Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature was thrilled to partner with Dunedin Public Libraries to launchEpiphanies of a Young Mind, a debut collection of insightful poems by 11-year-old Aahana Mundamattam and beautifully illustrated by her 16-year-old sister Anaya. At the launch event each member of the whānau, all of them creative, caring and supportive, shared stories of the inspiration behind the book and the parts they had played in facilitating its publication by Books Etc (India, 2022).

Aahana and Anaya’s parents Joby and Ishita described their various international humanitarian roles and long association with the United Nations. They also spoke of the trials and sadness they had experienced during lockdown in India that had put relocation to Ōtepotion hold for over a year. Karen Rosevear (Deputy Principal, Taieri College) spoke for everyone when she said how happy the school was to welcome the whānau into its community.

You could have heard a pin drop while the audience was treated to readings and words of wisdom by Ōtepoti poets Rushi Vyas and Rakibul Hasan Khan and writer/illustrator Robyn Belton. Afterwards, canapes in hand, attendees chatted and queued for book signings - tapping their toes to the virtuoso sounds of Jack Ta (Logan Park High School) on the baby grand piano. The feeling of excitement and joy in the room was palpable.

In his endorsement of the collection Rushi said that ‘their offering in this meditative book reminds us that the most beautiful things we make are collaborations that emerge from listening to one another in the spirit of vulnerability and sincerity.’

Robyn noted that the epiphanies contained in the collection were reminiscent of the epiphany sparked by Tim in another true story, Herbert: The Brave Sea Dog (Craig Potton, 2008).She said that Epiphanies of a Young Mind ‘is a treasure, and I’m going to read it all over again now. It truly is a book of our time.’