Singapore Prize Shortlists Revealed

The world is fascinated by Singapore’s unique story of success. But not many know the long and arduous road that led to the Republic’s success. This is why the Singapore Prize was created to honour books that shed light on the country’s past and help inform future generations. The Prize is open to non-fiction and fiction works from around the world published between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024, as long as they have clear historical themes about Singapore. The winner will receive S$50,000.

The shortlisted books this year were an eclectic mix of non-fiction and fiction writing, from an examination of the life of an iconic Indian poet to histories about Malaysian migrants here. They also explored a wide range of topics, from a look at Singapore’s history through the eyes of the poor, to an analysis of what it takes to be successful.

One of the most compelling submissions was Prof Miksic’s work, which uncovered archaeological evidence that showed Singapore was here much earlier than thought. In fact, literary records such as references to Temasek from Chinese trader Wang Dayuan’s 13th-century writing about Southeast Asia pointed to the city’s existence even before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819. Archaeological digs, including discoveries of glass shards and bronze bowls, further corroborated these fragmented records.

Another highly commended entry was Professor Hidayah Amin’s Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam, which presented the history of this neighbourhood in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner. The book also took a close look at how changes in the economic and socio-political landscape in Singapore have affected residents’ lives.

Prof Amin’s work also received the public’s vote for the reader’s choice award. The other two winners for the readers’ choice category were Muhammad Dinie, a student at ITE College Central, for his work on how he helped lead an appreciation project for Town Council cleaners during the COVID-19 pandemic; and Daryl Qilin Yam, for his book, Magic Babe Ning, about Singapore’s first female entrepreneur.

All of the shortlisted works will be featured in the inaugural edition of the Singapore Prize catalogue, which is available now in bookstores and online. The winners will be announced towards the end of October. In addition to the monetary prize, the authors of the winning submissions will receive an engraved trophy. The prize was established in 2014 as part of the SG50 programme to mark Singapore’s 50th anniversary and is administered by NUS’ Department of History. It is the first prize in Singapore dedicated to history. This year’s winner will be honoured at an event in November. For more information, visit the official website for the Singapore Prize.