Book launch: A new author on scene - Talking teenage angst

24-year-old Jozi’s work has already been commended by senior writers.

ISLAMABAD:

A unique collection of paintings, prints, drawings and poetry representing teenage angst and despair was launched on Tuesday. The ceremony where “Dawn 88” by the 24-year-old Natasha Iqbal Jozi was launched, was held at the Pakistan Academy of Letters.

The book is a rarity in several ways – the merging of art with blank verse, the subject matter and the young age of the author.

Though Jozi has been writing poetry from age 11 to 19, the collection cannot be dismissed as lacking maturity, due to the strong backing it has gotten from renowned literary figures including Kishwer Naheed, Iftikhar Arif, Shahid Nadeem and Abbas Rizvi.

The launching ceremony had an audience of almost 150 attendees including notable scholars and literary figures such as Dr Fateh Muhammad Malik, Ejaz Rahim, Asma Akhtar and Faheem Chaudhry. Rahim even went as far as to say that Jozi’s style is decidedly Wordsworthian in its sensitive handling of content and diction.

Jozi aimed to keep creative control over the layout of the collection, which had contributions from NCA designer Kaleem Muhammad, and though she said it stretched out the publication process, it was well worth the wait, as she is pleased with the end product.

Aside from talent, Jozi’s supportive upbringing had a lot to do with the fruition and publication of the book. Born to writer Muhammad Iqbal Faheem, Jozi shared that her father was one of the first people she showed her poetry to, and it was due to his insistence that she considered publishing.

The writer was shy about sharing her poetry with people as she saw herself first and foremost as a painter and artist. “Writing poetry is something that I did naturally to cope with teenage angst and confusion,” she told The Express Tribune.

She further stated that her poetry was a way to come to terms with the expansive dreams of a teenager set amidst the stark reality of limitations. However with a published book under her belt and a Fulbright scholarship to look forward to, limitations seem like less of a challenge to her.

Even though patronage from Natasha’s family has been a great boon to her break through, her book may be an inspiration to young Pakistanis to take advantage of their resources and talent to create something both personal and social. “I believe this great poet Natasha can bring change in the country through her pen, sharing the triumphs and troubles of young people in Pakistan,” commented Dr Fateh Mohammad Malik.

“Having all these senior writers commend my written work is a very humbling experience, I hope the rest of my readers will be as receptive,” commented Jozi. The author is hoping to distribute her book, priced at Rs500, in local bookstores by the coming week.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2012.