Youngest guest speaker of book fair talks about need for more tolerance

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Youngest guest speaker of book fair talks about need for more tolerance

Posted : 2019-11-11 16:02

Updated : 2019-11-11 19:03

A 12-year-old guest speaker Sanith Santhasa Piyadigamage makes his speech in front of the young crowd at the Sharjah International Book Fair on Nov. 6./ Courtesy of Sanith Piyadigamage

By Jung Hae-myoung

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates ― One of the biggest advantages of strolling around the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is that visitors can meet authors and discuss important topics related to literature and the world.

Among them was 12-year-old Sanith Santhasa Piyadigamage, who was invited as the youngest guest speaker at the largest book fair in the Middle East. He is a Sri-Lankan student living in Dubai, who attends the Dubai International School.

He made a speech on having tolerance in modern day society, and shared his experience of living in a society where people lack a willingness to empathize with others. He suggested discussing differences and acceptance as the core values for tolerance.

"My aim at the SIBF was to find people who believe in acknowledging the ones next to them," Piyadigamage said in an interview with The Korea Times. "Ensuring tolerance and promoting acceptance was my motive at the discussion forum."

He is the young author of non-fiction "Tolerance for Happiness," which is about certain happenings in his day-to-day life as a child living in the world's most cosmopolitan city, Dubai.

"It is about how my thoughts were challenged and even became sensitive to realities at times," he said.

From his definition, tolerance is "acknowledging the ones next to you without judgment" and happiness is the "wisdom, serenity, and freedom that comes from understanding our true nature."

As an avid reader, Piyadigamage has explored various books, including those related to economy and history, which are his favorite. Through these books, he was able to understand that people have lost themselves to economic dynamism and power struggles.

Cover of "Tolerance for Happiness" written by Sanith Piyadigamage

"Customs and beliefs of many are being questioned and many are not willing to excuse the shortcomings of others. Our way forward… isn't evident," he said.

In addition to Piyadigamage's learning through reading, he also referenced his own experiences. He claimed that in instances where parents are expected to set examples for children, he saw no tolerance for others. But he is trying to change things himself. He shared a moment when someone threw his iPad on the ground for no reason.

"That was how I was able to come to terms with my disagreeable and frustrating situation as I was able to let go. It wasn't easy but I felt so good having the ability to come to terms with the nature of things," he said.

"I thought the solution for this developing crisis is promoting tolerance in the best way I can." He thought the best way to do so was by blending his thoughts into words.

"Thoughts of A Ten-Year-Old" written by Sanith Piyadigamage

As a young writer, he enjoys writing to deliver his perspective on some aspects of society. "Words strengthen memories and enable sharing," he said. "I started with a pictorial book when I was six. Then I went onto addressing issues which I thought were important and needed hearing."

He shared his passion for writing saying that: "I have written about what I want to write, not what others want me to write. Writing is like having a fortress."

"Build it with your own words and govern the way you feel like. The more you do so in the right direction the better you become," he said when asked about what advice he could give to young aspirational writers.

He also emphasized having good companions when writing about what they firmly believe in.

"I was encouraged and appreciated by many in attempting to share my ideas. They made me feel that I am good at what I have passion for," he said.

Piyadigamage is the author of two books, "Thoughts of a Ten-year-old," and "Tolerance for Happiness." He has also contributed his writing to media outlets, including the "Young Times" and "Gulf News." His first contribution was an opinion piece called "So Much Waste at the Breakfast Buffet." "Thoughts of a Ten-year-old" is about his feelings on writing, reading, friends, courage and reflection.

hmjung@koreatimes.co.kr