The setting for this fantastic evening was the Knox Grammar School, an initiative of the Old Knox boys’ Association (OKGA). The heavens had opened and there was a constant downpour, but the spirits were high.
This was a very special one as it was the first such event in the Centenary Celebration of the School. We were extremely thrilled to have the Miles Franklin Winner of 2023 Ms Shankari Chandran for her book Chai Time @ Cinnamon Garden. She’s also a Knox mum and that added an atmosphere of being in a cosy close-knit family group.
Chairman of the OKGA Rob Johnson and his team comprising of Sarah Gregory, Lachlan Liao and Juliet Chandler were at hand looking after the smooth progress of the evening. The person interviewing was none other than Scott Whitmont, who a lot of us knew as the owner Lindfield Bookshop before it shut its doors a couple of years ago. It was a surprise for me to know that he was also an old Knox boy and that too from the same batch as Rob Johnson. Small world. I have known him for 16 years through one of my book clubs.
Amongst the audience were the proud parents of Shankari; Rathy and Nadana Chandran. It was wonderful to get to know them and gain an insight into their perspective of the girl she had been growing up. My friend’s son Rohan Gandhi who was visiting from London couldn’t contain his excitement at being able to attend the evening but also converse with the elder Chandrans. He said it was interesting to know that whilst she had qualified to do Medicine she had chosen to do law and was a big fan of the series Law and Order. Also, the fact they were amazed by how thorough her research was regarding the nuances of the Hindu religion and it is very subtly conveyed through the way the deities are placed in the order of veneration in her Miles Franklin winning novel. He also loved her conversation with writing and storytelling, talking of race – particularly white vs people of colour was so eloquently articulated – did an excellent job of creating awareness and yet highlighting how Australia is progressing well.
As Bronwyn Smyth, a retired Killara High teacher of English and Legal studies said, “I had the good fortune to be present at Knox Grammar School where Shankari Chandran spoke with candour and humour of her blossoming writing career. She emphasised the role of story-telling traditions within her family and the network of family and friends who contribute to her output. It was very inspiring to see one so young juggle being a lawyer and mum of four and being a prolific writer.”
Dipika Gandhi, who is a keen reader, exclaimed, “Shankari was brilliant, authentic, loves words and storytelling and is passionate about different communities and social issues!”
It was my pleasure to welcome and introduce Shankari Chandran on behalf of the School and the Headmaster. She was so matter of fact when I called up to ask her if there was anything specific, she would like me to say about her and the instant response was so humble, “Just that I’m a proud Knox mum, I love storytelling and my Humanitarian work.” I also got to know that her TWO absolute favourites are To Kill a Mockingbird and Richard Flanagan’s works especially his The Narrow Road to the Deep North. She also shared that she references Flanagan in her books. In her younger years, fantasy novels fascinated her.
Scott and Shankari’s strong association meant that there was a sense of ease and the conversation flowed. She shared the heartbreaking experience of rejections she had to endure to the point where she was even told that her book wasn’t Australian enough and nobody would publish it here and maybe she should find a publisher in India. It was very heart-warming to know Scott was the first one to give her books a prominent display and organised a session with Shankari. Isn’t it amazing that the person who was told her work wasn’t Australian enough should be awarded the Miles Franklin award!!! There’s karmic justice and also shows her resilience to persevere.
Her insight into her writing process, her research and collaboration with First Nations people was very illuminating and one could clearly see her passion in her eloquent articulation of some parallels she could see between the migrant and the First Nations People’s experience of being marginalised.
Being from the sub-continent one could relate with the labyrinth of family relationships she was referencing when speaking of her grandma and their visits to see her. The stories her grandma told them about the fellow residents as she knew them from Sri Lanka sowed the seeds of the love Shankari has for storytelling. I could totally relate to as my paternal grandma who was a treasure trove of stories and lived with us till she passed away at the grand age of 90.
She also shared that she likes to dabble in writing in different genres and sometimes blends them and was very glad Robert Watkins of Ultimo Press was very supportive of this and happy to print her work regardless. She has a few tele-series in the pipeline. Her new book Safe Haven is releasing on 6 May 2024. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to give an elevator pitch for it. However, it sounded exciting, and I can’t wait to get my copy signed by her.
She is so very smart, an engaging orator, her sense of space and quips are fantastic! She is so comfortable in her own skin and her self-deprecating humour endeared her to everybody in the audience.
All in all, it was a stupendous evening, and nobody wanted to leave…