The Burning Champa, a collection of poems, is the third publication by Zuka Books. It talks about women’s experiences with mental health, motherhood and romance.

It’s
the first book by Zahra Hameed. “I write and draw with the hope that women in
Pakistan are viewed as something not to be silenced but something to be
celebrated and respected for their individuality,” said Zahra.

She is an advocate for body positivity and mental health and
posts about these topics on social media handle Dewanezahra.

The publication was coupled with a campaign by clothing brand Generation, and a song with Rakae Jamil of Mughal e Funk.

“It is time to clear away the cobwebs in the Pakistani
literary market and bring forth new voices and fresh literary style. I am
delighted to publish The Burning Champa as it is something utterly brilliant
and beautiful. It is exciting to see how the literary industry in Pakistan is
picking up and spilling into the arts as a whole, really showing the power of
the written word,” said Mehr Husain, founder of Zuka Books.