A US scholar’s book on Singapore’s history has won the top prize in this year’s singapore prize. Professor John Miksic’s Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 (2019) beat 29 other entries. The 71-year-old has conducted more than 1,000 excavations in Singapore. The prize, a cash award of S$50,000, is the first of its kind for the country’s history. It was mooted by Kishore Mahbubani, a senior fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute and the current jury’s chair, in 2014 to mark Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence.
The winning work focuses on the historical evidence that proves the country’s story of nationhood began long before its formation as a British colony in 1824. It also explores how the city-state emerged as a hub of global trade and culture. The other books on the shortlist have a more personal slant, focusing on how historical events affected average citizens. Among them is Kamaladevi Aravindan’s novel Sembawang (2020, available here), which details life at a neighbourhood estate over five decades.
Xero, which is used by more than 37K businesses in the region, said that the winners are a testament to Singapore’s creativity and drive for excellence. The company added that the finalists will be featured in global campaigns, including a video series. The winner will receive a trophy and an additional S$15,000, while the second-placed team wins a further S$25,000.
The award was presented at a glitzy ceremony in Singapore’s state-owned media corporation, with celebrities and politicians attending. Prince William wore a 10-year-old dark green blazer from the label Alexander McQueen, and the other presenters walked the “green carpet” made of recycled material. The event was hosted by actors Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown, and featured the bands One Republic and Bastille, as well as U.S. singer Bebe Rexha. Singapore ministers and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern were also present.
The Harvard Prize Book honours the best published works by Singaporean authors in Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil in a biennial competition organised by the National Book Development Council of Singapore. The prize is given in recognition of the highest literary merit and the enduring value of the work. Previous winners include Jeremy Tiang, whose books on Chinese history and literature have won praise worldwide. Tiang won the 2015 Singapore Literature Prize for his novel The Gift of Rain, while a play written by Jeremy Lee was named the 2024 Singapore Literary Prize winner. In addition to the awards for literary works, the council also organises a series of lectures and talks by distinguished scholars. It has also partnered with universities in Finland to develop academic and research collaborations.