Nirmala Lakshman Wins Sharjah Award for Best International Non-Fiction Book

Indian author, journalist and The Hindu Group Director Nirmala Lakshman has won the Sharjah Award for Best International Non-Fiction Book for her book The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community. This award was presented on November 4th of 2026 by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. This book explores the history, society, traditions and cultural identity of the Tamil community across centuries.

The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community: Key Information

• Author of the Book: Nirmala Lakshman
• Publisher of the Book: Aleph Book Company
• Published Year: January 2025
• Theme: History, society and cultural identity of the Tamil people

This book examines the evolution of the Tamil society and its influence beyond geographical boundaries. It covers several aspects of Tamil life, including literature, history, politics, religion, art and cultural traditions.

Drawing on historical research and personal observations, Lakshman presents the diversity of the Tamil community and the influences that have shaped its identity over time.

About the Sharjah International Book Fair Awards

The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) Awards recognise achievements in writing and publishing. They are organised by the Sharjah Book Authority as part of the annual Sharjah International Book Fair.

The Sharjah Award for the Best International Book has two categories,

• Best International Fiction Book: Recognises outstanding fiction published in English.
• Best International Non-Fiction Book: Recognises distinguished non-fiction works published in English.

Each category carries a prize of AED 50,000. The prize is generally shared equally between the author and publisher, subject to the publishing contract and intellectual property rights.

The 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair is being held from November 4 to 15, 2026, at Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.