Literary collective honors winners of its 2026 writing competition at a ceremony attended by authors, journalists, and cultural figures
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — Pennillam Ezhuthidam Publications released 36 books at the Sharjah International Book Fair, marking another milestone for the literary collective dedicated to promoting women’s writing and creative expression.
Pennillam General Secretary Raji Aravind presided over the launch event, which drew prominent figures from the literary, cultural, and media spheres. Former MLA P.M.A. Salam, former Kannur District Panchayat member Thomas Varghese, writers Vakkam Shakeer, Kumarettan Panante Mukku, Sunil Nambiar, and Geetha Mohan, along with journalists Sreejish Sreekandan Nair, Anoop Keecheri, and Vinu Varghese released the titles.
During the ceremony, organizers presented certificates and mementos to the winners of the Pennillam 2026 Literary Competition: Bismi S. Rawther, Geetha Kaiparambu, Ashalatha Shivadam, Vijayalakshmi V., Kumarettan Panante Mukku, and Soumya Abraham.
Founded as an online collective by cancer survivor Raji P. Menon, Pennillam Ezhuthidam has grown into a literary platform for writers and readers, with Pennillam Ezhuthidam Publications serving as its publishing arm. Guided by the motto, “We do not write about women, we write from the standpoint of women,” the organization aims to provide space for women’s stories and lived experiences.
The collective began its book fair presence at the 2024 Sharjah International Book Fair by exhibiting 61 works—including poetry, short stories, autobiographies, and memoirs—by its members, followed by the release of 101 books at the 2025 edition. Beyond publishing, Pennillam organizes reading forums, author dialogues, and literary competitions to build a global readership for women’s literature in Malayalam.
