Mathan Ratinam shares his early life story in Sri Lanka, a considered perspective on colonisation, and the joys of architecture and Hip Hop.

When I Was Young features Mathan Ratinam who shares his early life story in Sri Lanka, of being persecuted during the civil war, and immigrating to Australia to discover a whole new world. Mathan's teen years in the 1980s in Perth, learning English from TV shows like MacGuyver and the A Team. Discovering his tribe at Hip Hop concerts and later in Drum and Bass. Mathan studied architecture and worked at some outstanding studios in London and New York before switching his focus towards working on wicked social problems like poverty and social injustice. Mathan has worked with the UN and the World Bank, and he is now working in Aboriginal Youth Justice in Victoria, contributing to better justice outcomes for young people. Mathan beautifully articulates the full-circle moments of his life that have been the fire behind his impressive career. This is an interview that you will not forget. Thank you Mathan for sharing your incredible story.This is a Memory Lane Life Stories production with host Nina Fromhold. Recorded at the Narrm Ngarrgu library in Melbourne, Australia. Music licensed through PremiumBeat. Design by Pass the Salt Studio.