Brannavan Gnanalingam is a Wellington lawyer, author and father whose latest novel The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat is described as “a joyful anarchic riot”. He tells Julie Hill what he wants most for 2025.
That the suffering in Gaza stops immediately. This will forever be a stain on global priorities. This also goes for Sudan, the conflicts in the Sahel, and the Congo and Ukraine.
A better understanding of Aotearoa's history of colonialism. I need to do my best to tautoko the ongoing hard work by Māori in upholding Te Tiriti, but that also requires me to keep learning about Aotearoa's histories and struggles.
That more readers in Aoteaeroa read writers of Asian heritage. 2024 was a banner year for writers with Asian heritage in this country. Books like Saraid de Silva's AMMA, romesh dissanayake's When I open the shop, Lee Murray's Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, and Maddie Ballard's Bound [and Nganalingam’s The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat] showcase the diversity and strength of our voices (and are just bloody good), and hopefully audiences and publishers catch up soon.
To be a better teacher. I was lucky that in my 20s, I had friends who patiently and kindly taught me how to recognise some of my blindspots and realise how ignorant I was in certain areas. This is also an ongoing process – I will forever need to keep learning. I've thought about how those of us who believe in ideas of the Left need to articulate why things like immigration, multiculturalism / biculturalism, kindness, solidarity, viewing the so-called “other” as people are necessary, without being a jerk about it. That we can bring people along with us and gently undermine easy scapegoating, rather than being censorious or assuming a person can never change their views.
That we look out for each other and resist scapegoating of people doing it tough. “Survive to 2025” has shifted to “Survive 2025” as economic headwinds continue to get stronger in this country. Historically, people at the bottom of the economic chain bear the brunt of economic collapses, government policies and the so-called blame (some people find it easier to kick someone when they're down), and I hope our response collectively refuses to buy into such cruelty, and looks out for each other and those doing it tough.
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