Safoora Hilal
The Grateful Flowers debut poetry book of a budding writer Rufaida Rehman was released at the tandoor restaurant Lal chock Srinagar on 11 Sep 2022.
This book with lyric poetry and narrative poetry has been published by the Harvard journal.
The launch was attended by prominent social activist, writer, and political analyst Syed Aijaz Kashyani, RJ Sameen, well-known author Dr. Azra mufti, CEO of Harvard publications Yasmeen Khan, and social activist Peer Mehak.
This poetry is a poignant catch on human emotions.
When she was 12, she felt this keen interest in reading and started with a book called wanderlust by Danielle Steel. With time, she realized her love for writing and started to write a journal. Thrilled by the idea of attending the writing competitions, from being a topper in school to excelling in her college exams, there was nothing she ever wanted, but to be but a writer.
Rufaida, the 27-year-old from Srinagar did her schooling at Salafi and then went to Mallinson. Taking her pursuit of education further, Rufaida obtained B.com from Islamia college of science and commerce and then went to the Delhi University where she finished her post graduation in Commerce.
The grateful flowers is her first book. With some poems and prose, that are a story in itself, the book is a beautiful amalgam of different human emotions, inspired by Nature, bittersweet moments of life, Love, sorrow, hope, and healing.
Rufaida, during the book launch, spoke to The Kashmiriyat and summed up her journey with us.
What is it that influenced you to become a writer?
I took baby steps to write in the 9th class. I read a lot of fiction and in classes 11 and 12 I wrote an article for a Delhi-based student magazine. I started writing a journal which I believe all the writers do. I was an introverted kind of person I am shy, so I think it was always writing for myself and it helped me as a medium of communication. Writing became my language, the expression of emotions and sentiments. That’s how I chose to be a writer.
How you started your journey to become an author of the book The Grateful Flowers?
The idea of The Grateful Flowers started not so very long ago. It has just been a year and a half ago. I was working on a novel some two to three years back but then there came this phase in my life where I was highly depressed. I was battling with myself as I lost my grandparents. They instilled in me their humility and simplicity, their morals, and human values. Their constant support and faith in me and the way they lived their life with strength and courage has been a great inspiration to me. Without them, there would be no me and without my grandparents there would be no Grateful Flowers. And after a month I started writing journals so I thought that they were the expressions of my emotions, my sentiment and that is how The Grateful Flowers came into being. And I thought I should give the novel some gap and give myself a kickstart with this book.
You have written a book, The Grateful Flowers what it is all about?
It is a book that complies with the human emotions of love, loss, grief, and trauma in everything and the aftermath of these emotions. It is mainly inspired by God, by people in my life, and by life circumstances and life challenges.
Is there any difference you feel in yourself because of writing?
Writing is my passion, It has shaped my life. Writing made me ambitious, I just find a warrior and guardian in myself. The only difference is that this time my writings have to the fore for the world to see.
While writing a book, what are the things you think a writer should keep in mind?
The basic thing is to maintain discipline with your work. If you are a beginner you just try to keep it very simple because you do not want to bore people. If people are reading your book at least they should be able to connect to what you want to convey. It should not be like- they are on the first page and then the book is done and dusted and they are bored and they don’t want to open the next page. So I think it’s always better to keep it super simple. So that your writing is understood by people of different age groups.
What plans do you have for the future?
I will come up with my second book, maybe not now but I’m looking forward to more books and seeing where life takes me. I’m just the person who goes with the flow.
How reading enhances our writing skills?
Reading is a key to writing better. We get acquainted with new styles and genres of writing. Reading is the key for the enhancement of one’s writing skills. I began with reading, it just helps you understand the vocabulary, and it helps you understand more, when you go into the detailing and briefing. I want to advise a budding writer to read a lot. Keep reading more than writing, and only then, one can enhance their writing skills.
What message do you have for budding writers?
You write, you just write for yourself because your words are your emotions and you love to write. Be your own hero. You are the creator of your writings there should be no bar on that and there should be no validation that you seek from others.