Father, daughter release books, donate sales proceeds to charity

Sharjah - Shaji Haneef, wife Baitha Shaji and their daughter Lamiya Anjum are all writers

Dubai-based writer and award-winning short film director Shaji Haneef has released several books over the years. Haneef's wife Babitha Shaji is also a writer and the couple have written several impressive literary titles.
However, this year, their 17-year-old daughter Lamiya Anjum will steal the spotlight with the launch of her maiden book of poetry, 'Unspoken'. The book will be released at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) today, where Haneef will also release his Malayalam book 'Adrishyavarnangal'. The books will be unveiled by popular Indian writers C. Radhakrishnan, George Onakoor and Arshad Bathery.
"This maybe the first time that a father and daughter duo are releasing separate books at the SIBF," Haneef told Khaleej Times. Published by Lipi Books, proceeds from the sale of both the books will go to two autism rehabilitation centres and a kidney dialysis centre in Kerala. "Lamiya is particularly passionate about helping children in the autism rehabilitation centre and I am extremely happy that I can do this with her," he said. Lamiya, a student of GEMS Our Own Indian School Al Quoz, stated that the opportunity to release this book is a great honour.
She said: "Growing up, I was a naughty student and I would get in trouble with my parents and teachers often. I think I had a lot of energy, and I had a lot of pent-up energy in me. I began writing when I was in Grade 7, which was a way to release all that pent-up energy."
Lamiya began writing poetry and would never save the poetry she worked, and a lot of her written work would find its way to the trash bin. "When I reached Grade 10, my parents gave me a huge stack of papers. They were all poems from my early days of writing. They asked me to have a look at them and check how I feel about it," she said. Unknown to her, Lamiya's parents were saving pages of her poetry that she threw away.
"I felt really cared for and wanted when I found out that they'd saved everything I ever wrote. When I read it, I realised that it's not so bad and I decided that publishing it is not such a bad idea."
Unspoken is a book of 27 poems that speak about her perspective on life, and observations from her travels in Kerala. "I get inspired every time I meet a new person. There is a positive side to everyone I meet. I love meeting new people and observing them," she said.
Meanwhile Haneef, who has been living in Dubai for over 25 years, has always been an avid writer. "I began writing in college and I write because my travels inspire me," he stated. Haneef has travelled 37 countries, and his new book 'Adrishyavarnangal' is a collection of short poems. "A major chunk of the poetry is based on today's political weather and the rest are my observations on life," said Haneef.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Sharjah International Book Fair