I feel one should write about the things he is familiar to and this is my criteria to write about any concept,” says Shahzad Rizvi, a renowned poet, author from Washington DC.
Brought up in the princely State of India and later settled in the United States, Shahzad Rizvi is among the writers of new generation. Talking about the today’s scenario of literature Rizvi also shares his memories attached with Bhopal in a rendezvous with The Pioneer.
Notably, Shahzad was born in a family of poets and writers in Gwalior. The atmosphere evoked by the highly enriched writers of his family, inspired him to be one of them.
"The storytelling tradition made a lasting impact on my personality since childhood, so I became a writer,” says Rizvi. After completing his education, Rizvi began writing and with his literary works like The last Resident. Behind The Veil, and more he has created magic in every reader’s heart.
On asking about the recent scenario of Urdu language, he said, “In earlier days people loved to talk in Urdu, but today, they are getting influenced by other languages. This is somewhere shadowing the charm of Urdu,” he added.
Elaborating further he said, “People do not read Urdu these days and this is also one of the reasons that Urdu language is losing its presence.”
Rizvi has written various books on different genres. His book The last Resident. is a romantic fiction that tells the love story of a British Official and the Princess of Bhojpal (now Bhopal).
“This is a book where I have brought the people of various religions together,” says Rizvi. On sharing the idea behind this story, he said, “I was close to Senior Begum of Bhopal and I used to visit the palace very often. My experience of the wonders of royalty gave me an idea to write fiction where love happens between a British officer and an Indian princess barring religion and customs.”
Rizvi is here in the city for a programme organised honouring his work held here on Sunday. “I am really contented to visit Bhopal as I have visited after an interval of 20 years and I see many changes here,” shared Rizvi.