Did you know Dr Shaikh Sultan was a journalist?

He also disclosed another experience related to his love for journalism and the Press, when he recollected a magazine titled Al Yaqza in 1963, which was completely edited by him.

Dr Shaikh Sultan revealed that he was so passionate about journalism since his school days, while talking with the media at the 45th London Book Fair.
"I had run two wall papers in the school, which I wrote on everything, and I was the mastermind of the two, writing and editing in Arabic and English.
"When I was young I worked as a correspondent for the Egyptian pictorial magazine Aakhir Saa in 1956. I used to send them news, topics and pictures from Sharjah, absolutely enjoyable and interesting job. My writings went directly to Jalal Arif, whom I came to know by chance.
"My acquaintance with him began when he stopped over at Sharjah en-route to India. He toured Sharjah to file a story, and I came to know him. I asked him whether I could send him news from Sharjah. I was afraid that my identity might be known to the colonialists.
"It was a nice experience which enriched my knowledge and made me feel I had given something for my country and revealed the shades of colonialism."
He also disclosed another experience related to his love for journalism and the Press, when he recollected a magazine titled Al Yaqza in 1963, which was completely edited by him. It was printed in Khalifa Al Nabooda Printing Press in Dubai and continued for four months.
He described journalism as a garden full of flowers and thorns, therefore the Press should be responsible and not to drift into sensational stories which lack authenticity. He praised the stage where the UAE journalism has reached now. He wanted the local English Press not to seek and run stories which are not beneficial to the Emiratis nor those living in UAE. He urged the media to "keep away from political polemics, which serve others' interests, whom we have nothing to do with."
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah