From politician to author
WITH the aim to educate people through her children’s literature, a former politician has published her first book.
Loretta Rajkumar, a ex-IFP member of the provincial legislature, launched two children’s books recently at the Durban Book Fair at Mitchell Park.
The books, titled Corona, Bonga and the Lion and The Three Little Pigs and the Dolphins, have subtle messages to help children and parents be better and do better.
Rajkumar, who is currently working on a novel, said during the hard lockdown last year she was inspired to write her first book, Corona, Bonga and the Lion.
“I was sitting one night thinking about the pandemic and how it was affecting people. At that time, I was confined to my flat and a few people that I had known were Covid-19-positive. Life was very different and difficult, so I decided to write.”
Rajkumar said she spent several hours writing.
“When I look back, I realised the story was taking shape really well. So I sent it off to a publisher in Johannesburg and they accepted it.”
The story follows a 7-year-old boy named Bonga and his family. Bonga and his siblings are staying at home as schools have closed, and each day their parents return home with bags of food, masks and sanitiser.
“One day, his parents explain the seriousness of Covid-19 and he asks whether they should also inform his grandmother, who lives in a village, about the virus. They tell him that they cannot do this as they are not allowed to travel and the police are patrolling
the streets.
“One morning, Bonga woke up early and packed a sanitiser and mask and left the house,” said Rajkumar.
“He starts his journey towards his granny’s village where he meets a lion and a jaguar, and he makes up all sorts of stories to survive. He then makes his way to his granny’s village where he manages to alert her and the rest of the villagers about the virus.”
She said soon after the mayor learns about Bonga’s journey, he prepares Covid-19 packs which he hands out to the villagers and Bonga is considered the hero.
Rajkumar said she wanted to teach people to help others and to be more caring.
“Its all about educating people to be and do better.”
She said the second book, The Three Little Pigs and the Dolphins, was about showing people that everyone was the same - and no one was superior to another.
Rajkumar said she was proud of her books. She said it would benefit children to better understand life.