To wish upon a star
APS MALHOTRA
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Nabila Jamshed’s book “Wish Upon a time – The Legendary Scimitar” is sure to inspire other young writers.
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PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT
In the limelight: Nabila Jamshed
There is a new star on the literary horizon. Nineteen-year-old Nabila Jamshed has come out with her debut novel, “Wish Upon a time – The Legendary Scimitar” that, was released recently at the India Habitat Centre.
As Nabila, who exudes remarkable poise and maturity for her age said, “I have been writing for as long as I remember, may be when I was about five years old, when I compiled my first four line poem. Since then I have always wanted to be an author’. And it was possible with the support and guidance of my parents, God and my pen drive”.
Nirmalini, principal of Carmel Convent School, from where Nabila did her schooling, reminisced rather nostalgically about her young protégé, “It was evident even at that time that she is endowed with qualities that are essential for a good leader”. Meenakshi Gopinath, principal of Lady Shri Ram , where Nabila is currently pursuing her graduation in Political Science was also all praise for Nabila, when she said, “The last teenage author to come out of India was the redoubtable Shashi Tharoor, who nearly went on to become Secretary General of the United Nations. Surely Nabila will scale new heights.”
Diverse subjects
Nabila, who has written articles on diverse subjects, said, “It is my endeavour to highlight issues plaguing the world society today, primarily violence and intolerance, which I have tried to highlight.” The novel, written in the genre of adventure fantasy is about constructed out of the thoughts of people in the real world. It is in this surreal world that Eyelash, the protagonist, finds herself in. The novel also raises questions about conflicts and answers them from the perspective of a young mind which can see the simple logic behind peace.
In pursuing the forces of evil, Eyelash and her magical comrades encounter and oppose war, terrorism and violent ideology, issues confronting citizens of the future the world over.
Also present on the occasion was the well known literary figure Ira Pandey, who wondered “what my priorities were when I was a 19-year-old, compared to that of Nabila”. She also sounded a word of caution “about a clutter of activity clouding youngsters’ mind, making it difficult to retain focus on a singular passion in which there is desire and potential for development.”
Others present on the occasion included Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan, who enthralled the audience with a couplet of the late Harivansh Rai Bachan, recited in honour of Nabila, while drawing everybody’s attention to the intricate relationship “between the seemingly diverse, yet intrinsically co-related medium of writing, dance and music.”
After excerpts from the novel had been read out, Nabila, selected for the year’s Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Award, promised “to continue my literary journey that has just commenced.”
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