“Around The World in Magnets – Sri Lanka”: A magnificent tale of 100 magnets from the Island

A warm evening of whole-souled storytelling and cultural admiration marked the launch of Around the World in Magnets-Sri-Lanka, a first-of-its kind travelogue by Dr. Anthony Vipin Das and Vidushi Duggal published by Sarasavi Publisher. The book was unveiled on December 2nd, 2025, at the High Commission by Her Excellency Mahisini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India. The event was graced by many dignitaries like Her Excellency Mahisini Colonne, A. Gitesh Sarma (Retired Secretary-West), Authors Vidushi Duggal and Anthony Vipin Das, Sanjoy K. Roy, an entrepreneur and Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, and Professor Mahalaxmi Ramakrishnan, Centre for Historical Studies (South-Asian region), Jawaharlal Lal Nehru.

Engaging their readers with an unprecedented travelogue, the authors, Anthony Vipin Das and Vidushi Duggal, explore Sri Lanka emblematized in magnets, an approach like never before. Around the World in magnets-Sri Lanka is an extraordinary compilation of 100 magnets, each of it narrating a historical saga, a beautiful destination, or a loving memoir from the Island. The book beautifully chronicles tapestry of Sri Lanka’s landscapes, architecture, traditions, flavours, cultures right from northern charm of Jaffna to the Southern coastal beauty of Galle and from the picturesque Negombo shores to the famous harbour of Trincomalee. It is a map, and yet not just a map rather a lived experience!

Her Excellency Mahisini Colonne, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka addressed the opening speech by drawing attention towards recent devastation in Sri Lanka caused by cyclone Ditwah. She said,” Sri Lanka urgently needs support of her friends. India as always has stood by Sri Lanka with remarkable solidarity.” Reinstating the long standing amicable relationship between India and Sri Lanka she said, “to everyone present here and wider Indian public, your connection with Sri-Lanka has undergone far deeper than geography”. She expressed her gratitude to the authors for their generous contribution to the population affected by Cyclone Ditwa. Anthony and Vidushi’s book is a getaway to exploring Sri Lanka’s sui generis travel tale capturing the essence of travel and exploration through souvenir magnets. Each magnet is a treasure-trove of historical past of Sri-Lanka intertwined with three-part narrative – a personal travel account, an in-depth insight of the destination as well as a guide for readers and visitors to explore further. As a deliberate endeavour, the authors have personally collaborated with local artisans to handcraft special pieces of the magnets that they could not find during the journey. Henceforth, with their collaborative labour of love for travelling the authors present unto us Sri Lanka, in magnets for all its beauty, resilience and richness.

Adding to the appreciation for the uniqueness of the book on Sri Lanka, Professor Mahalaxmi said,”The magnets provide a glimpse of the textured history of Sri Lanka. The life revealed by gastronomical or sartorial practices, food and dress are so inviting in the magnets and invoke a sense of imagery in the readers”. Ambassador A.Gitesh congratulated the authors for materialising a once-in-a lifetime idea into a unique book that is fathomable, and yet so enriching.

The event was made livelier by Sanjoy Roy’s Q&A session who tossed questions about the book at the authors’. During one of the questions the co-author Vidushi Duggal, a fashion-designer-turned-writer, revealed, writing for travel is what drives me and every magnet in this book holds a story - not just of a place, but of the emotion it evoked”. Dr. Anthony Vipin Das, co-author an eye-surgeon by profession walked everyone through his journey of bringing up the never-read-before travelogue and said, "Through these miniature masterpieces, we wanted to capture the heartbeat of Sri Lanka - its people, places, and profound sense of connection," Asked about the three favourite takeaways from the book, author Vidushi Duggal replied, “there are many but devil dishes, Kandy dance and metals and crafts are just few to name.”

Around the World in Magnets-Sri Lanka is a book beyond the usual tourist sight where travel is a form of conversation, an interaction with places, buildings, animal, history, philosophy food, music art and environment.