Noted writer and linguist Prof Shafi Shauq, and renowned poetess Prof Naseem Shafaiee released a young writer Nowreen Qadri’s poetic collection Silhouettes at a literary function here this week.
The function was organised by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Srinagar (JKAACL) and was attended by a galaxy of writers, poets and artists.
Shauq, while praising the budding writer said that Kashmir is in dire need of writers and poets who can express the situation. “We need poets, who could pen in few lines, the oppression and suffering though which people are going. We need such writers who through any genre could document the situation for posterity and world to see,” said Shauq, terming emergence of young women writers as a positive sign. “Our younger generation is coming forward and writing brilliantly in globally accepted language English. Nowreen is a good addition to the crop of such writers.”
Shauq said that nobody listened to the revolt of people in Kashmiri, but in English it may ring some bells.
Chief Guest Prof Naseem Shifai congratulated JKAACL for organizing such a prestigious function aiming to promote various languages and to provide a platform for the youngsters. She advised the young writer to not forget the Kashmiri language and the society. “When we see our history, we find some of the most brilliant poets and writers. The literature extremely rich. The young writers read the likes of Lalla Did, Rasul Mir, which will enrich their global overview,” said Shifai. “There is no match to our Sufi poets, so look, read and write about them too.”
On the occasion a paper on the book was also read by Basharat Shamim.
Prominent broadcaster and writer Rafeeq Masoodi termed Nowreen as a young writer who is strong in style and form. “It is always one’s form which introduces his or her diction. Nowreen approached me with the manuscript of her book and after reading her 1st poem only I felt that she has different style, feel, idiom and communicative lingua which was initially a surprise for me but once legend Prof. SHAFI Shouq and Prof. Nasim Shifai testified abilities I too believed myself that she is a fresh voice on way to make once,” said Masoodi.
Nowreen while expressing gratitude to the dignitaries for releasing the book said that writing the poetic collection was exhausting for her. “It took me four years to write the book and it demanded too much from me,” said Nowreen who had first started a novel but later switched to the poetry.