Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari
We welcome Dev Kothari to the blog today to share some insights into her book, Bringing Back Kay-Kay and sibling relationships!
Celebrating sibling relationships by Dev Kothari
Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve my older brother. We squabbled all the time. Got on each other’s nerves constantly. He found me annoying. I found him intolerable. But looking back now, I realise that amongst the daily fights and the non-stop teasing and the petty annoyances, there were countless unspoken acts of caring and love that we shared between us. Like my brother looking out for me at school or getting me books that he knew I’d enjoy reading. Like me saving sweets for him or cheering on (silently) his academic achievements. It wasn’t until well into adulthood that we were able to properly acknowledge and celebrate the sibling bond that we share between us. Now, even though we live in different countries, we make every effort to meet up often and look forward to spending time together and even reminiscing about our childhood. What is more, we take strength and comfort in the fact that we can be there for each other come what may.
In India where I grew up, there’re long-standing traditions of celebrating sibling relationships – especially the brother-sister one. For example, Raksha Bandhan also known as Rakhi is a Hindu festival during which sisters tie a rakhi, a colourful, ornamental thread, around their brothers’ wrists to celebrate their relationship and offer a prayer asking for happiness and prosperity. Another tradition that also commemorates the sibling relationship, called Bhau Beej is celebrated during Diwali, the festival of lights. In many other countries around the world also, Siblings Day is now celebrated and seems to be getting similar recognition as Mother’s and Father’s Days.
Popular media too, has numerous examples of children’s stories and characters that feature and rejoice in the unique aspects and characteristics of sibling ties. For example, films like The Parent Trap or Frozen, TV programs like Charlie and Lola (my all-time favourite children’s series) or Malcolm in the Middle, classics like Little Women or Pride and Prejudice or contemporary books like One by Sarah Crossan or Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison. However, I feel that compared to stories focusing on parental relationships, romantic relationships or even friendships, stories about siblings definitely do seem to take a back seat.
In fact, when I began writing Bringing Back Kay-Kay, I too didn’t set out to write a sibling story. It so happened, when Lena’s insistent voice appeared in my head one day with the first few lines of the book. As I wrote those lines down, I realised that this had to be a story that has sibling love at its heart. Luckily, I didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. The beautiful bond shared by my daughters and the one that I share with my older brother gave form to the relationship between Lena and her older brother Kay-Kay.
I feel blessed to have such special sibling relationships in my life, and am so happy that some of their wonderfulness has found its way into Lena and Kay-Kay’s story. And perhaps, this story might even help young readers to discover the special things about the relationships in their lives.
Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari (Walker Books) available now.
