‘Uncle’s inspiration shaped my debut novel’
Rameez Gilani, an
alumnus of St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, a reputed school in the
valley, recently penned a novel 'Rizan.' Talking to Rising Kashmir's Online Editor, Daanish Bin Nabi, he shares his experiences
and inspirations that helped him jot down a novel.
·
Tell us something about
yourself and your education?
I did my schooling from St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School
Baramulla and went for Engineering to Bangalore College. I am trying for a MBA
degree now.
·
How did the idea of writing
a novel strike your mind?
Actually, I had the idea for the novel. My basic inspiration
behind writing the novel is my uncle’s (Dr. Nazir Gilani) life. I really was
fascinated by his life. He went to Pakistan and from there to London and back
to Kashmir. So, I wanted to keep this plot. I still remember the first day when
I wrote the first page of the novel in early morning of 2013 at around 5 am in
morning and send it over to London to my uncle who is settled there. I clearly
remember his words when he said beautiful narrative, give it a shape of a book.
This is how I penned it.
·
How has been Dr. Nazir
Gilani support?
I owe him a lot. Rizan’s plot was taken from his life. He has
really encouraged me a lot throughout my life. As I told you when I send him
the first page of the novel, he really encouraged me and said to give it a
shape of a book.
·
Where was your book
released?
In Bangalore.
·
Why Bangalore and not in
Kashmir?
At the time of its release I was in Bangalore and because of some
personal reason I wanted it to get released in Bangalore.
·
Why protagonist name is
Rizan?
As I said, my uncle has been a humongous inspiration for me, it is
basically reverse of his name, Nazir—Rizan.
·
Why have you demonized Zia
in your novel?
I don’t think I have demonized him or his rule in any way. Novel’s
interpretation has gone beyond my intention. But to from a contrast I am
not a big fan of Zia. This fictitious ‘Forbidden Village’ in the novel was
reality during Zia’s rule somewhere in Pakistan. My only focus was to highlight
the issue of women of that area. This is only reason I included ‘Forbidden
Village’ in it.
·
You haven’t used word
Pakistan in novel why?
I never felt like naming it.
·
How has been the support of
your parents?
They are my inspiration. Both of them have supported me a lot. All
my success is because of them.
·
How has been the response
from readers since it was launched?
It has been great. However, the novel is not available in market
yet but it is available with all the leading on-line book stores.
·
Which is
your favourite book?
Alchemist
·
Why fiction? Why not a
non-fiction?
I was never interested in non-fiction. I love fiction, it
fascinates me. I am more intrigued to philosophy than science that is the basic
thing. Science doesn't fascinate me as philosophy does.
·
You said you were more
interested in philosophy than Science still you went for higher education
against your wishes why?
Yes, it was against my wishes and dreams. I also followed the same
common trend which any other Kashmir student is following.
