Modern Family

Representation pic

Mother to twins Puhor and Niyor, Pritisha Borthakur has published an illustrated children's book with stories about various types of families such as those with two moms, two dads, a single mother, foster and adopted children, and a multiracial family. "In India, I have come to realise the need for children and adults to welcome families of all kinds. Some of my friends are unmarried, single parents or married but childless. I often hear them complaining how their personal life is labelled as broken and incomplete," she says. This state of things concerned her deeply and with Puhor and Niyor's Mural of Family Stories (Repro Books Limited; Rs 299), a book aimed towards children between the ages of four and eight, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Pritisha Borthakur

During the three-month research Borthakur spoke with friends and former colleagues to understand their family structures and experiences. "It also shows how they contribute to their community, and why they should be appreciated and valued, not shamed or exiled. It emphasises the beauty of each of these different families, and how much beauty they can create together," says the author. Most of the stories are fictional with some references from real life.

The illustrations are conceptualised by filmmaking and advertising professional Rishi Paullah. "Rishi has done complete justice to the book - right from visualising the scenes to choosing the right colour to the placement of characters and text," says Borthakur. "His idea was to keep the book vibrant and playful. I'm extremely happy with the final product."

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