As Singapore prepares to commemorate its 50th birthday in 2024, a new prize has been established to honour significant publications on its history. Dubbed The NUS Singapore History Prize, these book-length works must be written in English and focus on significant aspects of Singapore’s past. Established in 2014, this award recognizes authors who present historical events from fresh angles or through everyday perspectives; hosted by NUS Centre for Asian Studies this award accepts both non-fiction and fiction writing works; this year’s shortlist features biographies of iconic Indian poets as well as an exploration of Malaysian migrants living in Kampong Gelam.
In the non-fiction category, National University of Singapore Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger won first prize with Down Memory Lane: A Memoir (2023). Judges called his memoir an impressive “monumental undertaking”, noting how its personal, political, sociocultural and historical themes all come together with significant events from Singapore history.
Archaeologist John Miksic’s work Singapore and The Silk Road of the Sea: 1300-1800 proved especially popular with panel members. This show details how fragmentary historical records such as literary references to Temasek written by Chinese trader Wang Dayuan in 13th-century China alluded to Singapore long before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived here in 1819; evidence such as undisturbed layers of soil or artefacts such as glass shards and bronze bowls corroborated this theory.
Prof Mahbubani first proposed the award idea in an opinion column written in 2014. He was taken aback at how quickly an offer of S$500,000 from a private individual came forward – this money was placed into an endowment fund so its interest could support this award prize.
At this year’s competition, four categories besides the main prize – English fiction, non-fiction, Chinese poetry and translation – will also be awarded: best English fiction, non-fiction, Chinese poetry and translation. There were 192 submissions, 32 less than last year; five writers made multiple shortlists including Clara Chow who became the first in program’s 30-year history to appear shortlisted in English fiction, Chinese creative nonfiction and Chinese poetry categories simultaneously!
A panel of judges comprising historians, academics and members of the public evaluated books submitted for consideration for this award based on criteria such as research, narrative strength, presentation style and literary quality. Winners were announced at a ceremony at Ritz Carlton Millenia in Singapore on 30 September; winning books can now be purchased through Kinokuniya bookstores around Singapore as well as online. These prizes are generously funded by donors led by NUS Alumni Association; in turn this process was supported by partners including Singapore Council of Writers National Book Council and Asia Foundation – for more information visit The NUS Singapore History Prize website