A book which highlights Singapore’s social history was awarded with the inaugural Singapore Prize devoted to Singapore history, established as part of Singapore’s 50th birthday celebrations, in 2014. Administered by NUS Department of History, the S$50,000 prize has now been won.
Since its inception, this prize has served to highlight Singapore’s rich social history. This year’s recipient was John Miksic’s book Home Is Where We Are which details the legacy of Chinese-Singaporeans who created one of Asia’s biggest lotteries.
Miksic’s book was chosen as the winner by a four-member jury panel chaired by Kishore Mahbubani of NUS Asia Research Institute Distinguished Fellow Kishore Mahbubani and consisting of historian Peter Coclanis; novelist Meira Chand; and economist Lam San Ling. Out of 29 submissions written or translated into English covering any period, theme or field in Singapore history this jury chose their winner from.
However, they also represent an opportunity to share knowledge. Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong and Lee Kok Leong was awarded second runner-up; Theatres Of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan, Koh Keng We, Wang Gungwu and Juria Toramae was given third place. The judges also chose five writers as winners of the Readers’ Favourite category: Esplanade Communications and Content Head Clarissa Oon won for English creative non-fiction; Cultural Medallion recipient KTM Iqbal won Tamil poetry; Rma Cureess took home Readers’ Favourite Tamil Fiction accolade and youngest writer Marylyn Tan was shortlisted in three categories and two languages simultaneously: English Poetry by Clarissa Oon; then Josephine Quek won in Chinese poetry.
On Wednesday, winners were recognized at a special ceremony with each being awarded S$10,000 cash and an official trophy commissioned just for them. Each of the nine categories also has an additional People’s Choice award that is decided by public vote. Winners in each main category will also be eligible to compete in the People’s Choice award, which carries an extra cash prize of S$3,000 and will not count towards the overall prize pool. Any remaining funds in the prize pool will be distributed among other finalists as smaller prizes. On the official website you will be able to view a complete list of winners. Applications may be submitted up until May 24 without incurring an entry fee and detailed information about this prize, its criteria, evaluation process, etc is also provided on this platform. All winning entries will be collected into a commemorative book to be launched in 2022 by Times Publishing Group, available through major bookstores in Singapore and overseas, along with an exhibition and online archive of entries. The prize is generously supported by National Arts Council, Ministry of Culture Youth & Sports Singapore Press Holdings & Pools Singapore Pools.