A second year civil engineering student of the School of Engineering and Technology of Sharda University (Greater Noida), Jinnat Sebarin (20) made her debut as a novelist in early February with Not Very Far published by Delhi-based Authors Ink Publications. This novel is now in its fourth edition since its release six months ago. Not Very Far narrates the challenges confronting its two teenage protagonists — Ashik and Sakshi — in the new age of social media and smart devices.

The only child of Guwahati-based civil engineer Irfan Habib and Anjuman, assistant professor at the Assam Engineering College, Guwahati, Jinnat gives generous credit for her success to her language teachers in the Bethel Baptist Mission School, Dhubri, where she completed class X, and NPS International School, Guwahati, thereafter. “Without their encouragement and support in developing my English language and communication skills, this novel would never have been possible,” she acknowledges.

According to Jinnat, her childhood was not extraordinary except that unlike her friends who loved to play with toys and dolls, she preferred to read books. “I have no siblings and to make up for my father’s long work-related absences from home, my parents were obliged to buy me a large collection of books starting from primary school,” she recalls. At age eight, Jinnat began writing short stories and poetry which her father sent to the local Assam Tribune, which published most of them in its weekend editions. “Throughout my secondary school years, I made it a daily mission to improve my English vocabulary by learning 20 new words,” she adds. In class XII, she further developed her communication skills by writing for NPS Writes, the school’s annual magazine.

Currently, Jinnat is writing her second novel on the theme of child marriage, putting in at least three hours of writing per day after completing her six-hour college day and additional studies. Although this young novelist’s heart is in writing, Jinnat is studying civil engineering to promote an engineering firm with her father next year. “I want to give back and lend a helping hand to my parents who have done so much for me. I can always make the time to write novels on the side,” says this responsible and talented multi-tasker.

Autar Nehru (Delhi)