Author Highlight: Renée Sarojini Saklikar
by Faizal Eidoo
Bramah’s Quest. Renée Sarojini Saklikar. Nightwood Editions. $26.95 CDN, 400 pp., ISBN 9780889714304
“Brown, brave, and beautiful”
Not only is this the mantra that resonates with the powerful demigoddess and locksmith, Bramah, but it is also a mantra that Renée has incorporated into her own quest to unearth the long-neglected perspective of female writers of colour.
Renée Sarojini Saklikar: Who is she?
Renée Sarojini Saklikar is an Indian-born Canadian lawyer, author, poet, and dreamer. Originally from Pune, India, Saklikar has traversed across many regions of Canada, from the eastern coasts of Newfoundland, to the plains of Saskatchewan, before finally settling in her home of New Westminster, British Columbia.
Renée received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of British Columbia, followed by an LL.B. in 1990. A year after, she was called to the British Columbia Bar as a trained barrister and solicitor.
Renée’s latest book, Bramah’s Quest (part 2 in the THOT J BAP Saga), was published earlier this year, continuing the journey of the titular character, Bramah, as she returns to an Earth devastated by climate change and inequality.
Bramah’s Quest is an epic poem, woven together not only by Renée’s craftsmanship with words, but with her desire to express a story that resonates with readers who may not always see themselves in the books they consume.
“Experience of duality”
I had the immense pleasure and honour of sitting down with Renée, through the powers of the interwebs, to chat a little bit about her professional experiences, the challenges she faced at the start of her journey as a writer of colour, and, of course, the THOT J BAP saga.
Growing up in a South Asian household, Renee was exposed to many different languages, including her mother’s native tongue, Urdu. Her parents wanted her to experience the vast cultures around the world, which led to exposure to the Vedic saga, The Mahabharata, The Iliad, The Odyssey, and numerous others. Of course, books of a more modern period were also encouraged, though there was one common element shared among all these books: Renée seldom saw herself represented.
With the desire to create stories that reflected her heritage, Renée channeled the craftsperson within herself. Bramah’s Quest is a tribute to those epic poems of old, retold, reimagined, and repurposed to reflect Renée’s vision. She has taken these ancient texts and put something of herself into them, marrying the genre of epic poetry with a modern perspective. This fusion moves the current iterations of poetry beyond the norm, giving us, the readers, access to a genre not commonly seen today. It is truly gripping to read a collection of poetry that invites you on an episodic journey through each verse.
“For me, language is a material.”
Of the many things I appreciated during our conversation, one thing truly stayed with me. Renée placed such an importance on how writers are just as much craftspeople as those that may create art in more tactile media, such as paint or pottery.
“As a craftsperson and artist, I want to give the reader the best art I can create.”
And that’s exactly what Bramah’s Quest is. It is art that has been nurtured and crafted carefully to create something beyond words on a page. Language is the medium that Renée has chosen, and she masterfully shapes it to tell a tale that plays with words and imagery, and takes the reader on a journey through the lens of the “brown, brave, and beautiful.”
A series ten years in the making.
The THOT J BAP saga is a series ten years in the making, beginning its journey as a series of poems that were not necessarily interconnected – at least not at first. Renée described the moment of realization – the moment that this work might be more than she initially thought – as her “subconscious vibrating with energy.” Thus began the research and the work to illustrate the saga. Renée points to Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and the works of Ursula K. Le Guin as works she referred to during the ten years. One revelation she came to was that there are always stories within stories.
During the long journey of researching, dreaming, and crafting, Renée was able to find a harmony between writing a novel and writing poetry. Her advice to those seeking to embark on their own journeys was simple, yet powerful: “Stay true to your original vision and find ways to keep that vision.”
So, what’s next for Renée?
Book 3, of course! Renée is currently working on plotting and writing the next installment of Bramah’s journey. One thing we can expect (as was the case for Bramah’s Quest) is an entire new generation of characters for our protagonist to interact with.
Other than THOT J BAP, Renée is also working on projects about her parents and their journey to Canada, as well as a new essay that focuses on textile art and craftspeople.
A final note from me:
Thank you, Renée, for allowing me to dive into the inner workings of your mind. It was truly an enriching experience and I appreciate the passion with which you spoke about not only your own works, but also of art as a whole.
Dive into the colourful and beautifully brave and brown world of Bramah’s Quest, available here.
Faizal Eidoo
Creativity is at the very core of my being, whether it is writing, drawing, painting, or designing. This creative passion led me to becoming a graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Creative Writing & Publishing program at Sheridan College. I truly appreciate the program for elevating my writing and for introducing me to the publishing industry. My writing primarily focuses on poetry and epic fantasy, and often embraces my South Asian heritage. I currently work in Employee Enablement at RBC, and I am also a content writer and published author of a poetry chapbook at Whispering Wick Chapbook Press.