A poet's journey from being exiled to gaining citizenship
Summary
Rohingya poet Mayu Ali shares his journey from hiding his writing in Myanmar to becoming a Canadian citizen and human rights activist. He recounts witnessing the 2017 genocide, fleeing to refugee camps in Bangladesh, and the struggle to preserve his language and identity while in exile. The episode explores how writing served as his sanctuary and a revolutionary tool to assert his existence against state erasure. Ali also discusses his resettlement to Canada, where he now works to document ongoing atrocities and empower the next generation of Rohingya voices.
Topics discussed
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Introduction to Mayu Ali and his early writing
Hiding his poetry and finding a companion
The first publication and feeling of existence
Mayu's background: refugee, master's degree, and Canada
Defining the Rohingya identity and its consequences
Statelessness, discrimination, and dehumanization
Grandfather's stories of the ancient Arakan kingdom
Childhood in a multi-ethnic neighborhood
Witnessing military violence and forced labor
Land confiscation and the Nafaka project
The 2012 violence and realization of human rights
Discrimination at checkpoints and in education
Writing as a bridge across the imposed divide
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The 2017 genocide and fleeing to Bangladesh
CBC News report on the mass exodus and camps
Life in the refugee camp and cultural assimilation
Rohingya language preservation project
Threats from gangs and going into hiding
Alex Neave's role in resettling Mayu to Canada
Arrival in Canada and initial quarantine
Shanaz's art: the maple leaf and genocide painting
Preserving cultural artifacts for his daughters
Balancing heritage and Canadian identity for children
Ongoing genocide, Rakhine Army, and Canadian citizenship
Conclusion and production credits
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