Sharjah Book Authority scripts world record

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) successfully stamped their name in the books of the Guinness World Records as maximum number of authors signed books at one venue simultaneously and created a new record.

Though the official figures were awaited at the time of going to the press, SBA Chairman Ahmed Al Ameri was seen celebrating the achievement after receiving the Certificate from the Guinness World Records officials.

Hundreds of authors started descending at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the evening to participate in scripting a new Guinness World record initiated by the Sharjah Book Authority on the sidelines of the Sharjah International Book Fair, on Thursday.

Authors from across the globe ranging from Australia, to United Kingdom, to India, to the UAE, graced the book-signing event. And they came in all age groups, with some as young as a six-year-old from Australia to an 85-year-old from India.

Six-year-old Chase Woodbridge was perhaps the youngest author to participate in the record-breaking attempt. The Australian author has penned a storybook titled “Firestruck.” His sister, nine-year old Isabella Woodbridge was present with her book titled “Stories of Witches And Wizards.”

Another young author was ten-year old British girl Haneya Multani, who participated in the event with her book “The Cursed Fangs And The Magic Paw.” “It was amazing to be part of the Guinness World Record attempt because I had never thought that after becoming an author I will have the chance to become part of this record,” she said.

Thahaani Hashir, the 11-year-old author of “Through My Window Panes” was excited to be part of the attempt. She had released the book at the SIBF in 2018 and one year later, she got the chance to be part of this historic occasion.

Ten-year-old Emirati boy Ali Mohammed Nooruddin was another young author. He was present with a storybook in Arabic titled “Nahool in a Corn Field.”

Fatima Al Hosni was another young Emirati author participating proudly in the record-breaking event. A university student and author of ‘Fearing the unknown: Who is death’ said it was proud moment for her as she was participating in an attempt that will bring laurel to her country.

One of the oldest authors participating in the attempt was 85-year-old VM Kutty. The Indian author was here to release his book consisting poems focused on Malabar Muslim community. VM Kutty was one of the 250 Malayalam language authors who participated in the historic event.

Ebtehal Atef, who has penned a book on negative impact of electronic gadgets on children and how to protect them, was equally thrilled to be part of this momentous occasion.

Ten teenagers from the UAE aged between 13 and 14 years got together to write a book “The world of the unknown” which chronicles what they believe in, which is that “Children’s memories are like trusted archives.”

A few from among them were present signing. “I wrote this book alongwith some of my friends,” said Noora Abualhassan adding that it makes her proud to be writing a book for the first time. “It’s a nice experience and I would like to try it again,” added the young author

Her colleague and co-author Athba Albehzad when queried on her views of the Guinness Record said: “It feels really good to be a part of the writing community. It is a really an unique community.”

Anitha Padanattil who hails from Kerala, India, was thrilled to be a part of momentous occasion. “I am extremely happy, extremely joyous. I feel blessed to be here,” said the beaming Padanattil, while showering praise on the organiser of the fair.

Alexandra Vohn Hahn, the German author of “Culinary Magic of the Emirate,” said  that the SIBF offers all benefits an author would look for – from publishing the book to launching it at such a big platform to market it and network with the fellow authors.

“It was totally unexpected. It was a big surprise. I was alerted about it a day before and today I drove all the way from Abu Dhabi to   be part of it,” she added.