Wasio Ali Khan runs the online website Digital Saeen, where he blogs about books, literary events and all things literature related.
When did you
officially start Digital Saeen?
I began the project at the beginning of this year, sometime around
late January/early February.
So are there other
people working with you on this blog or do you handle all the social media on
your own?
I’m managing all of it alone. I wanted to keep it in a
certain direction; if there were others involved, it would need to be converted
into a commercial venture, and I’m just not interested in that right now. The
purpose is to promote local fiction and so far I’m managing it myself so I can
keep it focused.
Do you ever get any
funding?
No, it’s completely self-funded, but Liberty Books has sent
books for me for a fair review in return. That was how I got around to
reviewing Omar Shahid Hamid’s The Spinner’s Tale. This can be pretty helpful in
writing about the latest releases. I am also working on a review for Anis
Shivani’s Karachi Raj.
The thing is, I doubt this will continue, because in the
next few weeks I’ll be leaving for UK for a MA writing program. I plan to continue
to read and review and work on my blog from there, but let’s see what happens
with the funding.
What’s the best part
of owning your own book blog?
The biggest advantage is the complete freedom, of course. I
can write however I like, there is no diction on the nature of reviews. I
basically have no compulsion to be polite or caring to any author, I can write
a fair review that I feel the author deserves. For example there was this
fiction novel The Breath of Death which received quite a lot of negative reviews
because of its ending. When I reviewed it, I focused on the ending but also on
the fact that it’s well written. I can actually do that without being biased,
and I can maintain my own persona while writing. Also, my blog focuses on
writings from Pakistan and Pakistani authors, particularly the ones who are
writing in English. This is a niche market in Pakistan and needs a lot of
support for growth.
Why choose this name?
What’s the reason behind calling it Digital Saeen?
The word came naturally. I belong to a landowning family and
my background is of rural Sindh. Saeen (Sir, sahab, lord etc) is used commonly
for respect in those areas. Since I mostly use social media, my online persona
is of a ‘Digital Wadeira’, so the term Digital Saeen seemed most appropriate.
Also, I wanted to reclaim the word Saeen into the literate world because most
urbanites in Pakistan do not associate the word with a positive image.
On your website
you have set up a rating system for books as well. How did you devise it?
I use a few indicators for the rating. These include characters,
dialogues, story, setting and various other factors such as genre and
uniqueness of the voice. Non-fiction books are rated using a separate criterion.
What do you think of
the current scene of book writing in Pakistan?
Book writing in Pakistan has, I think, entered into a decay
period. The writing in Urdu has dwindled considerably whereas the writing in
English seems to be picking up. Sadly enough, the writings in other languages
haven't had any meaningful impact. Book writing holds promise for those writing
in English as they are exposed to readers both in Pakistan and abroad, so it’s
more financially viable. The same can’t be said for Urdu and even though there
is dedicated readership for Urdu, many have switched to Urdu books for purely
religious reasons and fiction books are not much appreciated.
What about that of
book publishing?
Unfortunately most Pakistani books written in English are published
in India rather than in Pakistan. India has a larger readership base, they have
curiosity about Pakistan (other than the oft-repeated terrorism) and they are
enthralled by the connection they have culturally with our people. Fiction book
publishing is nearly non-existent in Pakistan and there are no publishing
agents dedicated to finding talent and promoting it. Any writer who wishes to
publish his English book in Pakistan can ONLY self-publish, pay out of his/her
pocket and then market it all on their own. It's not only frustrating but also a
financial burden few are willing to take upon themselves.
Urdu publishing is still there but even that is skewed
towards religious books, though some poetry is still published.
What is your opinion
about the kind of readers we have in Pakistan?
Pakistani readers are, unfortunately, few in numbers. They
are completely cut off from the reading industry and have only heard the names
of the authors in most cases. A Pakistani reader can be categorized in two
major groups: One group is the English reader and the other is a non-English
reader (Some are hybrid but that's another case). English readers are heavily
exposed to foreign literature and are often unwilling to read local authors
simply because of the fear that they may not match the level of
fiction-competency foreign authors possess. Non-English ones usually prefer a
certain genre that unfortunately always veers off towards religion, in one form
or the other. That skewed perception, created over several decades, has
resulted in decline in authorship and the kind of writing-innovation Urdu
language was famous for in the previous century.
How many book
launches have you attended? What were they like?
I’ve attended several, I can’t really count. Most were small
gatherings which were pretty well organized, usually held at a cultural spot
(Liberty Books, BBQ Tonight basement, T2F, Literature Festivals). Most work the
usual way, a moderator introduces the author, his/her works and then the book
itself. There are a few questions about the book and the experience of writing
it, some segments of the book the author wants to highlight. Sometimes the
author reads a passage of two and then there’s a Q&A session with the
audience. The format remains largely remained unchanged.
Do you know of any active
reading groups in Pakistan?
I am part of two reading groups. One is known as the Desi
Writers Lounge (DWL) and the other is The Readers' Avenue (TRA). DWL is quite
professional and includes those who have published books before. TRA is a more
casual group, like old friends meeting to discuss a book. Both groups have
their own charms.
There’s been a recent
revival of the trend of literature festivals in the country. Tell me a little
about the literature festivals you’ve attended. Do you think they contribute to
reader growth?
I have attended four so far, all of them in Karachi. The
best one was KLF 2013, where they took it to a whole new level as foreign
journalists, local and foreign authors and even dignitaries took part. The
event was never this lively before and I feel it has so far failed to match
that level again.
And yes, literature festivals definitely contribute to the
growth of readership. You come to know about so many new works of local and
foreign authors that might otherwise elude you. Also, finding yourself among so
many readers also contributes to the need to do some reading yourself.
What would you say
needs to happen in Pakistan in order to increase readership?
Two steps:
1) Create a reason to read
2) Create the content that would entice the reader
Most cases fail to address both. Many people write stories
that local people are not interested in reading or aren't bothered about
reading at all. Some topics are not addressed properly and taken at face value
(this book is about ISI and this about Jihad, so it must be good/bad etc). Like
a movie has a trailer, a book must have the right excerpt and similarly a
dedication to promotion. Without the right promotion, no one would be willing
to take out time to not only buy but also read the story.
What is the worst
part of being a Pakistani who is passionate about reading?
You are unable to associate with most of the people around
you, and this also includes family. A lot of passionate readers are such that
they are the only ones at their homes who love reading and there are always
financial considerations/household commitments that prevent them from being a
passionate reader. Many end up being considered an outcast and even a
time-waster, someone who is wasting time by reading useless books and not doing
something practical that will help in life.
What is the best
part?
You get to experiment and not get stuck with a certain
genre. The readership is small but quite diverse, and no two readers have the
same tastes.