
Tales for all
The Indian expatriate, who works as an administration manager with a local construction company, launched Mixed Bag – Short Stories on Amazon in April. The 134-page collection of 16 tales caters to 'every taste' as it explores a gamut of sentiments, from love and betrayal to racism and power struggles.
'After publishing my poetry books, I took a break from full time writing due to work and life pressures, and was only concentrating on writing short articles for my blog: worldlyrealisation.blogspot.com. However, the idea of writing fiction was always there at the back of my mind,' said the creative talent from Riffa, who was born and raised in the kingdom and attended the Indian School.
In a previous interview with GulfWeekly, Tajammul noted that his foray into writing began with his blog and when he saw his readership grow, it spurred him on to experiment with different styles; poetry came to him naturally and eventually, became a 'passion'.
'Seeing a positive response to An Ode to Life and Unanswered Verses, my confidence surged and I took a step forward and published Mixed Bag – Short Stories. I hope it will receive the same appreciation and support as my previous works.'
Not one to rest on past laurels, Tajammul is currently working on a novella inspired by Bahrain.
'Bahrain holds a very special place in my heart as I have lived in this wonderful country for so many years. My next book will feature this beautiful island and its people; it will have an ensemble characters from all over the world with one of the characters residing here in Bahrain,' he revealed.
An excerpt from Retribution, one of the short stories, reads:
'In the evening, Rupert goes through the photographs and sees something unusual. He takes out his magnifying glass from his desk drawer and zooms in. He notices the name of the bookstore in the background. Memories are recollected as it is the same bookstore he used to visit so regularly in his hometown, Riverwell. He scratches his head and wonders if he has seen the girl somewhere, but he cannot recall.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Weekly
3 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
Shields up!
A beloved children's book written by a Bahraini author has been made into a cartoon series, and officially released this week, teaching young minds valuable lessons in gratitude, integrity, patience and more. Faris wa drou'oh Al-asher ('Faris and his 10 shields') penned by Nada Fardan hit the shelves back in 2015, and is a collection of 10 short stories, each dedicated to a particular 'shield' or virtue. The Sanad resident had originally submitted her work at the popular Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity and after receiving a positive feedback and praise from the jury, decided to publish it. However, the idea for it to be adapted as an animated series Durro'a Al-Faris ('knight's shields') struck last year after Saudi writer Fahad Al-Qahtani reached out to Ms Fardan, and the duo worked with animation company Cartologia to bring the tales alive in a rhyme format. Over the last year, three of the 10 episodes were created and the first episode of the series was screened at Abdulrahman Kanoo Cultural Centre in Riffa during an event. It also featured a themed competition for children, an interactive session singing the rhyme featured in the cartoon, and a book signing, among other things. Nada emphasised that the series delivers authentic Arabic content rooted in local cultural and environmental values. 'I'm thrilled to see that my story will now reach a wider audience,' Nada told GulfWeekly. 'Our goal is to reinforce identity, instill a sense of belonging, and present engaging, value-driven stories that maintain the simplicity and excitement children love. 'This is a big project and we're in the process of working on the remaining episodes. The first three are available on my YouTube channel (@al-nadaworkshops),' the 39-year-old added. The series revolves around young Faris ('knight' in Arabic), who faces life's battles with unwavering courage and resilience thanks to his shields or virtues that guide him – the Shield of Self-Confidence, which empowers Faris to believe in himself; the Shield of Cultural Difference, which celebrates diversity and understanding; and the Shield of Gratitude, fostering appreciation, among others. According to the architect-turned-full-time-author, she always strives to write stories that can resonate with children from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, with some of her books featuring characters with special needs, nodding to her inclusive approach. One of her recent titles Manba'a Al-Jood ('source of bounty') was officially unveiled at the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival this year and highlights the idea that something good can only be built on strong, noble foundations. Her first children's book One Trunk Away – the heartwarming tale of Harry, a young elephant, and his mother, who gently encourages him to face new challenges on his own – also released this year. 'We are considering having English subtitles for the animated series (Durro'a Al-Faris), so more children can enjoy it,' Nada revealed. Other books by the author include Faris fi zaman Al-goos ('Faris in the Pearling Age'), Ebtisamet Shamoosa ('Sunny Smile'), and Hamama Nodi ('Nodi the dove').


Gulf Weekly
3 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
Picture purr-fect!
melissa@ Cats are emerging as the 'meow'se of choice, inspiring many artists in Bahrain and posing the question: why do felines continue to claw their way into our paintings, literature and culture, coinciding with International Cat Day tomorrow. Whether it is Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland (1865), Japanese author Syou Ishida's We'll Prescribe You a Cat (2024), French Art Nouveau painter Théophile Steinlen's iconic Le Chat Noir (the black cat) poster (1896), or Freddie Mercury's musical tribute Delilah (1991) to his favourite namesake companion, cats have been an integral part of the art that we have been consuming for centuries. Even in Bahraini culture, these critters often appear in old tales, according to comic artist and illustrator from Muharraq Zainab Almahdi. 'Cats often appear in Bahraini and regional folklore as vessels for jinn and other spirits,' the 27-year-old told GulfWeekly. 'In my art, cats feature either as the main subjects, or I hide them in different parts of my work,' added the creative talent, who draws both regular and anthropomorphic cats. 'They are flexible, animated and silly, lend themselves to cartoon illustration, and automatically bring a sense of whimsy to any art piece. You can use cats to reframe ordinary scenes in art. For example, if I dress up a cat in traditional dress, suddenly the readers start paying attention to the piece, and, in turn, the message I am trying to convey,' explained the GDN reporter. Filipino expatriate and artist Heidee Gragas-Galas from Juffair enjoys bringing cats alive in her creations because they're 'cute' and they carry a 'soft, graceful elegance' that she believes reflects a 'feminine, calming energy'. 'Cats have a soft, quiet presence that feels delicate but confident, which pairs beautifully with florals in my work,' said Heidee. Growing up, the 33-year-old had a cat at home, which helped her develop a personal connection with the animal, naturally influencing her work. 'I remember stories from my elders saying cats can sense spirits or bring luck depending on their colour,' Heidee said. 'In art and books, they often show up as symbols of independence, grace or even magic. That mix of the real and the mythical fascinates me and makes them timeless subjects to paint,' she added. Renowned Bahraini artist Ebrahim Busaad's popular Sleeping Cats exhibition in 2016 struck a chord with both art and feline enthusiasts at the time. The striking pieces, including Rajul Al Qut ('the cat man'), Murdi'at Al Shar ('nurser of evil') and Al Hilm Al Azraq ('the blue dream') continue to wow fans even today, with many vocalising their applause on the artist's Instagram posts. In the collection, the founding member of the Bahrain Art Society brought alive the 'infidel' nature of the cat, using his distinct style of elegant lines and vibrant hues. The works also reflect the architectural elements and the decorative motifs that characterised the city of Muharraq, his hometown. The Sleeping Cats paintings are based on a recurring dream Ebrahim had about his cat. 'At the age of six, my grandmother gifted me a cat. For the first time, I had a companion,' the 71-year-old revealed – a sentiment that famous novelist and cat lover Charles Dickens shared, when he said, 'What greater gift than the love of a cat?'


Gulf Weekly
31-07-2025
- Gulf Weekly
The Special Squad
July 31 - August 6 ,2025 By Melissa Nazareth A new comic series, dedicated to children with special needs has been launched in Bahrain, expressing solidarity and empathy with them and their caregivers, writes Melissa Nazareth. The Special Squad is the latest initiative of Shahzaib's Club House, a local community of differently abled people, and tackles topics like regulating difficult emotions, common apprehensions felt by differently abled individuals and pursuing ambitions against the odds, among others. The comics are brought alive as conversations, inspired by real-life dialogues the children at the club house have had with their parents, teachers or others. 'While the comic series was born in Bahrain, its heartbeat is universal, and we're thrilled to have started it in collaboration with a creative agency in Pakistan,' club house founder and director Amena Shahrukh told GulfWeekly. 'The Special Squad is a visual story world where children of determination aren't pitied or 'managed'. They take centre stage and are bold, tender, hilarious, curious and unapologetically themselves. Each comic is a real conversation. These stories reflect what really happens at Shahzaib's Club House,' she added. Amena started the club house, registered under Bahrain Mobility International, three years ago, as an extension of her personal journey with her late son, Mohammed Shahzaib Lali, who was differently abled. He died of pneumonia at the age of 21. Talking about plans for the comic series, Amena revealed that she hopes to publish them as a book and eventually launch themed merchandise. 'We will be releasing merchandise for special children, designed to uplift, inspire and represent them like never before,' she added. To read the comics, follow @shahzaibsclubhouse on Instagram.