Jasmine and Journeys

'This adventurous, readable book by Najma Shamsi is about numerous levels of travel, consecutive as well as simultaneous, physical as well as cerebral,material and spiritual, distressing and joyful. In a world that is still pre-dominantly patriarchal, and coming from a society that is even more so, her passage through diverse times and spaces goes beyond exploration---to become an expression and a reflection of genuine empowerment. This self-assertion of identity is subtle and firm, without being aggressive.' (from the foreword by Senator (r) Javed Jabbar)

'Jasmine and Journeys by Najma Shamsi is a literary gem of a book and an enlightening read. What seemed to begin as an historical testimony for her children and grandchildren, ended up as a fascinating cultural and political history of the times'. (review by R.N. Whitehead Ph.D. CEO, Oxford Learning Centres Inc.)

'History, poetry and autobiography merge in this beautifully written and moving account that takes us on a journey from South Asia to Canada, Mohammad bin Qasim to Justin Trudeau. The book carries the waft of the jasmine flower and is a gift that every reader should cherish'. (review by Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington, DC)

'Najma Shamsi's warm account of one community's many migrations is also the story of resilience and grace in times of catastrophic upheavals. Her knowledge is encyclopedic and her memory enviable. She has used both to give her grandchildren, and us, a timeless bulwark against loss' (review by Uzma Aslam Khan, Award winning writer and author)