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...

My Inheritance of Longing

“Some wishes are only there to teach us how to wait”, says the writer cum speaker, Mandy Hale. When you wait for someone or something, you can never measure the length of that ongoing phenomenon. Those profound yearnings teach us to fall and feel for the art of waiting. I, too, have experienced that rhythm of longing. I have already crisscrossed many waiting moments during the pages and stages of my life. I, too, have nurtured a plethora of wishes since my childhood, which have fashioned wings for me to soar across the fictional sky of longing. I do not know where or how to begin my affiliation with the wonderland of wishes. I am extremely flummoxed. So, let me take a walk down the shadow lane of the remembrance of things past.

Thank you TM your Story team for publishing my short story " The Inheritance of Longing". I am chuffed to say that I have penned the inheritance and the baton I have passed on to my darling Little Anvik. Those who wish to read my short story can access it online. The compulsive writer in me has written my confessions or calmness. I do not know how to decipher it.

Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik : Kerala Tourism Magazine's Review

 

Thank you, Kerala Tourism Magazine, for featuring the review of my Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik: A Travelogue. It is really an honour to have my maiden non-creative fiction acknowledged on such a respected platform. I am grateful to Prof. Irene Madam for writing this touching review. Those interested in reading the review of my book can check the Magazine.

Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik : All the way from Nikhil's Pune

 

When I see you holding my Suitcases, Sandcastles, and Little Anvik, all the way from your IISER Pune lab, I really run short of words, my surrogate brother. I miss and cherish our sincere days and moments of togetherness in the royal desert. You were and are always kind to listen to my amateur dreams, my vision, and passion for the life I fantasised. Thank you for being honest and loyal in the way, you treat me as always. I do miss you, da. Still, we could connect online and offline despite all the hectic work schedules. I am really grateful that you managed to pay a visit to my home and lavish a great time for all of us. Above all, thank you for showing the affection and magnanimity to meet us at our Steak House. I am glad that I could sketch you in one of my stories. You remain extremely special in the pages and the stages of my life book. We look forward to meeting you with the prefix, my dearest Nikhil, my Kunjapp's Nikhil Unkil!