Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, the twelve-day fair, which runs until November 16, features over 1,200 sessions, including author talks, poetry readings, workshops, and cultural interactions, reaffirming Sharjah’s position as a leading international hub for books and ideas.
India’s debut national pavilion has become one of the fair’s major highlights, capturing attention for its scale and diversity. Set up by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, the pavilion brings together over 100 Indian publishers showcasing titles in English, Hindi, Urdu, and several regional languages. The initiative represents India’s largest publishing showcase overseas, underscoring the nation’s growing literary presence and its strengthening cultural ties with the Arab world.
“For the first time, NBT books from the Government of India are being sold internationally. We have presented titles from across India, and the reception has been exceptionally positive,” said Rakesh Kumar, Joint Director, NBT. “We are also proud to feature a work by our Honourable Prime Minister, Exam Warriors, which continues to inspire students and teachers. The fair is not just a marketplace but a platform for cultural dialogue, allowing visitors from around the world to engage with India’s literature and traditional knowledge.”
Indian authors have drawn enthusiastic audiences, among them renowned crime writer S. Hussain Zaidi, known for Dongri to Dubai and Black Friday, and digital creator Prajakta Koli, whose memoir ‘Too Good to Be True‘ explores themes of identity and creativity. Poets Surender Sharma, Syed Ijazuddin Shah, Rehman Khan, and K. Satchidanandan added lyrical depth to India’s participation , showcasing the country’s linguistic and cultural richness.