The award by received by M V Shreyams Kumar, Jt Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd from Sharjah ruler and supreme council member his Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi at the inaugural session of SIBF.

Speaking on this occasion Mr. Shreyams said “It’s an honour to receive such a prestigious accolade at this time as mathrubhumi just marked its 94th birthday. It’s a great privilege that we have received the award from the ruler who has high regards and fondness for books. The award is a recipient of efforts and hard work put in by our team”.

His Highness honoured winners of SIBF’s Awards as follows:

• The Best Emirati Book by an Emirati Creative Writer Award went to Nadiya Al Najjar for her novel ‘The D Trilogy’.
• The Best Emirati Academic Book Award went to Dr. Maitha Majed Al Shamsi for her book ‘The Semiology of Sign in Contemporary Emirati Theatre’.
• The Best Emirati Book Award about the UAE went to Dr. Rashid Ahmed Al Mazrouei for his book ‘The Encyclopedia of Popular Proverbs’.
• The Best Arabic Novel Award went to author Abdullah Al Basees for his novel ‘Wolf Trap’.
• The Best International Fiction Book award went to Lauri Kubuitsile, for her novel ‘The Scattering’.
• The Best International Non-Fiction Book award went to Sophie Le Ray, Radhika Punshi and David B. Jones for their book ‘Game Changers’.
• The Best Local Publisher award went to Dar Molhimon from the UAE.
• The Best Arab Publisher award went to Dar Al Mada from Iraq.
• The Best International Publisher went to The Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. from India.

This year, the fair will host 393 guests from 48 countries, who will participate in more than 2,600 activities. The guest included a host of authors, academics, artists and journalists, who will not only showcase their most significant literacy and artistic products, but also address many important topics over 11 days.

About Mathrubhumi Group

Mathrubhumi has successfully straddled tradition and technology in assimilating change from 1923 to our social media era. The evolution from letterpress to frontier advances in media has been made without sacrificing human values bequeathed us by our founders who fought in the Indian Independence movement and championed pioneering social reforms. Nine decades on and in to 21st century, we enrich the lives of millions of Malayalam readers. We cater to them with 16 editions, including from Dubai & Qatar, a books division, and 11 periodicals running the gamut from culture to entertainment. Built on strong journalistic ethics and high aesthetic outlook offering multi-platform, multigenerational experiences. Mathrubhumi is not only a fast growing publishing house of repute but also a corporate entity in the mass media industry. It has struck deep roots in the hearts of every Malayalee household through various engaged communication platforms mainly Print( daily) , Radio (Club FM), Television (Mathrubhumi News & Kappa TV), Online (Mathrbhumi.com) For more info log on to www.mathrubhumi.com

About Sharjah International Book fair

Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is one of the largest book fairs in the world, the most prestigious in the Arab world and home to the most exciting literary event in the region. The main aim of SIBF is to encourage reading among people, especially the younger generation, by making quality books accessible to them at affordable prices.  In 2013 the prestigious publication “The Bookseller” named SIBF as one of the top four books fairs globally.

SIBF is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who strives to promote literacy, reading and the preservation of culture in the emirate. Through his vision Sharjah has been named the Islamic Culture Capital in 2014, for its unparalleled contributions to the preservation of heritage and culture.

For more info http://www.sibf.com/default.aspx