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Journalism of Courage
It appears HM Naqvi inadvertently started a fashion trend at the recently concluded Jaipur literature festival. The Pakistani authors style of wearing his sweatshirts zipped low to reveal a bare chest caught the fancy of many a young man,and a surprising number of bare chests were spotted thereafter. He wore the attention with ease,just as he treats the acclaim for his debut novel Home Boy,with humility and humour. I would say about 16 % of the book is autobiographical. I just know its not 15% or 17% of the experiences that I have drawn out in the book, says Naqvi,35.
Written in a language that is strongly associated with hip-hop and slam poetry,Home Boy (HarperCollins,Rs 399) tells the story of three young Pakistani men in New York City. But post 9/11,they cannot be carefree Metrostanis any longer,theyre caught in an America that is suspicious and unwelcoming. I call it the post-post 9/11 book. It is a coming-of-age novel,an immigrant tale,a South Asian novel and an American novel as well, says Naqvi. After college,I started writing and ended up living on $ 2.50 a day. I decided that I needed a job, says Naqvi who landed his first job at the World Bank but still kept writing. The years between 2000 and 2003 were spent in getting married,relocating from Karachi to the US. One has to redefine the South Asian immigrant novel. When youre telling your story in America,does it make more sense to always write about the smell of tamarind wafting in? Because that smell has gone stale now, says Naqvi .
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