I LOVE nursery rhymes! And there are plenty of nursery rhymes I still remember from my childhood days.
But poetry? I can’t say I’ve ever found poetry to be interesting. But when a copy of The Touch Of Eternal Forte by first-time writer, Shalini Don Kahatapetiya landed in my hands, I was intrigued. Its brown cover reminds me of an old manuscript and the pages — slightly over 40 sheets — contain the author’s ponderings and musings on life.
What could a 24-year-old offer in terms of life’s insights, I wondered initially. But, after finishing only the third poem in a collection of 30, I knew that this new talent from Kuantan has so much more going for her than just fancy words on paper. Her sweet smile is the first thing I see when we finally meet. She’s made the journey to KL from her hometown just for this interview. Her hazel eyes sparkle with excitement when we exchange handshakes. “I’m so glad you came. I have so much to tell,” says Shalini.
She’s petite in frame but her jovial spirit makes up for it, giving her a larger-than-life personality.
The first thing I ask her is about the title of her book. “Oh! Forte means a talent one has and I see writing poetry as a special talent that God has given me. I’d like to put it to good use and channel constructive messages to people, as well as touch souls,” replies Shalini.
PUTTING PEN TO PAPER
Born in Ipoh, Perak but raised in Kuantan, Pahang, by an Indian mother and Singhalese father, Shalini is proud of her mixed parentage. “Nothing makes me happier to be a Malaysian. Our rich culture and colourful nation make me who I am. It also helps that I went to a Chinese primary school and speak Mandarin with my siblings,” she says.
The bubbly young writer is swift to add that her parents are the ones who’ve played the most important role in shaping her thoughts.
With both parents being educators, it’s no surprise that Shalini was exposed to a healthy reading habit at a young age. By nine, she’d already begun to pen her own stories, following in the footsteps of her favourite author, Enid Blyton. “I’ve always loved her books and I wanted to be like her. Hopefully, I can be as prolific as her,” she confides, eyes sparkling.
A self-confessed “old soul”, Shalini shares that her father is her biggest fan. In fact, he’s been avidly collecting her “bits and pieces” ever since she learnt to put pen to paper. “He has a habit of keeping everything my siblings and I have done and filing them in little albums as keepsakes. It’s always nice to come home and flip through those pages. Seeing our work through the years makes me feel inspired.”
MATURE MIND
The first piece of poetry that she ever wrote is called The Start. She was only 14 when she wrote it and this short piece, about an eager spirit who’s keen to put pen to paper, can be found in her book. “The content of each poem is meant to make you question how you live and view life. For example, today’s generation’s inclination towards selfishness and sense of entitlement bewilders me,” says Shalini.
“It doesn’t make sense to heap accolades on just yourself while ignoring all those other contributing factors that have helped bring you to where you are today. No man is an island and I believe that people won’t be able to achieve anything if not for those around them.”
The sentiments contained in The Touch Of Eternal Forte remind us that life is more than just pretty clothes and beautifully made-up faces.
This thought-provoking compilation touches on topics such as love, compassion and kindness. Questions abound on how we can give back to society and how hate only serves to divide us.
“These aren’t straightforward poems and some are not instantly comprehensible,” concedes Shalini, before adding: “You may need to read between the lines to understand the sentiments. I really hope readers will take the time to analyse it.”
FIERY PASSION
In addition to being an avid writer, this Public Service Department scholar is a fifth-year medical student at the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague. A trained Indian classical dancer, she teaches the dance form in the Czech Republic’s capital. She accords the same level of commitment to all three of her passions — the art of writing, art of dance and art of healing. Suffice to say, Shalini is a well-balanced individual, not only in thought but also in spirit. Her nickname, the Dancing Tigress (which she bestowed upon herself), aptly describes her as a person — fearless in facing adversities and ever ready to pounce on opportunities.
Her love for dance began when she was only 5. But by 11, she began to suffer from an onset of osteomyelitis on her left ankle, which left her shaken and fearful that she would never be able to dance again.
Her eyes misting at the recollection, she recalls: “They told me that I might need to amputate my foot but I prayed it wouldn’t come to that. It was a painful journey, physically and spiritually, but I was determined to beat the odds. It wasn’t easy, especially with classical Indian dance, but I did it and now I’m determined to spread awareness and be a source of inspiration.”
The scar on her left ankle serves as a reminder to her that there’s more to life than just physical beauty. In the four years that she’s been living in Prague, Shalini has founded a dance academy and featured in many shows in and aroundthe Czech Republic. “I have students who are performing shows now and I’m impressed with their dedication as well as appreciation of the art form.”
LISTEN TO EVERYTHING
As this affable woman continues regaling me with her wonderful stories about her time in “the city of a hundred spires”, I can’t help but wonder about what it is that keeps her going.
“Just listening. I’ve always listened to everyone. No matter good or bad. I believe in listening to everything with an open mind,” she reveals before adding: “You learn from listening to people, even when it’s something that’s different from what you think.
There’s even much to learn from nature. The birds, the insects, the wind, the trees. they all provide invaluable lessons that we can’t find anywhere else. This is how we grow as a person.”
The Touch Of Eternal Forte
By: Shalini Don Kahatapetiya
Published by: Pekan Ilmu Publications
Pages: 41