Spotlight On Writers
Sara Ali
- Where do you originate from?
I was born in India, the land of diversity, and such it was, growing amongst multiple cultures, which helped create a very strong foundation and love for the values that I was instilled with. I grew up in the suburbs of DehraDun, a beautiful city in North India.
Both my parents were in the field of teaching and writing academics in Economics and Mathematics, respectively. This also ensured and paved the path for me to follow in my life. I completed my schooling at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun, and, being the eldest sibling at home, I constantly bossed my two younger brothers.
I remember quite vividly that I wanted to venture into the field of modelling and acting as well as being a rebellious teenager, but was firmly curbed by my dear father, so back to the world of academics it was.
Growing up in DehraDun, which is also the neighbour of the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie, ensured my love for nature, outdoors, and trekking.
- What do you cherish most about the place you call home?
After marriage, I moved to Qatar with my husband, Mahfooz, and now Qatar is more than a home away from home. I love and cherish being here in each and every way. The lifestyle and the safety this place has given us are unsurpassed. I love everything here. The skyline and the seaside, the parks and the malls, the walking and the shopping, my home and my workplace. My home here has become a sanctuary for me, and probably, in many ways, being here has helped me to cultivate my love for writing even further.
- What ignites your creativity?
“Ignites my creativity,” well..well..there can’t be any fixed answer for this. I can get inspired by anything and everything around me, and I’ll write about it, as long as I’m in the mood to do so.
Lately, when the war had started, since it was February, all the blooms in my garden were in full bloom. I was inspired by the first rose in the pot outside my bedroom window, as a sign of hope, and immediately penned a poem titled, ‘Looking Forward.’
I love rewatching my favourite shows and movies. Sometimes they become an inspiration to take one of those plots with a new plot twist in one of my pieces. Most of the time, my pieces have a connection to my past, my days in Dehradun, incidents with all the students I have taught over the years, my experiences as an expat, and above all, me as a mom, as a friend, or as a woman trying to make her mark in a man’s world, as we call it.
Last year we were on a holiday in Greece, and my writer’s mind was in a frenzy. I literally completed two of my longest projects there, along with all the binge eating and sightseeing. Yes, my travel diaries are always a huge part of all my pieces.
- Do you have a favorite word, and could you incorporate it into a poetic phrase?
A favorite word??? I’m a writer…so actually there are many!!!
But right now, serenity pops up quite vividly, maybe because the world really needs kindness and peace more than ever, right now.
“i don’t wish for all the storms to end,
i pray for peace amongst the storms instead!!
a world of smiles, laughter, kindness and serenity,
i wish the gift to be mine to all as on and on we tread!!!”
- What is your pet peeve?
Many things get under my skin. The state of the world right now and the injustice that comes along with it really stresses me a lot. Any kind of racism, unjust treatment, dishonesty, hypocrisy, and backbiting really bugs me a lot. I struggle to make things better, in whatever way I can, at least in my immediate vicinity, and can’t seem to stay calm unless I achieve in doing so.
- How would you describe the essence of Sara Ali?
I am a lifelong storyteller and photographer. I love preserving each moment, whether it’s through my pen or my lens. The highlight of my day is when I am able to welcome someone into my world of words. And when someone appreciates a piece in any way, my day is done. I want to be remembered as a mother, a daughter, an academician, a writer, someone who lived life to the fullest and made everyone around her do the same. I hope people will say that I have been kind and compassionate always, and I am able to touch lives, both personally and professionally.
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