Nirmala Lakshman wins Sharjah Book Award for international non-fiction

Award Win

Author and journalist Nirmala Lakshman won the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book in the international non-fiction category on November 4, 2026. She received the honor for her book titled The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, presented the award.

Book Details

The Aleph Book Company published the winning volume in January 2025, and it has sold several thousand copies since then. The work relies on historical studies and personal insights to examine the culture, history, and society of the Tamil people. It covers the community's growth over many centuries and its impact outside regional boundaries.

Author and Publisher Remarks

Dr. Lakshman stated that writing the book served as both a personal quest and an examination of a deep history. She mentioned wanting to show the diversity of Tamil life and the influences shaping its continued energy. David Davidar, who leads the Aleph Book Company as publisher, praised the author for bringing deep insight and personal involvement to the expansive work, making a complex history clear without losing its depth.

Reviews and Heritage

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wrote in The Book Review that the book thoughtfully collects both major and minor events from regional history using clear stories, field work, oral history, archaeological surveys, and expert interviews. Moving past common cultural symbols like temples and the Chola dynasty, Dr. Lakshman highlighted lesser-known aspects, such as the Sangam age landscapes, the ancient concepts of Aham and Puram, and the seafaring and migration history of the Tamil community. Dr. Lakshman also directs The Hindu Lit for Life festival and previously wrote a 2013 book on Chennai called Degree Coffee by the Yard alongside editing a 2007 journalism anthology named Writing a Nation.

Context

Literary awards given at international book fairs help bring regional histories and cultures to a wider global readership. Books that combine academic research with personal storytelling often make complex historical subjects more engaging for the general public.