I love the discipline of writing: Wendell Rodricks

Team Udayavani, Jun 28, 2017, 4:37 PM IST

New Delhi : Fashion-designer Wendell Rodricks has found a new love — writing.

Rodricks, who turned author with “Moda Goa – History and Style” and penned his memoir “The Green Room”, is back with another book — “Poskem: Goans in the Shadows”. Published by Om Books International, the book sheds light on the tradition of Poskim where children would be adopted by wealthy families and used mainly as servants in homes.

In an interview with PTI, Rodricks says, “It is a book of fiction based on facts. We are experiencing the last generation of Poskim in Goa or so I hope. It is a shameful tradition that Goans don’t talk about. When I told people I was doing a book called Poskem, they were horrified at the Pandora’s box it would unleash.” 

The writer says while the stories and the history are real, he has created fictional characters to weave them into a tale. “As a child I heard the word Poskem and presumed it to mean a servant, since they were treated that way. Later my mother told me the truth. I am ashamed to say we had Poskim in our family history as well.” 

Rodricks says he has a curious mind and writing is one of the things that really fascinates him as he finds putting ideas on paper “therapeutic”.

“I love the discipline of writing two thousand words a day. I enjoy the process of playing with words to create emotions from happiness to despair. In the first chapter of Poskem, the scene moves quickly between a love making scene to utter horror and madness.

“My dear departed friend Mario Miranda’s illustrations lend lightness and nostalgia to the book. And for many, this book will find itself fluttering with ‘Post-It’ markers in the kitchen. The four protagonists in the book are linked with a love for cooking. There are recipes on every other page making it quite literally a ‘delicious’ read.” 

The Goa-based designer says he has multiple ideas in mind for his next set of books and exploring the tradition of Goan goldsmiths is one of them. “Goans were the first to leave Indian shores in the early 1500’s. They were taken to Europe to create gold jewellery for Portuguese, Spanish and French courts. They were prized for their fine artisanship,” he says.

He may have branched out to other things but fashion remains the main stay of his life and Rodricks is currently designing a collection for aLL plus size people that will be showcased at Lakme Fashion Week in August.

“I am also busy setting up my Moda Goa Museum which opens at the end of 2018. The museum will document and display the history of Goan costumes based on my book Moda Goa. For now, that occupies most of my time,” he says.

The book will be launched in Mumbai on July 12 and in Goa on July 18. Rodricks, meanwhile, has two more books in the pipeline.

“As I said, I love writing,” he concludes.