Using popular culture , Amjad connected his experiences to current happenings . He used the musical Wicked as an example of how things aren ’ t always as they seem , and Liverpool Football Club as a continuous motif to show that common topics bring people together . He used it in a context of him finding common ground with a Sri Lankan militia leader , so he could go forward with the building of a bridge to benefit the community . For those of us who require a mathematical approach , he explained the trust quotient , wherein trustworthiness relates to credibility , reliability , intimacy and self-orientation .
Personally , I was really interested in his description of his background . He described himself as a third culture child , someone whose parents are from one place , who was born somewhere else , and raised in yet another country . In the diverse community of Sevenoaks School , many in the room were able to relate to his story .
The insidious nature of disinformation was another contemporary topic he discussed that impacted his audience , especially in the modern world . By deconstructing the cliché ‘ never judge a book by its cover ’, Amjad emphasised the power of individual stories within a book . It gave the audience insight into how we can better seek to understand a person through discussion and conversation . I ’ d like to end with a powerful quote he referenced : ‘ seek first to understand ’.
Tess Hunter , Lower Sixth
CAUC / ASIAN : NEETHA KUNARATNAM
The Sevenoaks School community was given a rare gift in May : celebrating the publication of Mr Kunaratnam ’ s second poetry collection , Cauc / asian , with a book launch in The Space .
Cauc / asian is a cornucopia of his experiences of identity and musings on politics and capital in today ’ s climate . Through different narrative perspectives , balanced between gravity and satire , he gives a sense of the difficulties that come with the contrast of nationality against ethnicity , what it means to raise a child in the age of the iPhone , and what we gain from reflecting upon our relationship with the natural world .
After a wonderful introduction by fellow poet Sarah Westcott , who read from her collections Bloom and Slant Light , the audience enjoyed an affecting , at times humorous , display of Mr K ’ s talent as a writer and orator . In talking about the intention or history behind his poems , a depth was added to our understanding as we heard them read ; it was especially enjoyable to follow along with clips from Charlie Chaplin films and Tom and Jerry cartoons from which the poems ‘ Tragi-comic ’ and ‘ Cat Concerto ’ had taken inspiration . It was also wonderful to hear two poems , ‘( dead white men )’ and ‘ Cities of the Nation ’, read in rhythm with conga and djembe accompaniment from Mr Rands-Webb . However , the most salient moment for me was his reading of ‘ Curfew ’, from his first collection Just Because , a moving account of a boyhood experience in a refugee camp , made all the more special having his family in the audience .
Equally pertinent were socio-political matters ; themes of Brexit , colonialism and climate change were intertwined with those on a personal scale , such as dual identity and the ethical standards we hold ourselves to . Mr Kunaratnam perfectly demonstrated poetry ’ s unique ability in communicating these messages to a wider audience .
It is a rare opportunity to hear these works expressed with the intonation and depth only their creator can intend . Writing of this kind speaks to many international students ’ experiences , who often grapple with the wondrous yet convoluted nature of a multicultural existence , and from this , the transnational identity of the Sevenoaks School community has been indelibly enriched . I can give Mr Kunaratnam my gratitude on behalf of the student body for one of the most memorable evenings I have spent during my time here .
Lachlan Edwards , Lower Sixth
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