Translating the Ashes: Researching ‘Burning Memories’
Working as a Researcher and Translator for S. Someetharan’s documentary Burning Memories was one of the most sobering projects I have ever undertaken. The documentary meticulously pieces together the political climate of the time, the testimonies of those who witnessed the fire, and the deeply controversial efforts in later years to "rebuild" the library over the physical and psychological scars of the past.
Translating the Rhythm: Ethnography and Sri Lankan Traditional Music
Working as a Translator and Research Assistant for Jim Sykes (University of Chicago) on his ethnography of Sri Lankan traditional music was a masterclass in cultural translation. It pulled me away from texts and plunged me directly into the lived experiences of our local artists and ritual practitioners.