An evening filled with memory, meaning, and cultural celebration marked the unveiling of Around the World in Magnets – Sri Lanka, a unique travelogue authored by two Indians, Dr Anthony Vipin Das and Vidushi Duggal, at the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi.
The launch featured a thought-provoking discussion moderated by Sanjoy Roy, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session and a special display of rare souvenir magnets from Sri Lanka.
The book presents travel as a creative expression, bringing together magnets that represent individual stories, destinations, and emotions, collectively reflecting the soul of Sri Lanka. The authors travelled extensively across the island, with every destination symbolized through a magnet, making this project a fusion of travel, art, narrative, and craftsmanship.
This distinctive edition captures the spirit of Sri Lanka through an exceptional collection of nearly 600 magnets, each signifying a cherished location, moment, or experience. From the cultural charm of Jaffna in the north to the coastal allure of Galle in the south, and from the tranquil beaches of Negombo to the historic port of Trincomalee, the authors explored the country in depth, engaging with its art, handicrafts, culinary traditions, heritage, and everyday life.
Every magnet featured in the book is accompanied by a three-layered narrative consisting of a personal travel experience, detailed insight into the place, and suggestions for further exploration. While many magnets were sourced during their travels, others had to be specially created in collaboration with local artisans when originals could not be found. The result is a powerful collection of stories that transcend geography and turn everyday souvenirs into lasting memories. “In Kandy, we met a person who took us to the metal artists; they are generational craftsmen. We saw how they bring metal to life,” said author Vidushi Duggal, who is also a fashion designer, while speaking to the Sri Lanka Guardian.
The book unfolds as a journey of discovery, curiosity, and learning across Sri Lanka. “We ended up collecting souvenir magnets, not for the refrigerator but for the wall at home. The format of the book is such that you can scale it to any geography,” said co-author Anthony Vipin Das, who is an eye surgeon by profession.
” It all began at Oxford where I had gone as a scholar and there I met Michael Jayawardene and over the course of a few months, we became close friends and he was later instrumental in helping this book find the shelves,” he said.
Commenting on the occasion, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, said, “We were glad to host the book launch. It’s written by two Indians who have travelled all over our country and tried to tell the story through souvenir magnets and it is definitely an interesting concept.”
Addressing the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, the High Commissioner expressed sincere appreciation for India’s prompt and wide-ranging assistance under Operation Sagar Bandhu, which included rescue teams, medical staff, aircraft, naval ships, and large-scale relief supplies. She noted that Sri Lanka’s rebuilding process will be long-term and dependent on sustained cooperation to restore homes, schools, healthcare infrastructure, and livelihoods. She also urged people to continue travelling to Sri Lanka to support local communities and acknowledged the authors for contributing a portion of the book’s proceeds toward relief efforts.
Around the World in Magnets – Sri Lanka stands as a powerful symbol of the warmth, goodwill, and emotional connection that naturally transcend borders. The book highlights Sri Lanka’s diverse tourism appeal while reflecting the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The authors shared how the concept emerged from a simple passion for collecting magnets and gradually evolved into a creative method of preserving travel, memory, and human connection. They explained that magnets go far beyond being decorative souvenirs—each one carries a story, a feeling, a shared moment, or a meaningful encounter from a specific place. In the context of Sri Lanka, these magnets mirror the island’s landscapes, wildlife, temples, festivals, markets, and everyday life, forming a visual and emotional journey across the country.
They also described how the book blends carefully curated magnet designs, photography, and brief reflections to create an engaging and approachable travel narrative. Emphasis was placed on the role of local artisans, small businesses, and street vendors who craft and sell these magnets, transforming them into cultural messengers of Sri Lanka’s identity. According to the authors, these magnets reveal what travellers most deeply experience in Sri Lanka—its warmth, colour, natural beauty, spiritual richness, and the kindness of its people.
In conclusion, the authors reflected on how years of collecting these magnets became a personal archive of stories, relationships, and transformative moments that shaped their travels. With every page, the book invites readers to cross boundaries— emotionally and imaginatively—to explore, to connect, and to remember.
(With additional reporting by Vanchinathan Y and Daney Antonio Martin)
