‘I write to challenge stereotypes and norms…’: An interview with Mafazah Sharafuddin

✍ Aysha Tanisha
March 8, 2018

Poets are an asset to the society. Many a poets have vindicated the age-old saying, ‘Pen is mightier than the sword’, by challenging norms and addressing grievances. Poems are synonymous to eye-openers. Reality-checks via poems could be the upcoming recipe to mend a society that prevails on undercurrents of hypocrisy and insensitivity.

Mafazah Sharafuddin, the youngest among the three children of Sharafuddin Soofi and Sameena Afshan couple, is a teenage poetess, whose formal debut into the literary world took place with the recent release of the anthology of poems Labyrinths of Emotions. It is a compilation of poems she wrote when she was 13 and 14 years old. It spans over a variety of subjects including social issues, mental health and general struggles faced by adolescents. She says that her poems are mainly expressions of her thoughts that she can’t put into coherent words. 

Mafazah Sharafuddin is now a grade 11 student at a private college in Mangaluru and aspires to become a clinical psychologist. Apart from writing poems, she is passionate about reading. She is multi-talented with interest in fine art and public speaking as well.  Here are a few things Mafazah Sharafuddin said in her exclusive interview to coastaldigest.com.

CD: What is the importance of poetry in today’s society?

MS: In my opinion, there’s a grace to poetry that no other form of writing has. I think poetry challenges you to look for meaning in mundane, everyday things and that’s the sort of observation and contemplation we need.

CD: Do you have a cause that is close to your heart or a particular theme that structures your poems?

MS: Well, not one thing in particular. I’m a feminist. I also stand against racism and colorism. The condition for women all over the world hasn’t been ideal for a very long time. In India especially, we can see the whole hype on fairness’ creams and other products. We are basically told that dark equates ugly. In Hollywood too, we can see that the protagonists are mostly white. The patriarchy perpetuates these ideals for women to live by. That a women must have a voluptuous body, yet a skinny waist, that a woman should rip her body hair off in a very painful procedure on a monthly basis to look ‘attractive’. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be necessary to fight for women’s rights or black rights. People shouldn’t be deprived of opportunity based on trivial aspects of their existence. 

CD: Do you touch upon social issues that our society is grappling with, in your poems?

MS: I like to believe that I write to challenge stereotypes and norms that society pushes on people. I feel very strongly against the social culture that tells you what is ‘normal’.

CD: The poems you write convey disdain to certain social constructs. What is it that you are dismayed with and what made you turn to writing poems?

MS: The truth is that when I started writing I was just eight-year-old, meaning I didn’t have an understanding of social issues and such. But I read a poem I wrote from then, saying something like dark spots don’t make you any less beautiful. Part of the reason I’m so against these so called social constructs is, I think, remnants of that childish stubbornness that refuses to accept what I didn’t understand. Then again, there is the part of me that grew up and saw how much damage these mindsets cause in the real world, and I say without a doubt that I will stand against every illogically discriminating thing I come across. As for why I turned to writing, I’ve always been fond of literature, poetry in particular, and when I was a child I chose poetry as a way to express myself, which I continue to do today. 

CD: What got you writing? What about poets that inspired you, do you have any?

MS: My primary school teacher is actually the one who first asked me to write. More than people, however, books are what kept me writing. Poems like The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe and My Beth by Louisa May Alcott are what I recite under my breath when I’m distressed. I think literature has played such a huge role in creating the person I’m today, that I can say that it’s quite possible I wouldn’t have this book published without it. 

CD: Are you planning to write anything other than poetry?

MS: I do plan on writing prose but I get too caught up in detail to follow a complex plot. Maybe in a few years my mind will mature enough for it. 

Also Read: Mangaluru: Young poetess Mafazah Sharafuddin’s Labyrinths of Emotions released

Comments

Navaneeth Shetty
 - 
Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

Impressive achievement at an early age. she made mangaloreans proud. at a time when young girls and boys spend time on social media, smart phone and romance, this girl has exhibtted a rare emotional maturity. A leader in the making. 

Naren Kotian
 - 
Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

Hahhaha… initially when I clicked on the link I noticed a quote from Salman Rushdie. It was like ಶಿವ ಪೂಜೆಲಿ ಕರಡಿ ಬಂದ ಹಾಗೆ… I felt pity for both Rushdie and the hijabi poetess. But when I refreshed the story Rushdie’s quote got disappeared. I realized that CD team got threats from Khumeini’s followers from Iran. Anyways congrats to the young girl. Let her develop enough courage to write against social menace like love jihad, land jihad, media jihad,…. and last but not least the poetry jihad :p

Dr.Shafeeq
 - 
Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

MashaAllah...young talent. Needs full support from society so that she in turn can encourage others to follow the steps. Good Luck

Fatima Ali
 - 
Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

Happy women’s day Ms Mafazah Sharafuddin! Congrats for the deubut book! Where it's available in Udupi?

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 20,2020

Mangaluru, June 20: A teenage boy lost his life after accidentally drowning in Netravati River at Boliyar village on the outskirts of the city yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Fazil (15), a resident of Nadupadavu village near Konaje. 

According to his family sources, Fazil had been to work in a horticultural land along with his friends on Saturday afternoon. 

On his way back he went to the river to wash his hands and legs. However, he lost his balance in the river and drowned, police sources said.

His body was retrieved at 2 p.m. A case was registered at jurisdictional Konaje police station.

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Media Release
January 17,2020

Udupi, Jan 17: In a unique philanthropic initiative, two US based NRI children have established the first unit of Keithan & Keisha Skill Development Centre at SVS English Medium School, Katapady in Udupi district.

The centre was inaugurated by Dr. Ranjan B. Kini, Professor of Management - Information Systems of Indiana University Northwest (UCN), USA on Saturday, January 11, 2020.

The centre will provide exposure to rural high school students in technical skills in emerging technological domains, soft skills and life skills through online training and video conferencing during weekend seminars. The centre is established by Keithan and Keisha with the help of their parents. They are the children of Katapady Krishna Mohan Pai, CEO of Invenger Technologies Inc., USA. One 55 inch LCD TV, two computers and one laptop were donated as part of the initiation package.

Dr. Srikanth Prabhu, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, MIT, Manipal will be anchoring the training sessions which will cover emerging fields like Robotics, its impact and the opportunities in the future. The training will include international online programmes and video conferencing.

“In today’s competitive world, students need technical knowledge to keep pace with the changing scenarios. Along with technical exposure, they should also be equipped with soft skills, communication skills and organizing abilities,” said Dr. Ranjan B. Kini after inaugurating the first unit at SVS English Medium School, Katapady.

Dr. Srikanth Prabhu informed the gathering about the idea behind the project, explained its features and programmes. “If good awareness is given to students at a young age regarding latest developments in technical fields and if they are trained in soft skills and other complementary skills, they will be able to face the future with confidence and attain the heights of success even if beginning from zero,” he said.

Presiding over the function K. Sathyendra Pai, Director of Invenger Technologies said, “This is the first centre to be set up under our initiative to train rural children in add-on skills and help them to gain parity with better educated students.”  More such centres will be set up in other schools soon, he added.

Katapady Krishna Mohan Pai, CEO of Invenger Technologies Inc., Amith Nayak of Archana Developers, Umesh Rao, President of Rotary Club Katapady, Savitha Manjunath, PWD Officer of Udupi, technical experts Nidhi Manjunath and Mitesh Singh were the guests of honour. Directors of the company B. C. Pai, Srinivas Vasudev Kini and Venkatramana Bhat were present.

School Headmaster Devendra Nayak welcomed the gathering. Megha gave a vote of thanks. School teachers Uma and Chaitra along with other teachers coordinated the event. Student leaders Dhanush and Jessel Vinola Quadros compered the programme.

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News Network
January 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 18: The government slammed Kerala’s tourism department for putting out a tweet on Sankranti Day, promoting ‘beef ularthiyathu’, a specialty in that state, but the move backfired spectacularly with Karnataka’s tourism minister being heavily trolled.

After Kerala put out its advertisement, state tourism minister CT Ravi, seizing the opportunity, took a dig at the Left government in Kerala, saying, “Welcome to Karnataka”. He followed that up with another tweet listing delicious “vegetarian” dishes of coastal Karnataka — a coastline which runs to Kerala.

“Welcome to Karnataka to bring out the Vegetarian in you. Enjoy the flavors of Tulu Nadu – Pathrode, Kotte Kadubu, Halasina Hannina Gatti, Avalakki Upkari, Badanekayi Mosaru Gojju and a whole lot of authentic food to hit Your tastebuds,” Ravi’s tweet read.

Ravi’s tweet sparked a debate between those for and against eating beef, including legislators like Sowmya Reddy (Congress) and Shobha Karandlaje (BJP). Some pointed out that Karnataka is 80% non-vegetarian and an appropriate response to beef curry would have been “pandi curry” (wild pig curry) — a Kodagu specialty.

Realising his tweets were getting more negative than positive traction, Ravi quickly amended his stand and on Friday tweeted: “Nati Koli Saaru Mudde. Aw! Delightful Delicacy of Old Mysuru region. Farm bred Chicken traditionally cooked to perfection and served with the soft Ragi Mudde. You will ask for more !!!”

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