Noor Ali Rashid's Sheikh Sultan: Life and Times opens with a history of the Qawasim dynasty. Born on July 6, 1939, His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, is the 15th ruler of this dynasty. He ascended the throne in 1972. Though he took the reins a few days after the formation of the Federation, he proved his mettle.
Rashid highlights the ruler's initiatives that led to the rapid growth and development of Sharjah. Besides being a celebration of Shaikh Sultan's extraordinary life and a glimpse into his world, this book also serves as a history of Sharjah and the UAE. The book is replete with gorgeous colour and black-and-white photos. Shaikh Sultan's passion for art and education shines throughout the book as Rashid chronicles the unique initiatives he is spearheading, including the Children's Parliament and Knowledge without Borders, an ambitious project which aims to distribute 50 books to each family in the emirate.
His enthusiasm, thirst for knowledge and willingness to help others has inspired many, including his own children. He has been recognised for his contribution towards education and culture and to date has received several awards and honorary degrees. He has also been named 2010 Cultural Personality of the year by the Shaikh Zayed Book Foundation.
Under his leadership the "rising sun" (Sharjah) has shone brighter. In 1998 Unesco named the emirate the Cultural Capital of the Arab World when it hosted 360 cultural activities. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Today this cultural hub boasts 16 museums and hosts over a thousand educational and cultural events. Befittingly it has been designated the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2014.
Sheikh Sultan is an excellent and well-presented guide to the ruler and the academic. It does Shaikh Sultan, the ruler, author and history professor, justice.
