Unfinished Moments of Life: Bay Nateeja
“Bay Nateeja,” a debut collection of Urdu poetry on life by Naveed Ahmad, is a thoughtful look at emotions. Published by Daastan
This collection is written in a simple way, but it is filled with strong feelings. It beautifully captures the small, complicated details of life’s “unfinished” moments, those times when things don’t quite have a clear ending.
In this interview with Daastan, Naveed shares the inspiration behind Bay Nateeja and the emotions that shaped it. He shares how his personal reflections transformed into a published book, providing valuable insights and motivation for those looking to write.
Al-Naveed Ahmad: The Poet Behind “Bay Nateeja”
Al-Naveed Ahmad is a writer and educator from Chitral, dedicated to making a meaningful contribution to both education and literature. He currently serves as an English lecturer with the Aga Khan Education Service, teaching at both secondary and higher secondary levels. He holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and Linguistics with distinction, along with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed).
Regarding his daily life and work, Naveed shared.
“My daily life revolves around teaching, learning, and creative expression. I spend much of my time in the classroom, engaging with students, planning lessons, and helping them develop their language skills. I am particularly interested in making learning meaningful and relevant by blending traditional methods with modern approaches.”
Beyond his professional work, Naveed is deeply passionate about writing poetry in Urdu, Khowar, and English. Reflecting on his themes, he shared:
“My work often explores themes of love, longing, human emotions, and the complexities of relationships.”
Currently, Naveed is exploring new creative ground in prose writing.
“At present, I am working on short stories, exploring new forms of expression and narrative styles. This shift has allowed me to expand my creative horizons and experiment with different ways of storytelling.”
Bay Nateeja
Naveed Ahmad describes his poetry collection as a journey through the quiet struggles of the heart. He shared:
“My book is a collection of Urdu ghazals that explores the inner landscape of human emotions. Without revealing too much, I would describe it as a journey through love, longing, separation, and the quiet struggles we often carry within ourselves. The poetry reflects moments of vulnerability, self-reflection, and the subtle shifts in human relationships.”
Naveed also spoke about the style and tone of his verses.
“The tone of the book carries a classical essence, yet the language remains simple and accessible so that readers from different backgrounds can connect with it easily. Rather than telling a single story, each ghazal offers a glimpse into a different emotional state, sometimes intense, sometimes gentle, but always honest.”
He hopes readers find a personal connection in his work, turning the poetry into a shared emotional experience.
“At its core, the book invites readers to find parts of their own experiences within the verses. It is not just meant to be read, but to be felt.”
Inspiration Behind “ Bay Nateeja “
When asked about the inspiration behind Bay Nateeja, Naveed responded.
“This book is very close to my heart because it is not something I planned all at once, it grew with me over time. The inspiration behind it comes from my personal experiences, observations of people around me, and a deep engagement with human emotions. Themes like love, longing, separation, and inner conflict are universal, yet each person experiences them in a unique way. I felt a strong urge to capture these emotions in a form that is both personal and relatable.”
Writing helped Naveed express his inner feelings. He explained how his creative process grew over time.
“Over time, writing became a way for me to process thoughts and emotions that are often difficult to express directly. An important reason was the desire to give these scattered writings a permanent and meaningful form. Instead of remaining isolated pieces, I wanted them to come together as a collection that reflects a journey, both emotional and creative.”
Daastan’s Role as a Book Publisher Of “Bay Nateeja”
“Bay Nateeja” is published by Daastan, a leading publishing house in Pakistan that supports writers from around the world.
This Urdu poetry book on life is available on MeraQissa Bookstore, Daastan online bookstore, where readers can find and buy books from many different authors.
Naveed Ahmad on His Experience with Daastan
Naveed reflected on how Daastan supported him throughout his journey as a first-time author:
“Daastan played a very supportive and facilitative role throughout my journey as an author, especially since this was my first published book. One of the biggest challenges for me was navigating the publishing process itself, understanding formatting standards, manuscript preparation, and the technical aspects of turning a collection of poems into a professionally presented book. Daastan made this process much smoother by providing clear guidance at each step.”
He highlighted how the team helped refine his work while ensuring that his remote location was not a barrier:
“They assisted in refining the overall presentation of my manuscript, from layout to design, ensuring that the final product met professional publishing standards. Additionally, as someone based in a remote area like Chitral, managing communication and coordination with publishers could have been difficult. However, Daastan maintained consistent and cooperative communication, which made the entire experience efficient and reassuring.”
Key Takeaways From “ Bay Nateeja”
While his book is primarily a collection of ghazals, it quietly offers reflections on the depth and complexity of human emotions. Naveed explained that his poetry encourages readers to pause and acknowledge feelings that often go unexpressed.
“One of the key takeaways is an awareness of how love, loss, longing, and even silence shape our inner lives.”
Naveed also discussed the idea of acceptance and the resilience found in carrying difficult emotions with grace. He noted that the book does not preach lessons, but instead allows readers to find their own personal meaning.
“Many of the verses explore themes of separation, rejection, and inner conflict, but they also suggest a sense of resilience.”
He believes the book is worth reading because it balances simple language with layered emotions, making it accessible to a wide audience.
“It creates a personal connection, where readers may find their own stories reflected in the verses.”
Naveed Ahmad’s Message to Readers
To conclude the interview, we asked Naveed if he had any final thoughts to share with his readers. He gave this humble response:
“To my readers, I would simply say: thank you for taking the time to be part of this journey. Poetry only becomes complete when it finds a reader, and your presence gives these words their true meaning.”
Naveed hopes his verses connect with the reader’s heart.
“As you go through this book, I hope you don’t just read the verses but feel them in your own way. Every line carries an emotion, but its true interpretation belongs to you. If you find even a single couplet that resonates with your heart, reminds you of a memory, or gives you a moment of reflection, then this effort has found its purpose.”
At the end, he advised his readers.
