Keerthigan Krsnan Gopikrishnan

“My journey with language began in Kajang, raised by an Indonesian caregiver while my parents worked long hours. Before I stepped into a classroom, my Malay already carried an Indonesian lilt. By eight, I was juggling friendships and extra Tamil classes—determined to reclaim a script that had skipped a generation in my family.

“When we moved to Miri, Tamil lessons continued on the rooftop of the Raghavan Building – then our makeshift temple – and later at home. What began as playful songs evolved into poetry, including கேள்வி பெற்றோர்கள் (Questioning Parents), where I deliberately chose the formal words for father and mother to reflect how my language had matured.

“Today, I’m building two book universes: Theerpa Legacy for young Indian readers, and Vezham Legacy, inspired by classic adventure tales. At Curtin University Malaysia, I study accounting – but whether numbers or narratives, I’m always tracing my roots.” – Keerthigan Krsnan Gopikrishnan, Commerce (Accounting) student

1 March 2026