Chiranthi Rajapakse on her newly published 'Keeping Time and Other Stories'- OUT NOW
The 2022 Gratiaen Prize for English writing in Sri Lanka, was jointly awarded to two authors: Yudhanjaya Wijeratne for his science fiction novel The Wretched and the Damned, and Chiranthi Rajapakse for her collection of short stories ‘Keeping Time and other stories’
Since its inception in 1992, the prize has been awarded in perpetuity the Booker Prize money that Michael Ondaatje received for his novel, The English Patient. Two of the shortlisted writers, in addition to the two victors, were honoured at a pivotal event conducted at Westminster House.
Romesh Gunesekera presided over the juror this year, while Sukanya Wignaraja and Kaushalya Perera comprised the panel.
Chiranthi Rajapakse, one of the co-winners of the 30th Gratiaen Prize, shared insights into her award-winning collection and the creative process behind “Keeping Time and Other Stories” in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
Q: What inspired you to write “Keeping Time and other stories,” and how did the idea for this collection come about?
A: Trying to understand where the ideas for stories come from is always a difficult question. Usually a story begins from an incident or an issue that I’m curious about. The stories in this book are about everyday lives. For example, the title story ‘Keeping Time’ is about a man who makes a living mending watches. He measures his life by routine, but his life is thrown into confusion when he’s dragged into a conflict happening in the country. It started because I wanted to write a story about someone who lives a different life from mine. It started with curiosity. Writing things down is often a way of explaining something to myself.
I’ve been writing for a long time. Writing is solitary, but sometimes you also need company to help you make the journey. I used to look out for writing workshops, groups, anything which would give me a community. Through one workshop I met Ameena Hussein, who was very encouraging about my writing, and that led to the publication of my first collection of short stories ‘Names and Numbers’ (published by Perera Hussein publishers). Since then I’ve continued to work on different stories, and this led to my present collection ‘Keeping time and other stories,’ which has just been published by Sarasavi. I’m very grateful to the team at Sarasavi who worked hard to get it out in a short time.
Q: Can you share your creative process in crafting these stories? How do you decide on the themes and characters?
A: I find plotting to be the most challenging aspect. Instead, I begin with a basic idea of the characters and let the story organically unfold as I write. I often start with an incident or a spark of curiosity. For instance, the story “Alms” is centered around an alms-giving ceremony. A woman goes with her young son to fetch the bhikkhus for an alms giving, and one of the bhikkhus is a child – a small boy like her son. The story deals with how she reacts to this situation. I didn’t have a precise plan; the story evolved as I wrote.
I tend to go out of the house to write, being in a different environment helps me to concentrate. I do quite a lot of writing at my sister’s place in Kandy and also sometimes at cafes. To be honest, turning off the wi fi on my laptop and avoiding distractions is the most important thing when writing I think, more than where you write!
Q: Congratulations on being selected as the joint winner of the 30th Gratiaen Prize! How does it feel to receive such recognition for your work?
A: Thank you. Obviously being co-winner of the 2022 Gratiaen Prize made me really happy. I think just being shortlisted is a huge achievement. My first collection of short stories ‘Names and Numbers’ was shortlisted for the 2017 Gratiaen prize which was very encouraging for my writing. Winning the Gratiaen prize feels like a huge affirmation and it’s given me a boost to keep writing.
When awarding the prize to two winners, the judges said that the award showed ‘…how it is possible to write in Sri Lanka and about Sri Lanka in a myriad different ways,’ – a remark that I particularly value.
The shortlistees for the prize for 2022 were very different in style and subject, but all reflected life in Sri Lanka. Reading their works and the works shortlisted for the Gratiaen over the years showed me different sides of life in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka that I often struggle to understand.
Q: How has the experience of being shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize with your first collection, “Names and Numbers,” influenced your approach to writing?
A: The experience of being shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize with my first collection, “Names and Numbers,” was important in encouraging me to keep writing. The acknowledgment from the judges was not just a nod to my work, but also an invitation for growth. As important as the shortlisting was the feedback from the judges. It was really interesting seeing the stories from someone else’s perspective. One advice they gave me was to experiment with making the stories longer and see how the stories develop. It’s something I’ve tried to do. Their constructive critique served as a catalyst for refining my storytelling.
Q: Your stories explore the lives of different Sri Lankans. How do you approach creating diverse characters, and what aspects of Sri Lankan life do you aim to capture in your narratives?
A: It was not something that I consciously planned. I write about things and people that interest me and things that I am curious about. To quote from the description of the book, the collection focuses on the lives of different Sri Lankans ‘…depicting how they navigate their lives in a country that seems constantly on the verge of crisis.’ At the launch of the book which was held on November 25, Somasiri Devendra gave a very interesting analysis of some of the stories. To quote his words ‘When you read the stories, you don’t find the crisis coming about the country. But there are crises in the lives of the people who appear in the pages of this book.’
I think that sums it up. The stories are about ordinary people who face some crisis or choice and how they deal with it. A man worried about a job interview is tormented by a loudspeaker kept on all night. A woman goes to the tailor to get a dress sewn for her daughter, but there is much more at stake than clothes. It is about ordinary people living ordinary lives but perhaps what the stories do is to ask us to question what we mean by ‘ordinary.’
Q: Are there particular challenges or joys in writing stories that reflect the unique context of Sri Lanka?
A: Writing is always a challenge. The initial stages, starting a story is often the most daunting for me. Once I overcome the hurdle of starting and get into the rhythm of a story, I find it easier to continue. After I write something I try to leave it aside for a couple of months before re-reading and revising. I often enjoy this process of crafting and refining. From childhood, writing has been my inclination and the pursuit I find most enjoyable.
Writing in Sri Lanka is a strange business. It’s almost impossible to support yourself by writing. So all writers have other jobs and if you are privileged enough to find time to write along with that you are lucky. Even if you do publish, it’s difficult to promote books. So, it can feel as if you’re working in the dark.
But there is also a joy in writing about Sri Lanka, because you feel – not that you are writing a story that hasn’t been told before. All stories in the end have been told before. But the story has not been told in your country, with your voice and I think that is precious.
Q: With degrees in Law and Dentistry and diverse professional experiences, how has your background influenced your storytelling?
A: All life experiences, whether personal or professional, impact your storytelling. It’s not limited to my own encounters; stories can be inspired by someone else’s experience, something I’ve read, or even imaginary scenarios. Professional and personal aspects intersect in unexpected ways, influencing creativity. Finding the mental space for creative thinking is essential, and fortunately, I’ve managed to strike a balance.
Q: Are there particular stories in the collection that hold special meaning for you?
A: Each story holds a unique meaning, but the last one, centred around a man who repairs watches and faces the impact of national events on his job, resonates deeply. All stories possess an external layer and an underlying inner narrative, revealing the complexities of people’s lives.
Q: What are your plans for future writing projects?
A: I try to write every day. It’s something I miss if I don’t have time for it. So, I will keep writing, though I’m not sure exactly what will come next. I’m also hoping to do some more events around my book “Keeping Time and other stories.’ I’ll be taking part at the Galle Literary Festival in January and talking about the book, I’m looking forward to that. I also blog on medium (chiranthi.medium.com)
Q: How do you see your writing evolving in the future, and what goals do you have for your literary career?
A: I think I’m drawn to writers who can express a great deal through a few words. I think I tend to be fairly concise, so perhaps the shortness of the short story form attracted me. As I worked different jobs I kept writing. I would write about things that happened around me and some of these pieces turned into stories. None have turned into a novel (yet), but I can’t honestly tell you why. Perhaps, it’s also a matter of endurance. I’m not sure exactly what will be next, but I will definitively keep writing.
The launch of “Time Keeping and Other Stories” was held at the Lakmahal Community Library on November 25. Nisreen Jafferjee received a copy of the book on behalf of the Gratiaen Trust at the event. Somasiri Devendra analysed aspects of the book, while Priyangwada Perera read extracts from selected stories.
‘Keeping Time and Other Stories’ is published by Sarasavi and is now on sale at Sarasavi and leading bookshops.
Article from: The Sunday Observer, read article here. Interviewed by Dinali Francisco.