Fiction Books – Anita Bacha

LEAVES, A Collection of Haiku, Senryu and Tanka Poems was released in July 2024. It immediately gained a lot of popularity in Kindle Amazon and readers started to purchase the paperback, the kindle and to read for free. I was happy. Readers believe in me and in my work.

At the same time, I was sad. Amazon is not available in my birth country, Mauritius. The only thing I could do was to bring LEAVES to my faithful audience in Mauritius. I did.

Organized in a jiffy, the main hall of Mauritius Gymkhana Club was booked for Wednesday 04 2024. The books were expected to arrive from U.S.A by special delivery on Tuesday 03. Invitations were sent.

The Big Day arrived in a flash.

The hall was packed with keen, enthusiastic guests and my followers on social media.

Welcome address by Mr. Yogen Bacha, Master of Ceremony and laudable words about me, the author and, about LEAVES, my book were a terrific start for the evening. Quote-

‘Leaves’ is a poetic exploration of Nature, seasons and the human experience, blending haiku, senryu and tanka to create a vibrant tapestry of emotion and imagery. This collection is a tribute to the beauty of life’s fleeting moments and a testament to Mrs. Bacha’s mastery of poetic expression.

My colleague at The Bar, Mridula , Govind Nagi, Mr. Mauritius 2024 and others read poems from LEAVES. Applause filled my ears.

Last I picked up the mic to address the audience.

It was a rather long speech interlaced by recital of tanka poems by me.

I have chosen a few excerpts from my speech that may interest you, my dear friends-

‘I started the project of writing a second collection of short poems after the resounding success of my debut anthology of haiku, ‘PINK MOON’. However, the journey was filled with moments of doubts, tiredness, sleepless nights and health problems.’

‘LEAVES is a collection of haiku, senryu and tanka poems that I wrote during the past two years. It is more than just an anthology of short poems of Japanese style in English to me. It’s an expression of thanks to Mother Nature. Leaves come and go similar to the cycle of life and death.’

‘It’s a reflection of the human spirit, our capacity for resilience and, the power of hope in the darkest times.’

‘My readers, both longtime fans and those just discovering my work, this book is for you. Your views, likes, messages and support on the social media, WordPress, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have fueled my passion to write. I hope LEAVES resonates with you and perhaps offers you a new perspective of life challenges just as I have left a piece of myself in every word.

I am signing off with these words ‘This is my last book’.

Anita Bacha

Master of Ceremony, Mr. Yogen Bacha ,F.C.A

Book signing for Barrister Mridula Cheereemoony

Sponsored by Hibiscus Boutique Hotel Mauritius.

Happy viewing and reading, my friends.

Anita Bacha

After the huge success of my illustrated children’s book ‘WAKASHIO’, I toyed with the idea of writing a fiction book for children on the pandemic, Covid 19. For more than two years. I was hesitant and even fearful that children and parents would eschew such a story book.

Covid 19 has been the greatest enemy of Man for more than a century. Children like adults lived into confinement. They missed their school and classmates. Some were ill. Some went without the noshes they love the most. Some lost a dear one. Now that Covid 19 is an unpleasant memory, children would most likely want to turn over a new leaf and forget all about it.

Yet, one day it dawned upon me that children should not forget the passage of the deadly virus over their beautiful island, Mauritius and, mostly what they themselves contribute to stop the spread of the virus by implementing the precautionary measures recommended by the World Health Organization and the health authorities in Mauritius. I picked up my pen and I wrote ‘IL ETAIT UNE FOIS CORONA VIRUS’ (translated into English ‘ONCE UPON A TIME CORONA VIRUS’).

‘IL ETAIT UNE FOIS CORONA VIRUS ‘my latest children book is a tale based on real facts told by two Mauritian children Angela and Oshin. These two Mauritian kids are characters that I created myself and, they are the two well-known characters in my book ‘WAKASHIO’. Here they narrate to our young audience their adventure with a virus, Corona. An imaginary story about the Corona Virus that will make the delight of all, small and big children.

Reading books is very important for children. Reading helps children to improve both their written and spoken languages. It also helps to develop their imagination and intellect, to carry them over lands and seas beyond the quotidian. Encouraging children to read at an early age by parents and, grandparents at home develop in them the love for reading and for the attainment of world knowledge.

“The subject of the book chosen by the author, Anita Bacha, is strong. I congratulate her for having approached the subject of Covid 19 with finesse, adroitness and fragility that only an experienced writer of children’s book like her would do. Children need to know what is happening around them, in their country and in the whole world. My children loved Wakashio, the first book of Ma’am Bacha and they love the second one too. I trust that she will continue to write stories about the history of Mauritius. I recommend IL ETAIT UNE FOIS CORONA VIRUS to everyone. Buy this book!” – Guest Speaker, Eva Palmans, mother of two endearing boys, bookworm and big bibliophile.

“Personally, I have greatly appreciated ‘IL ETAIT UNE FOIS CORONA VIRUS’, the third illustrated children’s book of the well-known author, Anita Bacha. She is a barrister and, a retired Senior Magistrate who dedicate her time to writing poems and more importantly books for children. I imagined the difficulty of the author in writing about such a perturbing topic. After delving into the pages of her book, I can only congratulate her. The author’s love for children has triumphed. I recommend that book full of colourful and astounding illustrations to all! Buy it and enjoy!” – Sabrina Patten, Mistress of Ceremony, Director of Primary School, L’Odyssée du Savoir and booklover.

“In my endeavour to encourage children to read books and to combat illiteracy, I have produced that small book. I sincerely trust that it will be wholeheartedly read by all the adorable children of the world and, by adults too. Many thanks to the parents and children who attended the book signing event at the Gymkhana Club Mauritius.” Anita Bacha.

Thank you for your visit and for viewing, my dear Friends.