Killam scholar weaves the threads of history into the future of storytelling

What do the untold stories of wartime and one of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships have in common? Both are fueling Shazia Hafiz Ramji’s mission to uncover the hidden threads of history that shape how we tell and share stories today. As a 2023 recipient of the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, Ramji, a PhD candidate from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary, is reimagining storytelling’s past to inspire its future.

Her research dives deep into the creative landscapes of the Second World War, exploring the social and cultural conditions that created the genres and stories we recognize today. Supported by her supervisors, Dr. Kit Dobson, Dr. Stefania Forlini and Dr. Uche Umezurike, from the Department of English, Ramji credits the Killam Scholarship with empowering her to bring this work to life. “Receiving the Killam meant I could finally begin my work in earnest,” she says, “it validated my perseverance and vision.”

Exploring the past to shape the stories of the future

Ramji’s research delves into the evolution of creative writing during a transformative period in history. By examining the socio-political conditions of the Second World War and the decades that followed, she explores how storytelling forms and genres developed, influencing modern-day narratives. Her work integrates historical analysis, creative writing and trauma studies, with a focus on reclaiming marginalized histories, including her own family stories.

“My research benefits everyone interested in storytelling and marginalized histories, from institutions to the casual reader,” Ramji explains. “I hope it helps us tell stories that acknowledge the influence and importance of the past and allows us to reclaim narratives that are true to us.”

The Killam Scholarship has been instrumental in enabling Ramji to expand her research and experiment with creative methodologies. It provided the means for her to present responses to Alice Munro’s work at academic conferences, an innovative project blending academic insights with artistic creativity. This work began in a class on remediating the archives taught by Dr. Jason Wiens, who acknowledges Ramji’s research in a recent article published in the journal, Variants. Reflecting on how the award transformed her work, she says, “The award allowed me to embrace my interdisciplinarity fully and explore possibilities I hadn’t thought were achievable. I had previously compartmentalized my interests in sound and data, but I’ve since been able to bring several interests together when responding to work like Munro’s.”

Ramji’s work extends beyond academic contributions, addressing broader societal themes such as trauma, memory and the role of storytelling in connecting communities across Canada and internationally. By challenging conventional frameworks, she creates transformative pathways for understanding and sharing narratives across diverse audiences.

A journey of creativity, collaboration and recognition

Ramji’s time at UCalgary has been marked by significant achievements and enriching experiences. Her short story, Selvon in Calgary, inspired by her research on author Samuel Selvon, was a finalist for The Malahat Review’s Open Season Awards and published in 2023. This recognition brought her research to a wider audience and highlighted the connections between her academic and creative work.

Another major milestone was being named a finalist for the 2024 Montreal International Poetry Prize, selected from over 4,000 submissions worldwide. These achievements have reaffirmed her dedication to poetry and inspired her to incorporate ecocritical perspectives into her research. “This recognition is both humbling and heartening,” she says. “It’s motivated me to expand my work in new directions.”

As a featured writer at the Victoria Festival of Authors, Ramji shared her creative approach to archives, which further deepened her understanding of storytelling. Participating in a panel discussion about Selvon in Calgary helped her appreciate the power of narrative to reclaim forgotten histories and engage with broader audiences. “Events like these remind me of storytelling’s vast reach and its potential to recover hidden truths of our past,” she says.

Collaboration has been at the heart of Ramji’s journey at UCalgary. She has worked closely with her supervisors, contributed to the Faculty of Arts Research and Scholarship Committee, produced podcasts for TIA House, and been involved with initiatives like SpokenWeb. SpokenWeb, a SSHRC-funded partnership, explores literary sound recordings across Canada to create new ways of studying and teaching literary history through sound. Ramji’s involvement with the project has enriched her research, offering innovative approaches to storytelling and the study of literary archives.

From scholarship to impact

As she looks to the future, Ramji hopes her research will inspire new ways of storytelling that honor the past while fostering creativity and connection. She is determined to help others reclaim their narratives and explore interdisciplinary approaches to sharing stories.

“Receiving the Killam Scholarship and the support of UCalgary has changed my life,” she says. “It’s allowed me to pursue my creative and academic path and given me the resources to tell stories in ways that are true to me and my communities.”

With a focus on blending research and creativity, Ramji is poised to make a lasting impact on how stories are told, understood and shared. Her work exemplifies the transformative potential of research, not only in academia but also in shaping a more inclusive and connected world.