Brunch Talks with Jennifer Rodrigo
In this week’s Brunch Talks, children’s author and corporate communications professional Prashani Rambukwella tells me why she chose to explore themes of friendship and hope in her books catering to impressionable minds.
Her books “Mythil’s Secret” and “Asiri’s Quest” follow the life of the character “Mythil” and his discovery of just how strong the bonds of family and friendship can be. The voice in the story is one of courage and adventure as Mythil learns to look within himself for traits he never knew he possessed.
“The fact that there was a limited number of English language story books set in Sri Lanka and written by Sri Lankans for young Sri Lankan readers is what motivated me to write ‘Mythil’s Secret’ and ‘Asiri’s Quest’,” shared Rambukwella, adding that this limitation is something that bothered her even as a child. “After all, we have such a rich heritage of stories to draw on!”
Rambukwella confessed that she wasn’t really thinking about being the voice of hope and friendship when she began writing. “I was just writing for myself.” It was when Ameena Hussein of Perera-Hussein Publishing House liked the then unfinished story of “Mythil’s Secret” and encouraged her to complete it that the road towards publishing became clear to Rambukwella. “The journey has been a joy. If the books have inspired readers in any way, then that’s a bonus.”
Rambukwella was fortunate enough to attend a very multicultural school where diversity was celebrated. “Apart from festival days, we never even realised the religious or ethnic differences among classmates other than for interval time when lunchboxes would be opened and shared, and there would be a wonderful diversity of food.” Yes, she was aware of the separatist conflict that disrupted schooling but this didn’t tinge the lives of her fellow schoolmates or teachers.
Elaborating the different ways to build peace in a nation when asked about the power of books and the written word in the process, Rambukwella said that activism is one such tool. Another, she said, would be working towards peace in your own circle of friends or family members. “Staying silent is easy. Standing up to the people you love sometimes takes just as much courage as standing up in front of a stadium full of people.”
She concluded that Mythil’s struggles captured in both her books are very personal and that the emphasis is on how you’re likely to be singled out if you’re different – again, if you’re the other.