Profile: Somalian Author

A 'novel' experienceAwes A. Osman, a Somali residing in Dubai, has penned a novel inspired by his student days in India. The book, Skinless Goat in Somalia, published by Neshui Press, will be launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. Rajeev Nair writes"Strange things remain to look strange to the society — but only for two days and after that people get used to it."This line from the novel, Skinless Goat in Somalia, written by Awes A. Osman, holds the clue to the title of a book that was seeded many years ago, when Osman was still a student in India.The Somali had jotted down his random thoughts then, and now many years later, he has dusted memories, gleaned long-lost ideas, and put them all together to publish his first novel.Yes, Osman is thrilled. He had been pursing his dream of publishing the novel for many years now. He had gone through the grind of countless rejections. He persisted and finally, now, his efforts have paid off. A US-based publisher, Neshui Press, is bringing out the novel and Osman hopes to launch the book in October at the Frankfurt Book Fair.However, the writing of the book is only part of the Osman story. His tale spans two distinct continents, two varied cultures and many different time zones.Currently, marketing manager of Business Link, Dubai, an exhibition organiser, which was one of the first companies to reach out to the Iraqi markets despite the sanctions, Osman's story flags off from Mogadishu, Somalia's capital city.He was born the second of five children. His father was a businessman; his mother a homemaker. He completed his secondary education at the 15 May Secondary School, its name derived from the Somali Youth Day celebrated on May 15.He had arrived at a crossroads and decided to follow his heart and move to India. He was also encouraged by his uncle, the late Dr Omar Osman Mohammed, who financially supported his studies, to go to India for higher education. "A colleague of my cousin was from India who eventually arranged for my travel to India," recalls Osman.He knew India from the Hindi films that many Somalis loved watching before the ongoing civil war disrupted the social fabric. He remembers films like Bombay to Goa and Sholay, and also recalls that Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Mithun Chakravarty enjoyed the patronage of the Somalis.But he was also aware of the huge risk he was embarking on, travelling to a foreign land, where he knew hardly anyone. He stayed in Mumbai, initially, where his accommodation was arranged through an acquaintance in Somalia.Osman wanted to study engineering or medicine, but found it hard to obtain admission. He toured many Indian states before he could enroll for chemistry at the Jabalpur University. Here, he was pleasantly surprised to meet many more Somali and other African students.Jabalpur triggered off the writer in Osman. Indeed, his novel is initially set at the Jabalpur University campus. "Professors there used to teach in Hindi and obviously, foreign students couldn't follow the classes. They had to resort to private tuition at the professors' home," he says.This is one of the pivots in the novel, wherein the hero, Ali, a Somali student, meets Sunita, the beautiful daughter of his professor, and the two fall in love. Osman remembers that his own professor had a daughter similar to Sunita but denies any romance. "The novel is inspired from real-life only as far as the settings go," he explains. "The characters and events are entirely fictitious."Osman's stay in Jabalpur offered him interesting insights into India. He would tour the villages, interact with the public and share thoughts. In Jabalpur, a Somali student still had curiosity value. That wasn't to be in Pune, where he transferred after one year. "The people just didn't bother about your nationality. We, simply, assimilated into the city's cultural plurality."In Pune, the professors taught in English, and there were a number of African students. Osman remembers the regular get-togethers with the foreign students.Here, he also nurtured an academic interest in Indian politics. He still remembers vividly the aftermath of the assassination of the Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1984, and the emergence of her son Rajiv Gandhi from the ranks to lead the nation in crisis.He also studied the differences in the cultures and lifestyles in India and Somalia, and observed the steady decline of joint families in India, though the tradition of large families living together is still a norm in Somalia.He was also impressed by the Indian democracy. "The public have a big say in the political shaping of their social life and what role the government should play," he observes.Completing his graduation, he also did a computer course in Pune after which he flew to Saudi Arabia to start working.He hadn't visited Somalia in all the years. "I used my vacations to know more about India and also to write this novel."Only after he worked in Saudi Arabia for one year did he return to Somalia after nearly five years. He had kept alive his interest in publishing his novel, and realising that Dubai is an ideal destination to nurture his literary career, he moved in to the city."Initially, I was groping in the dark. I didn't know who to approach or how to become a novelist. I knew no one who was experienced in publishing. It was a self-learning exercise," recalls Osman.The surge in popularity of the Internet was to prove a boon to Osman. Suddenly, he had better access to publishers and literary agents. "I knocked on many doors. No one wanted my work. Those were the days when I could sense that the e-mails and letters addressed to me would only be notifications of regret by publishers."Osman, however, was insistent that he wouldn't pay to get his book published. "Since my book was about India and Somalia, I knew that it would not be instantly appealing to US or UK publishers. I knew I had to wait."Meanwhile, he met with PV Vivekanand, editor of The Gulf Today, who helped Osman in editing the manuscript."The endless wait seemed worth it when finally Neshui Press accepted my manuscript," says Osman. The book is being readied to be launched in October. Many years of chasing a dream was finally coming to fruition.Skinless Goat in Somalia, essentially, is a love-story of an Indian girl and a Somali boy, the repercussions of their romance and insights into the Somali and Indian mindset vis-a-vis the relationship. The novel also portrays the India as understood and witnessed by Osman."My message with the novel is that love is border-less," says Osman. "No boundary, no politics must stand in the way of true love."On his novel, Osman says, "it is an experience every foreign student in India might encounter one day or the other. It is not just about love; it is about two different personalities and the sharing of cultural experiences between Africa and India."Osman hasn't left behind India. "I am working an another book, also based in India. I am in love with the country as a source of intriguing stories and fascinating experiences."Currently, Osman, as a Somali intellectual based in Dubai, is also championing the cause of restoring normalcy in his country, ravaged by 14 years of anarchy. He has initiated an informal forum, the Somali Intellectuals Association in Dubai, with over 20 members who meet regularly to discuss the evolving situation in Somalia. "We publish articles on the Web and try to create an awareness about the strife and pain that plague our country."(Awes A Osman can be contacted at 050-737 8802. Email: skinlessgoatinsomalia1@yahoo.co.uk, skinlessgoatinsomalia@hotmail.com)