Six works have been shortlisted for this year’s singapore prize, an award given to publications that help people understand Singapore’s history. The prize is awarded by the Department of History at NUS. It was established in 2014 to spur interest in Singapore’s past. It is the first in the country to recognise publication on local history.

Among the six shortlisted books are an examination of the life of an average family, which eschews the idea that history is simply a record of big movers and shakers. Another book, by Kamaladevi Aravindan, looks at life in an estate across five decades. The shortlist also includes an examination of the life of a Singaporean Indian poet, as well as histories of Malaysian migrants and their Malay community here.

The winner of the prize, which comes with a cash prize of S$50,000, will be announced on Oct 2. It will be presented by Conservation International (CI), which has a global track record of spotlighting and funding nature’s benefits to humanity. It will leverage its expertise in biodiversity programmes and sustainability financing to help guide the selection of winners for the prize, as well as connect them with a wide range of partners committed to scalable solutions for people and planet.

Kishore Mahbubani, who chairs the prize’s jury panel and set up the award in 2014 with an anonymous donor, said that the biggest challenge for Singapore today is not in economic terms but building a sense of national identity through a strong sense of history. He added that a “strong, cohesive society requires a deep appreciation of its roots”.

This year’s jury panel comprises historians Meira Chand and Lam San Ling; economist Peter Coclanis; novelist Ms Meira Hidayah, who grew up in the old kampong glam area where she wrote her winning work; and archaeologist Prof John Miksic. Ms Hidayah said she felt the prize was a recognition that ordinary Singaporeans had stories to tell. “We hope this can be an encouragement to people who want to write, and an indication that you don’t have to be a professional historian,” she added.

The prize is named after Christopher Bathurst KC, Viscount Bledisloe, who had an extensive legal practice in Asia including Singapore and was a well-known public speaker and teacher. It is supported by the NUS Business School. In addition to the main prize, the judges will give out seven other awards for books in different categories. The public can also participate in the prize by voting online. The poll closes on Sept 30. Alternatively, the public can purchase traditional pre-printed tickets at Singapore Pools outlets and have a one-in-eleven chance of winning a prize. Click here for details.