A Childhood Surrounded by Books and Stories
For Syed Fatiqah, the relationship with literature began long before she considered herself a writer. Growing up, books and stories were an important part of her life. Her family played a significant role in developing her interest in literature — her father and grandfather were passionate readers, and her grandfather also had an interest in writing. Being surrounded by books and conversations about stories created an environment where imagination naturally found space to grow.
She also found inspiration from her uncle, Syed Adfar Shah, a sociologist and writer, whose literary perspective influenced her understanding of writing and expression. This early exposure to literature became the foundation for her own creative journey.
The First Words: From Poetry to Stories
Like many writers, Fatiqah's journey began with poetry. Her earliest writings came in the form of nazms, ghazals, and shayari, where she found a way to express emotions that were difficult to communicate otherwise.
One of her earliest, deeply emotional pieces was written in Class 10, after the passing of her grandfather. The pain of losing someone close found expression through these words:
Kashmir: More Than a Place, An Emotion
For Fatiqah, Kashmir is not just her homeland — it is an emotion that lives within her. The mountains, rivers, chinar trees, traditions, people, and everyday experiences of Kashmir have deeply influenced her imagination.
She believes Kashmir's beauty and struggles have both shaped her perspective. The moments of joy, uncertainty, resilience, and hope she witnessed became emotions that found their way into her poetry and stories. Whenever she writes, a part of Kashmir travels with her words.
Finding Her Voice as a Writer
Fatiqah describes her writing voice in three words:
Her writing themes naturally return to love, hope, pain, healing, and the strength of the human spirit. She believes that every person carries a story within them — the responsibility of a writer is to observe, understand, and give those stories a voice.
Her literary imagination has also been shaped by writers and poets across generations. She draws inspiration from Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Mirza Ghalib, and Rumi, while Kashmir's own literary heritage — including Lal Ded, Sheikh-ul-Alam (Nund Rishi), and Mahjoor — continues to influence her understanding of poetry, spirituality, and human emotions. Among Urdu poets, Ahmad Faraz holds a special place in her reading, alongside Faiz Ahmed Faiz and John Elia — she counts Ahmad Faraz's ghazal "Ranjish Hi Sahi" among her enduring favorites.
Voice Behind the Wall: Writing the Stories Behind Silence
Syed Fatiqah's book Voice Behind the Wall was born from a simple but powerful question: how many voices remain unheard because invisible walls stand between people and the world? These walls can be fear, grief, loneliness, self-doubt, regret, or the expectations placed upon people by society.
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| Available on Amazon |
The book explores the emotions people often hide — the struggles behind smiles, the words left unsaid, and the stories that remain trapped within. For Fatiqah, the book is a blend of imagination and real human emotions. While the characters and situations are fictional, the feelings behind them come from genuine observations of life. She believes fiction is not an escape from reality but a way to express reality more truthfully.
The Meaning Behind the Title
The title Voice Behind the Wall represents the invisible barriers people face throughout life. Every person carries experiences the world may never fully see. Some people hide their pain behind smiles, while others silently fight battles that leave no visible scars. Through this book, Fatiqah wanted to create space for those voices that often remain unheard.
Inside the Collection
Across its stories and poems, Voice Behind the Wall moves between different lives, each carrying its own quiet weight. One narrative follows a young girl trapped in a cycle of abuse and secrecy, repeatedly met with disbelief when she tries to seek justice — a story that reads as much as a comment on societal silence as it does a personal account of survival. Another centres on a mother who endures poverty and hardship while striving for a better future for her children, her quiet endurance becoming, in Fatiqah's telling, its own kind of strength.
Elsewhere, the collection turns toward unspoken love, following a poet whose one-sided affection becomes the very source of her writing — a reminder, in Fatiqah's words, that love can remain meaningful even when it is never returned. Threaded through these different lives are recurring themes of injustice, sacrifice, motherhood, loneliness, love, and courage — the same emotional terrain that shapes her poetry.
Writing Through Pain and Finding Hope
One of the most emotionally challenging parts of writing the book was a chapter dealing with silence, grief, and emotions buried for years. She recalls that writing those scenes required her to face feelings that were difficult to express. The challenge was maintaining honesty while ensuring that the story did not leave readers in darkness.
For Fatiqah, pain and hope must exist together. She believes healing begins when people find the courage to confront what they have hidden.
The Journey From Manuscript to Publication
Fatiqah knew Voice Behind the Wall was ready when she could read it not only as its author but also as a reader. When the emotions felt honest, the characters found their voices, and the message remained intact, she felt the story was ready to reach others.
Publishing came with its own challenges, including self-doubt, editing, formatting, and navigating the publishing process. But she reminded herself why she wrote the book — not for perfection, but for connection. Voice Behind the Wall was published on 23 June 2026 by Free Minds Publication, and is now available on Amazon.
When Words Reach Another Heart
The most rewarding part of publishing has been knowing that her words reached readers. One message that stayed with her came from a reader who shared that the book helped them express emotions they had struggled to put into words for years.
For Fatiqah, this is the greatest achievement a writer can hope for — the ability to make someone feel understood.
The Future of Kashmiri Literature
As a young Kashmiri writer, Fatiqah believes Kashmir has always been home to remarkable poets, writers, and storytellers. She believes today's young writers have fresh perspectives and the courage to tell authentic stories.
However, she also recognizes challenges, including limited publishing opportunities, lack of visibility, and fewer platforms for emerging voices. She hopes more encouragement, mentorship, and literary spaces will help Kashmiri writers reach wider audiences.
According to her, Kashmir's story is not limited to one narrative. Countless stories of ordinary people, traditions, friendships, love, identity, culture, and resilience are still waiting to be told.
A Journey That Has Just Begun
For Syed Fatiqah, writing is a lifelong journey. She continues to work on new projects that explore human emotions and social experiences while carrying forward the same themes that shaped Voice Behind the Wall — hope, healing, and resilience.
From the pages of childhood books to poetry written through personal loss, and now to a published book reaching readers, her journey reflects the power of words.
Through Voice Behind the Wall, Syed Fatiqah reminds readers of one simple truth:
behind every silence, there is a story waiting to be heard.