The NUS Singapore Prize recognises works in English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil that focus on Singapore’s history. It aims to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the country’s unique story, especially among younger generations. The prize is named after the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who played a key role in shaping Singapore into the green garden city it is today.
Among this year’s submissions, stories of everyday Singaporeans take centre stage, with a mix of non-fiction and fiction that forgoes the traditional view of history as a record of big movers and shakers. The shortlist includes historical tomes such as Seven Hundred Years: A History of Singapore (2019, available here) by Kwa Chong Guan, Tan Tai Yong, Peter Borschberg and Derek Heng, but also novels with a personal slant, like Kamaladevi Aravindan’s Sembawang: Memories of a Neighbourhood in Transition (2020, available here), which recounts life in an Ang Mo Kio estate over five decades.
Another entry, written by 74-year old Chui Seng Wah, won a Special Mention and was lauded for its “comprehensive research and thorough documentation.” Originally intending to compile the work as a tribute to his father who died in 2015, the author found more information about his family’s past when he delved into family albums and documents. “I discovered that my dad came to this country with nothing but a suitcase full of hopes and dreams, and I want to share his story to inspire people,” he said.
This year, the prize is introducing new categories such as a Readers’ Favorite award that will see members of the public vote for their favourite shortlisted book in each language. The winner will receive a $1,000 award. In addition, there will be a Best Young Contributor award in the Chinese and Malay languages, as well as a Best Visual Artist award for works by Singaporeans in the Chinese, Malay and Tamil languages.
In other Singapore-related news, publishing perspectives editor Robert Irwin has been named to lead the judging panel for the third annual Earthshot Prize awards. A four-day visit to the city-state next month will see Prince William spotlight finalists’ innovation projects that aim to tackle climate change. He will also host a summit hosted by the United for Wildlife conservation organization.
A separate award, the Singapore Students Prize, will be presented to secondary school students who submit artworks on a theme of their choice. The competition was launched in 2017 and is open to students from Bahrain, Chester, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Mauritius, Singapore, the UK, the US and Australia. Click here for more details.