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Meira Chand conferred with Singapore's Cultural Medallion
The recipient will receive funds worth over US $58,000 (SGD $80,000) to support her artistic pursuits.
Meira Chand / meirachand.com
Meira Chand, an Indian-origin novelist, has been awarded Singapore's highest art award, the Cultural Medallion. As part of the award, she will receive US $58,000 (SGD $80,000) to support her artistic pursuits.
The National Art Council (NAC) of Singapore recognized Chand for captivating readers worldwide with stories that reflect her multicultural heritage and explore themes surrounding the multiplicity of cultural identities.
The council took note of her novel A Different Sky (2010) which was set against the backdrop of pre-independence Singapore, and was longlisted for the 2012 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award as well as was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s recommended reading list. Her recent work include Sacred Waters (2018) and the story from which Singapore’s musical LKY: The Musical originated.
A former board member of the NAC, Chand also actively participates in local literary activities and events. She played key roles at the Singapore Writers Festival Advisory Panel; judge at the Golden Point Award; and chairperson of the Singapore Literature Prize (2012).
In 1962, after her marriage, she and her Indian husband relocated to Japan, where she was employed as an art teacher at an international school. She left Japan for Mumbai in 1971 and spent five years in India, where she started writing, before going back to Japan. She relocated to Singapore in 1997 and became a citizen there after some time.
Five of her eight novels - The Gossamer Fly, Last Quadrant, The Bonsai Tree, The Painted Cage and A Choice of Evils - are set in Japan. The London-born author has a master's degree in creative writing from Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia, and a PhD in creative writing from the University of Western Australia.
Established in 1979, the Cultural Medallion recognises individuals whose artistic excellence, as well as contributions and commitment to the arts, have shaped Singapore’s growing cultural landscape. Individuals conferred with Singapore’s top arts accolade have made significant strides locally and internationally, displayed extraordinary leadership and inspired younger artists.
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