The Department of History at the National University of Singapore launched the Singapore Prize in 2014 to spur interest in and understanding of the city-state’s storied past. The Prize, which has no entry fees or deadlines, is open to works on Singapore’s history written in English, Mandarin or Tamil by authors of any nationality.
The six works shortlisted this year span a wide range of topics, from the life of an iconic Indian poet to histories about Malaysian migrants to Singapore and their descendants. Another work, written by Kamaladevi Pillai with the help of her daughter Anitha, presents historical events through a layperson’s eyes. “To us, history is not only about what happened but also about how it affected ordinary people,” says Dr Anitha.
Another book focuses on the archaeological discovery of glass shards, bronze bowls and coins at Fort Canning. The findings, published in the book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800, show that a community existed in the area more than 700 years before Sir Stamford Raffles first set foot on the island.
Archaeologist John Miksic’s hefty tome on the city’s past, Imperial Creatures: Humans and Other Animals in Singapore’s History, is another contender. The book explores how humans and other animals interacted in a society that was both complex and fragile, and offers insights into Singapore’s relationship with the world beyond its borders.
Professor Kishore Mahbubani, senior advisor (university and global relations) at NUS, is a member of the panel that will select this year’s winner. He explains that the prize’s goal is to encourage Singaporeans to learn about their city-state’s rich heritage and to understand its place in the wider world. But he acknowledges that it might be difficult to determine the winner among the shortlisted works, all of which are well-researched and compelling.
The heir to the British throne arrived in Singapore on Friday for a four-day visit to promote his Earthshot Prize, which he and his charity, the Royal Foundation, launched in 2020 to spotlight innovative technologies and solutions to combat climate change. He will meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon, and tour some of the city’s most significant heritage sites. At Changi Airport, he was treated to a spectacular view of the Rain Vortex, the world’s largest indoor waterfall, which was illuminated green for his arrival. It’s the first time the prince has visited the country since 2012. He will then travel to Hong Kong and China before returning to the United Kingdom. His trip is being funded by a grant from the Asia Foundation. He and his wife Princess Catherine last visited the region in 2012. His trip is part of a series of engagements around the world to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. The Prince of Wales is also visiting Canada and the United States. This will be his final overseas trip of 2023. He is scheduled to leave on October 25 for his home in the UK.
