Kusuma’s childhood dreams

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Kusuma de Mel. Pictures by Geeth de Mel

It is never too late to pursue your dream. This is what the tale of Kusuma de Mel relates to us. A gifted writer with a flair for recognizing children’s interests, Kusuma began her stint with the pen quite late in life.

Queried on this aspect and she says that she had to devote herself to performing the roles of a loving mother and devoted wife. Her husband is renowned journalist Lal Premanath de Mel. She is the mother of three: Sathish, Sundara and Manaram.

She began writing at the age of 28. The youngest in her family, Kusum hails from a mixed school Shikshadhana in Moratuwa. Both these aspects moulded her character and contributed to her mischievous temperament.

Though she has never taken up teaching years of experience and an inborn talent of reading children’s mind and desires had helped Kusuma excel in her writing.

An assistant registrar by profession Kusuma began penning children’s books in 1997 past the age of 70 years. Her first literary work was titled Tikiri Gee Ama.

It is a collection of songs which derived from her experiences and time spent with kids. Peni Velendi based on a honey vendor, Kusum Nendage Katha (Stories by Aunty Kusum), Api Pasal Giya Heti (How We Went to School), Muthun Mitthan Gaman Giya Heti, Podi Mallige Bada Ridenavalu, Saravita, Thovilpapak, Anaberakaraya, Bakkikarataya, Ambalama, Chooti Nangige Menik Thodu and others followed.

She had seen around 20 of her work in print. All of these are inspired from her personal experiences or things she had heard or seen.

Some of Kusuma’s books

“It is heart wrenching to see how children are burdened with school work these days. They hardly have time to enjoy the joys of childhood. We were blessed with a more relaxed childhood,” she noted adding that 84 years of her experiences are found between the leaves of her pages.

She thoroughly believes that adults can learn from children.

“They are like our guiding light. There are many lessons we can learn from them as they are very open and genuine in their comments and actions.

They are not spoilt by modernization and the trends which take over society,” she said. She enjoys spending time with children. Her most treasured moments are with her family and grandchildren. She also enjoys reading books.

She wishes to thank Prof Thilokasundarie Kariyasam for encouraging her talents and helping her to see her work in print. She is also grateful to Udaya Printers in Ganemulla, Suriya Publishers in Maradana and Godage Book Emporium for undertaking the task of publishing her work. She has even published two books: Pipi Kusuma Se and Mudu Kusumaki Ae which comprises autobiographic details.