5 years of rawanee (events - publications - podcasts open call) - scroll down
Team Rawanee
Muniba Mahmud
Laiba Karim Khan
Laiba Karim Khan
Co-Founder and Lead - Rawanee
Association with Rawanee:
Muniba Mahmud co-founded Rawanee based on the recognition and the yearning of a few years, for a space that would allow versatile and authentic creativity to flourish: a space that was not limited by the dictates of commercialism, checklists and stereotypes.
She oversees the overall management and strategy of Rawanee and its key projects: events and creative content (including publications, podcast and video content, plays and performances) and workshops.
Writing, Career & Hobbies:
Muniba writes compulsively, and works on poetry and prose (long-form, short stories).
She day-jobs in Marketing and has previously studied business (IBA, Karachi), public administration (Columbia, NY) and novel-writing (Faber Academy, London). She continues to take short courses and dabble in learning about other subjects of interest including history, global affairs, poetry & religion - and feels that these influences impact her writing.
She's easy going and loves a purposeful chat (she confesses that small talk positively frightens her) - so feel free to reach out to her over email if you'd like to speak further.
Laiba Karim Khan
Laiba Karim Khan
Laiba Karim Khan
Rawanee Administration & Podcast Manager
Association with Rawanee:
Based in Pakistan, Laiba has been a part of Rawanee's journey since August, 2022, as a member, content editor, youth outreach and administrative manager.
Since 2024, she also manages the podcast and supports the production of events and publications.
Writing, Career and Hobbies:
Laiba is a writer, poet and an undergraduate student of English Literature and Linguistics.
She is currently published in the Blooming Pen anthology with her short fiction, "The Memory of Colors," and Cathartic literary magazine with, "What if....", and has also won 1st prize for poetry in BPWS Online fundraising Contest.
She is often found engaging with a diverse array of literary genres, encompassing short fiction, poetry, longer prose, literary critique, as well as scholarly composition, but her persisting interest lies in short fiction.
Nuzhat Nisar
Nuzhat Nisar is an editor at Paramount Books, where she writes and edits school textbooks. She studied Urdu, mass communication, and education at the University of Karachi and completed her master’s degree in political science in 2019.
She believes in promoting regional languages through literature and advocates for equal opportunities for
Nuzhat Nisar is an editor at Paramount Books, where she writes and edits school textbooks. She studied Urdu, mass communication, and education at the University of Karachi and completed her master’s degree in political science in 2019.
She believes in promoting regional languages through literature and advocates for equal opportunities for women. Her work as a literary translator and digital journalist has been published on various platforms, including Ananke, Lakeer Mag, Akhbar-e-Jehan, Independent Urdu, and Hamara Internet.
Nuzhat is part of the Urdu Publishing team for Rawanee Safhay
Dr Alia Amir
Dr. Alia Amir is a Research Associate at SOAS University of London. Prior to joining SOAS, she has worked as an Associate Professor in English Linguistics at various Swedish universities. Her work focuses on language policy, multilingualism, history and social interaction. She brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of langua
Dr. Alia Amir is a Research Associate at SOAS University of London. Prior to joining SOAS, she has worked as an Associate Professor in English Linguistics at various Swedish universities. Her work focuses on language policy, multilingualism, history and social interaction. She brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of language, education, and society. She is also the Book Review Editor for Discourse & Communication (SAGE) and Co-editor of SOAS Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 23.
Dr Qudsia Akhtar
Dr Qudsia Akhtar
Qudsia Akhtar is a Manchester-based poet. Her poetry has appeared in Acumen, Tupelo Quarterly, Poetry London, and Wildness. Her debut collection Khamoshi (Verve Poetry Press, 2022) was highly commended by the Forward prize panel and a poem appeared in The Forward Book of Poetry 2023. Qudsia recently completed a PhD in Creative Writing at
Qudsia Akhtar is a Manchester-based poet. Her poetry has appeared in Acumen, Tupelo Quarterly, Poetry London, and Wildness. Her debut collection Khamoshi (Verve Poetry Press, 2022) was highly commended by the Forward prize panel and a poem appeared in The Forward Book of Poetry 2023. Qudsia recently completed a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Salford where she is an associate lecturer.
Daniele Speziale
Daniele Speziale
Dr Qudsia Akhtar
Daniele is a graduate in MSc Development Studies from SOAS University of London, and currently works in the field of Italian international cooperation.
Daniele is a polyglot with a track record of studying around 15 languages, as well as an aspiring poet, translator and researcher. Daniele's Urdu and Hindi poems, written under the pen-name
Daniele is a graduate in MSc Development Studies from SOAS University of London, and currently works in the field of Italian international cooperation.
Daniele is a polyglot with a track record of studying around 15 languages, as well as an aspiring poet, translator and researcher. Daniele's Urdu and Hindi poems, written under the pen-name of Rahi Italvi, are published on Rekhta;
he also writes in Malay for Aliran, Malaysia's oldest human rights NGOs. In 2022, Daniele was a finalist to the Jawad Memorial Prize For Urdu-English Translation.
Passionate about social justice, throughout his life Daniele has also worked with multiple NGOs in Italy, India and Malaysia.
Daniele is part of the Urdu Publishing team for Rawanee Safhay
Saba Kazmi
Daniele Speziale
Saba Kazmi
Saba Kazmi is a seasoned writer and content strategist with over a decade of experience in tech, content, and product. An avid reader with a curious mind, Saba will be found with a cup of coffee, a book, and a notebook some early morning at the beach, connecting thoughts, feelings, and words. She writes about life experiences and lessons,
Saba Kazmi is a seasoned writer and content strategist with over a decade of experience in tech, content, and product. An avid reader with a curious mind, Saba will be found with a cup of coffee, a book, and a notebook some early morning at the beach, connecting thoughts, feelings, and words. She writes about life experiences and lessons, so her reader may find a piece of themselves in her work. Her greatest joy is in stories that give hope and connectedness.
Saba is part of the English Publishing team for Rawanee Safhay