Poetry from Batticaloa

An uplifting collection of poems inspired by the author's rich and varied life in rural Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The pages bring to life how the poet is touched by the magic of nature and rustic landscapes, but is also driven to face the social issues of the day through her deep commitment to make the world a better place. Read on to see how these experiences from half a century ago resonate to the core of human spirit now, and into the future.

Compelled by the need to make her mother's voice heard by generations to come, her daughter Malliha Sinniah includes her translation in English with a glossary, to cater to the non-Tamil speaking reader.

The book was first published in May 2018. This release in 2019 carries five additional poems.

In honour of the author's dedication to the Ramakrishna Mission, all royalties from Poetry from Batticaloa are donated to the Brisbane chapter of the Vedanta Centre (Ramakrishna Mission in Australia).

In an era when Batticaloa, Sri Lanka had only seen men at its forefront, Kamalabooshanie Thirunavukkarasu stood apart as a scholar in Tamil, English and Sanskrit and a renowned speaker on Hinduism. She was a trusted leader in the community committed to lighting up the lives of destitute children and women during her time as the head of the Ramakrishna Mission Girls' School. Written as a hobby, these poems reflect on the poet's special moments in the local temples and the breathtaking rural surrounds. She draws from her personal experiences, capturing the magic of the moment at every level - visual, aural and spiritual - transporting the reader back in time and space. Proud of her mother's poetry, her daughter Malliha Sinniah has translated this legacy into English, to cater to the non-Tamil speaking reader and to share this literary treasure with a wider, global readership.

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