The world is interested in Singapore’s unique success story and wants to understand what makes the island-nation tick. As the country enters its 50th year of independence, a new generation of Singaporeans is eager to learn from the lessons of their forefathers.
Hence the 2024 NUS History Prize, which is open to non-fiction and fiction works from around the globe so long as they focus on Singapore’s history. It was first mooted by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani in a 2014 column, with support from the National Heritage Board and National Library Board. He said that it is crucial for a nation to have a shared sense of its own past in order to thrive and remain cohesive today.
The six books on the shortlist of the NUS prize reflect a broad and varied range of perspectives on the nation’s past. While some of them are academic tomes, others have a personal slant and challenge the traditional view that history is merely a record of big movers and shakers. For example, Leluhur: Life in Kampong Gelam (2019, available here) by Hidayah Amin, who grew up in Gedung Kuning – a heritage royal building at the heart of Kampong Glam – sheds light on the area’s once-bustling residential neighbourhood, now known as one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
Similarly, a book on the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee fire that forced thousands of residents to relocate to make way for a development project was also on the shortlist. Other titles include Nature’s Colony: Empire, Nation and Environment in the Singapore Botanic Gardens by Timothy P Barnard, Squatters into Citizens: The 1961 Bukit Ho Swee Fire and the Making of Modern Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, and A Brief History of the NUS Science and Technology Awards by John Miksic, all published by NUS Press.
The Earthshot Prize, founded by Britain’s Prince William, will hold its third awards ceremony in Singapore on Nov 7. The finalists will be given a grant to scale their environmental solutions.
The glitzy event, to be held at the Theatre of Mediacorp, will be hosted by Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K Brown, with performances from the bands One Republic and Bastille. In line with the theme of sustainability, the ceremony will feature a green carpet. The prince will wear a 10-year-old dark green blazer to coordinate with the host and other presenters, who are encouraged to dress sustainably. The runner-ups are Cherrie Atilano of AGREA, who wants to replicate her ‘one-island economy’ model to transform the islands in the Philippines and ASEAN; and Somsak Boonkam of Local Alike, which empowers communities in Thailand to redefine tourism to focus on social awareness among travelers. The winners of the other categories will be announced in January 2024.
