To Betsy Ma'am, With Love!

 

It’s a matter of sheer happiness to share this picture of me holding Sustainable Subjectivities. What adds to my joy is seeing my award-winning research paper find its place in this wonderful compilation. My heartfelt thanks to my dearest Betsy Ma’am for sending the book so promptly. I truly cherish the beautiful friendship that has blossomed between us in such a short span of time. Sujeeth and I thank you honestly for making our rendezvous so special. Above all, this award and this book hold an even more special place in my heart because the very first book my little Anvik learned to recognise was none other than To Sir, with Love.
 
To Betsy Ma’am, with love. See you again!

When Happiness Happens!

 

On a topic like literature and happiness, especially at one’s most unhappy moments, creativity seems to flow more freely. It feels cathartic, a kind of escapism into worlds we may not even belong to. Thank you, I&PRD, Government of Kerala, for this opportunity. I miss my journalism days a lot. Writing is the only art that truly makes me feel alive.

A heartfelt thanks to my lovely family crew. Above all, love to my warrior and our little warrior for letting me wander in pursuit of my creative lunacies. I dedicate my “Literature and Happiness” to my cheerleaders, Sujeeth and Anvik Sujeeth!

PS: Posting it a bit late

TMYS Writing Talent Award!

Some things come as quiet surprises, brimming with the power to cheer and inspire. Thank you soooo much, TMYS Review, for honouring me with the Writing Talent Award. When many things and people tend to demotivate and disappoint us to the heights, we fail to follow the heights of our passions and creative pursuits. A budding writer is also an author in the making. I find myself thinking this often.  I take an instant to thank my utmost loving family members, my chivalrous Darcy, his friends, and my darling little Anvik for always inspiring me. Thank you for the love and faith! Honoured and humbled by this cute token of appreciation.

Saving Walden's World!

 

Jim Merkel Sir,

It is a matter of genuine pride to meet the American author, former military engineer, and award-winning documentary filmmaker, Mr. Jim Merkel. I consider it an honour to have been invited to deliver a review talk on his commendable documentary, # Saving Walden’s World. The nostalgic recollections of my IDSFFK and those action packed bygone Journalism days knocked my filmy scapes once again.Indeed, a change is taking place somewhere, perhaps too slow and small. Crisscrossing the thresholds of Kerala, Cuba, and Slovenia, the documentary powerfully unearths the vision of sustainable development, with a special emphasis on the progress and empowerment of women. It is truly worth watching. Many more laurels await you, Sir. Above all, I was deeply touched by the name Walden. Your son’s name took me back to my memorable days as a master’s student at the University of Hyderabad, where I was introduced to the renowned American Transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, and his Walden: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.”I sincerely hope that your Walden’s fears will fade and that Walden’s World will indeed be saved. May this documentary enrich and enlighten young minds, inspiring them towards a sustainable future!

Praise for my Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik by the Indian Author, Sheela Tomy

Finally, we met again. Two minutes of the Vande Bharat halt at Quilon railway station was capable of bestowing yet another red-letter moment for me. It was indeed a privilege to present my travelogue (printed version) to Sheela Tomy Madam. Thank you for being so supportive ever since the initial phase of my writing, my dearest Madam. Thank you a ton for revealing the cover page, along with yet another well-known writer, K.A. Beena Ma'am. Sharing the praise penned by this lovely Wayanadan soul in my Suitcases, Sandcastles and Little Anvik.

 

“Join a mother, her Navy husband, and their little bundle of joy, baby Anvik, as they journey through some of India’s most soulful landscapes; from the sun-kissed beaches of Andaman to the vibrant cities of Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore and Goa, and we can join little Anvik’s pilgrimage to Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram & Palani. Told with tenderness, honesty, and an eye for life’s quiet wonders, this is not a travelogue, but it’s a heartfelt attempt to re-create and re-live the most treasured moments of life. With every turn of the page, we are invited into the warmth of shared laughter, the chaos of travelling with a toddler, and the deep love that binds this young family together. It is not just about destinations, but about the little in-between moments, the giggles, the wonder, the shared silences that make memories timeless. This is a journey of more than just miles; it is a celebration of love, parenthood, and the magic of being together.”  - Sheela Tomy, Indian Novelist and Short Story Writer.

Ammamozhi and the Sweet Reminiscence

It is a matter of profound delight to see my article alongside the renowned galaxy of creative intelligentsia. I feel privileged to receive a byline for my write-up on translation in the anthology of selected essays, "Ammamozhi: Madhurasmrithi" released on Kerala Piravi day by the respected Chief Minister of Kerala. Thanking I and PRD, Government of Kerala, profusely for yet another Kerala Piravi surprise. For me, it is so special to see my name and article with the great writers I adore and admire. Thanks a ton, Prof. Annakutty Chechy, for sharing your thoughts on translation and translating K. Satchidanandan Mash and Sugathakumari teacher. Truly blessed to have some cherishing moments in your creative Tower of Babel. Above all, I am immensely glad that the academic interaction flourished in a sincere friendship extending to my family, too. Last but not least, my chivalrous man, for planning and executing the trip to have a glimpse of our little Anvik's German Muthassi ( a Christmas friend who came all the way from Germany with a racing car toy for our darling boy). Thank you for the surprises ( as surprising as your annual leave, my Pathi Parameswar😃) Paapa and Unkil- kein problem, do give the article Chechy gave, you guys, for me (at least now😄😄). Yet another delayed post from me to my sweet blog!

Mobility, Motherhood, and Memory : Yet Another Review of my Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

~ Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad (1869)

In her debut travelogue, Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik: A Travelogue (Writers International Edition, 2024), Dr. Aparna Ajith reinterprets the transformative potential of travel articulated by Twain, framing it within the intimate confines of a young naval family’s relocations across India. Comprising twenty-two chapters over 244 pages, the work chronicles the journeys of the author, her navy husband, Sujeeth, whose postings drive the family’s mobility, and their young son Anvik, endearingly referred to as Kunjapp. Through vivid depictions of diverse Indian locales, from the serene hills of Kodaikanal to the vibrant islands of Andaman and Nicobar, Ajith weaves a narrative that transcends conventional travel writing by integrating personal reflections on motherhood, familial resilience, and the preservation of memory amid transience.

The structural framework of the book enhances its thematic coherence. Preceded by endorsements from prominent figures in literature, film, and academia, such as National Award-winning filmmaker Dr. Santwana Bardoloi and poet Johanna D.S. Chittranjan, the volume includes a foreword, biography, preface, and acknowledgements. These paratextual elements establish a scholarly and appreciative context, positioning the travelogue as a bridge between personal memoir and broader cultural discourse. Dr.Santwana Bardoloi, commends Dr. Aparna’s “inimitable style” and profound affection for places and people, while Chittranjan notes the author’s capacity to evoke unfamiliar territories through keen observation. Such accolades highlight the work’s interdisciplinary resonance, appealing to readers interested in pedagogy, cinema, and literary studies. Thank you, Literary Vibes for publishing my travelogue's review. To read more, please check Vibes website...