortlisted titles cover a broad range of topics from the lives of Singaporeans in the 1940s to the city’s urban ecology and how it has evolved over time.
Prof Miksic, who is a lecturer with the Department of History at NUS, said he was humbled to receive the prize for his labour of love. He started his excavations at Fort Canning in 1984 and has since been involved in the archaeology of Empress Place, Old Parliament House and other sites. He wanted to write the book to thank some 1,000 people who volunteered their help in his excavations and to let them know that their efforts had not gone unappreciated.
Other books in the list of six finalists for this year’s prize include an examination of the life of an iconic Indian poet, histories about Malaysian migrants to Singapore and the food culture of the Malay community here. One of the titles, written by Kamaladevi Pillai with the help of her co-researcher, presents historical events through a layperson’s eyes.
Besides the prize ceremony, other highlights of the event will include the launch of the NUS History Prize catalogue and an exhibition of the winning entries. It will feature artifacts that have been unearthed at the site of the former British colony. The exhibition is free and will run until September 23. NUS is partnering with Conservation International, a global conservation organisation that brings extensive experience in spotlighting and securing the benefits of nature for humankind, to curate the exhibition.