Inspired by peace, love and tolerance

Scheherazade Javeri, fondly known as Sherry Javeri, was felicitated with the Rumi Award by former prime minister Manmohan Singh for her book of Sufi poetry, Nineteen, The Godly Verses. She says the book is an intensely personal exploration of her yearning for her “beloved creator”.

Sherry says it was an honour to be felicitated by the former PM. “It was a beautiful evening. We had the presence of some of the biggest names from all walks of life, like union minister Ravi Shankar, Abbas Naqvi, Digvijay Singh, P. Chidambaram, Subodh Kant, judges and academicians from across the country.”

Sherry’s poetry is fluent and articulate, with hints of regality. When asked how it all started, she says, “I have been writing for many years. However, when I was in college I met the Egyptian spiritual guide Shaik Samy. He had a great presence and aura around him. He spoke several languages and spoke of Islam in a very simple and lucid manner. That was when my Sufi journey began.”

She adds, “Nineteen, The Godly Verses is inspired by peace, love and tolerance, which is the essence of Islam. My poems also talk about a few obvious facts that people deny, for instance death… it is not as morbid as one thinks it is. As soon as a person is born it’s understood he/she is going to die one day, then why does death shock us so much? How many of us delve into the real purpose of our existence and being? Every human being, just like all other beautiful creations of the almighty, has a purpose. I feel each one of us should spend time to contemplate on what we are meant to do, what we are doing and where we are heading.”