The prize – worth S$50,000 – was launched in 2014 to enliven interest and discussion about Singapore’s long history, and its place in the world. It was the brainchild of NUS historian Kishore Mahbubani, who cited Benedict Anderson’s observation that nations are imagined communities: people share a sense of common identity through stories about their shared past. With shared histories as the anchor, societies can have greater cohesion and tolerance.

A total of 15 winners – Indian makers of solar-powered dryers, soil carbon marketplaces and groups that work to make electric car batteries cleaner, restore Andean forests and deter illegal fishing – were feted in a ceremony led by Britain’s Prince William, who hailed the winners for showing hope in solving global environmental challenges. He was speaking at the launch of the inaugural Earthshot Prize, a new 10-year award programme that was inspired by President John F Kennedy’s 1962 “moonshot” speech, which challenged Americans to find solutions for pressing issues in 10 years.

Designed to celebrate the SG50 year of commemoration, the prize was backed by an anonymous donor, who gave an endowment of $5 million to NUS, which manages the prize. The prize is open to non-fiction and fiction works written in English or translated, and published between Jan. 1 and May 30 this year. Submissions are assessed by a panel that includes Prof Mahbubani.

The shortlist for the NUS Singapore History Prize also features books that look at the lives of ordinary citizens. These include Imperial Creatures (2019, available here), a study of the relationship between humans and animals in colonial Singapore; and Kamaladevi Aravindan’s Sembawang (2020, available here), which chronicles life in a single estate across five decades. These titles challenge the traditional view of history as a record of big movers and shakers, say authors.

Another shortlisted title, Home Is Where We Are (2019, available here), offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Singaporeans through the stories of seven individuals. It examines how the country’s rich and complex heritage has shaped its people and their daily routines, including those who work hard to get by. The story of a man who visits an arcade and spends about half an hour each time, counting a thick stack of trading cards, is told in this book. He does not want to be named, but told CNA he was not a big winner, and that winning did not matter as much as playing the games. “I enjoy the arcade, and I’m happy with what I get out of it,” he said. “It’s just a good time.” The NUS Singapore History Prize is presented by the National University of Singapore, Department of History. It is supported by an endowment gift from an anonymous donor, matched dollar for dollar by the government. The prize was established in 2014. The NUS Singapore History Prize is administered by the Department of History, NUS. For more information, visit the website.