The Harvard Prize Book (Singapore) honours individuals who make a lasting contribution to the nation by putting their personal interests aside in favour of the common good. The prize also aims to encourage altruism and the spirit of sacrifice in Singapore, where self-absorption is more the norm than it should be. The award was established in 1994 and carries a cash prize of S$25,000.
The prize is open to authors of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels published in Singapore. Its purpose is to promote Singapore literature and talent, and to encourage public interest in the art of writing.
It’s a soaring moment for soprano Shimona Rose Thevathasan, who won the Pendine International Voice of the Future award at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales on July 6. The 29-year-old soared in her black and gold dress as she sang eight minutes of Igor Stravinsky’s Pendine Overture to win the competition’s top prize, along with a £3,000 prize money.
A former member of Fountain Court Chambers, the late Christopher Bathurst KC was a renowned commercial barrister with a thriving practice in Southeast Asia and Singapore. He was a leading figure in the commercial law community and a popular and energetic cross-bench member of the House of Lords. The prize is named in his honour and recognises the legacy of his work in Asia.
As the world grapples with a rising tide of populism, the prize highlights those who strive to uphold and protect the integrity of their professions and values, and demonstrate a commitment to their community and society. It was founded in 2014 and is supported by the Temasek Foundation.
The prize is administered by NUS and awarded every three years. It was mooted by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani in a Straits Times column and is presented as part of the SG50 commemorations. A panel of five members reviews submissions and chooses the winner in October.
The shortlisted books are based on different periods in Singapore history, with two works dealing with the 1950s – Sembawang by Jeremy Tiang and State Of Emergency by Hidayah Amin. Both explore the era from laypersons’ perspectives, as well as how events affected ordinary people. Other works with a more academic slant include Imperial Creatures by Timothy P. Barnard, which investigates the relationship between humans and animals in colonial Singapore; and Leluhur: A Story Of Kampong Gelam by Hidayah Amin, a look at the heritage royal building in Kampong Glam. NUS History Prize 2024 judges include Mr Mahbubani; archaeologist John Miksic; historians Ian Gordon, Seng Guo Quan and Suhaili Osman; as well as educator Beatrice Chong and curators Timothy and Michael Coclanis. The jury will announce the winner in October 2024. The nominating committee consists of the NUS Department of History, and experts from academia, arts and civil society. The winners receive a trophy, an award certificate and a gold medallion. They will also speak at a public lecture and be featured on the prize website.