Colombo: Port of Call. Book Discussion with Ajay Kamalakaran and Nirupama Rao

Join us for an evening exploring Colombo: Port of Call, a fascinating journey through Sri Lanka's storied capital during the golden age of steamships. In conversation with author Ajay Kamalakaran and diplomat Nirupama Rao, discover the city's layered history, culture, and enduring connections.

Here are the details:

Date: 11th July, Saturday

Time: 6:00 pm (Seating begins at 5:45)

Venue: Champaca Bookstore, Vasanth Nagar

About the Book:

Colombo: Port of Call by Ajay Kamalakaran explores Sri Lanka’s storied capital during the golden age of steamships, through the eyes of global figures like Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, and Mahatma Gandhi. Drawing on rare archives and translations, the book reimagines Colombo as a crossroads of empire, travel, and modernity.

About the Author:

Ajay Kamalakaran is a journalist and writer, based in Mumbai. He has lived in the United States and Russia and has been a regular traveller to Sri Lanka since 2003. Ajay is the author of Globetrotting for Love and Other Stories from Sakhalin Island and A Week in the Life of Svitlana. His articles regularly appear on Scroll, Russia Beyond, Open, Manorama Online, Gateway House and other publications.

About the Moderator:

Nirupama Menon Rao is a former Foreign Secretary of India. In her distinguished career, she has served as India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Ambassador to China and the United States. She is a prolific writer and the author of The Fractured Himalaya. She is also the founder of The South Asian Symphony Orchestra, a project to promote dialogue and habits of cooperation among young South Asians and the South Asian diaspora, through music. 

RSVP at the earliest as seats are limited!