Issue 8: An introduction

Welcome to the Coonoor&Co Journal, Volume 3 Issue 8

In a time when connection feels both omnipresent and strangely elusive, the essence of kinship can quietly slip from our grasp. As we navigate an increasingly fragmented world, this issue invites you to rediscover the hidden bonds that tether us—not just to one another but to the landscapes we inhabit and the larger ecosystem of life.

Kinship, in its truest sense, goes beyond the immediate; it recognizes the intricate web of relationships that shape us—through family, community, and the more-than-human world. The constellation of stories within this issue weaves these dimensions together, reminding us that belonging is not something we simply seek but something we continuously create.

Through essays, poetry, photography, illustrations, and personal narratives, Kinship—Lost and Found explores how these connections are sustained. How might we rekindle bonds with those we love and the animals we share the earth with? What wisdom can be gleaned from Indigenous elders who hold generations of knowledge about living in harmony with nature? How do we hold on to the spaces we once called home, the memories stirred by a well-worn family album, a treasured recipe, or the fleeting impulse of a familiar scent?

At the heart of these reflections is the understanding that kinship is never static—it is layered, dynamic, and evolving.

The threads that tie us together are fragile yet resilient, shaped by centuries of shared memory. As we explore these stories, we are reminded that reconnecting with our roots leads us to new ways of living in harmony with the present, cultivating a future that honours the interconnectedness of all life.

Contributors to this issue include a thoughtful and inspiring group of writers, artists, thinkers, and practitioners, each bringing their unique perspective and passion to the pages:

Heta Pandit, Pankaj Singh, Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, Deborah Thiagarajan, Jahnvi Lakhota Nandan, Shrishtee Bajpai, Sindhoor Pangal, Shobhana Kumar, Smriti Rana, Prajna Chowta, Devi Lakshmikutty, Shalini Philip, Rohini Kejriwal, Janaki Ranpura, Rini Singhi, Pranoy Biswas, Ramya Reddy, AJ Mallari, Athulya Pillai, Rupali Goel, and Manvi Vakharia.

In A Fabric Called Interface, Heta Pandit captures the fading tradition of Goa’s oviyos—songs sung by women at the grinding stone. Through her conversations with Saraswati Aai, Subhadra Arjun Gaus, Sarojini Bhiva Gaonkar, and Laxmi, she uncovers how these songs are intricately woven into the daily lives of these women, carrying stories of resilience, hardship, and memory through generations. This essay offers a window into Heta’s ongoing documentation of these cultural traditions, as modern life increasingly threatens the practices that once kept them alive.

In The Colour of Remembering, Pankaj Singh traces the distinctive textures and muted hues of old photographs, showing how they capture fleeting moments and forgotten details in ways that modern images cannot. Moving between personal memories and universal themes, Pankaj reveals how old photographs, with their soft light and grainy surfaces, transform the ordinary into lasting artefacts, holding delicate fragments of the past that shape our personal histories and connections to what once was.

Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder draws on the monarch butterfly’s migratory journey—where generations instinctively navigate to places they’ve never been—as a metaphor for kinship and belonging. Through this lens of intuition, she considers how we, too, can adapt to new environments. Drawing parallels between the monarch’s path and her own recent move to Vermont, Chelsea uncovers the unseen threads of relationships that guide us no matter where we are.

Deborah Thiagarajan reflects on the shifting dynamics in Indian craft, viewing this moment as a turning point in history. In her poignant commentary on South Indian practitioners, she speaks of Mahabalipuram’s stone sculptors, Swamimalai’s bronze casters, and woodcarvers navigating contemporary challenges through modern marketing, and suggests, with optimism, that the connection to the earth will ensure the continuity of traditional artisanship.

Jahnvi Lakhota Nandan presents a libretto inspired by a journey through a forest in search of scents, drawing parallels between the Shola forests of the Nilgiris and the Cascais-Sintra National Park. Rooted in themes of nature, memory, and fragrance, the writing traces the intimate connection between the senses and the landscapes that shape them. Drawing from her The Memory Pod Project, a palette of accords based on public scent memories, Jahnvi brings forth a sensory experience that weaves together scent and storytelling, offering a richly layered reflection on kinship with the natural world.

In Wild Flowers, Rivers, and Mountains—Navigating Time and Kinship, Shrishtee Bajpai follows the Lachung Chu river in North Sikkim, weaving together the stories of mountains, rivers, forests, and the people living in deep kinship with them. She writes about how indigenous communities, guided by a circular sense of time, nurture their environments while resisting modern pressures like hydropower projects, calling for greater responsibility toward the more-than-human world.

In Co-Becoming: The Human-Dog Kinship, Sindhoor Pangal illuminates the evolutionary bond between humans and dogs, tracing how both species have shaped each other over 40,000 years. Through historical insights and personal reflections, she examines how this co-evolution has led to a kinship that extends beyond ownership, urging us to reconsider our relationship with dogs as sentient beings that mirror our own emotional and social complexities.

In the 1930s, a young man from Tanjore migrated to the Nilgiris, where he embraced a life of simplicity, service, and spiritual awakening inspired by Gandhi’s ideals. Living in harmony with the mountains and forests, he dedicated himself to giving back to the land and the community. Through family stories and historical fragments, Shobhana Kumar reflects on her grandfather’s legacy, whose sacrifices and values shaped future generations.

She shares five poems from her upcoming book, capturing the essence of her grandfather’s life.

Through vivid recollections of childhood in Ooty—family meals, trips to the video store, and the quiet rhythms of home—Smriti Rana’s moving essay maps the subtle intersections of memory and time. As these reflections unfold, they connect the past with the present, revealing how memories shape a sense of kinship, not only with family but also with the places, objects, and rituals that define personal history.

In conversation with Ramya Reddy, Prajna Chowta—conservationist, wildlife researcher, writer, and filmmaker—recounts her remarkable journey as one of the few female mahouts in Asia. Co-founder of the Aane Mane Foundation, Prajna talks about her bond with elephants, experiences with motherhood, and the need for elephant conservation. Drawing from her time with the indigenous Kuruba community, she emphasizes preserving natural habitats and fostering balanced coexistence between humans and wildlife.

For Devi Lakshmikutty, what began as a concern for food systems deepened into a kinship with the farmers who nurture the soil. In her essay, she recounts farm visits, shared meals, and friendships with organic farmers in India, highlighting their challenges—from harsh weather to systemic barriers—and questioning the sense of entitlement often found in urban food consumption. Devi calls for mindful food practices, where buying produce and cooking become acts of gratitude for the resilience of farmers who sustain both us and the environment.

The Plates That Hold Us Together by Shalini Philip offers a heartfelt reflection on how food weaves connections and fosters a sense of belonging. From haggling at the fish market to reaching for a cherished family recipe, Shalini shares the small yet significant rituals surrounding food that bring people together. Through warm and vivid details, she conveys how shared meals and the act of preparing food create enduring bonds that transcend time, distance, and generations.

Rohini Kejriwal’s photo essay examines the dualities of kinship—closeness and separation, joy and sorrow, love and loss—using the natural phenomenon of crown shyness as a metaphor. Through personal reflections and rituals, she underscores the importance of vulnerability, empathy, and making space for one another with tenderness, celebrating the diversity and authenticity that guide human relationships.

Janaki Ranpura navigates her evolving sense of kinship with New Mexico, finding parallels between Native spirituality and her Hindu roots. She embraces the idea of paradise as movement, never fixed but always in motion, resonating with the region’s migratory history. While these histories weave connections, they are also complicated by dissonance. Janaki confronts her discomfort with wheat—a symbol of colonization and displacement. This essay unpacks the complexities of belonging, displacement, and identity, reflecting on reconciling the places we inhabit with their histories.

Rini Singhi draws parallels between her mother’s work as a botanist and her own love for cooking. While her mother nurtures the land, Rini connects by honouring what the land offers through preparing food. This essay expands on kinship as a non-linear process, where inherited connections are layered and complex. By showing how kinship means understanding the land for one and food for another, Rini uncovers the intricacy of the relationships we inhabit and sustain.

In the wake of the loss of two indigenous elders—one of whom was instrumental in helping shape her nine-year-long documentation and book Soul of the Nilgiris—Ramya Reddy contemplates the fragility of this living lineage. The elders, who embodied ecological wisdom and intergenerational knowledge, carried with them a deep understanding of how all things are connected. As they depart, we are left with the urgent responsibility to safeguard what remains—knowledge essential for conserving the fragile equilibrium of our natural world and the communities bound to it.

In his photo essay, Pranoy Biswas shares how his understanding of family has changed over 12 years of living away from his biological roots. Through images of places, people, and experiences, he reveals the inherited and chosen connections that shape our sense of belonging.

Our illustrators for the issue, AJ Mallari, Athulya Pillai, Rupali Goel and Manvi Vakharia, have livened up the pages with their beautiful illustrations.

The stories from this issue will be released on our website throughout the coming months, and each new piece will arrive in your inbox as part of our monthly newsletter. Follow along as we unfold these narratives, continuing the dialogue around kinship, nature, and community.

Our journal, published biannually, is an independent platform exploring the intersection of slow living, nature, culture, and community. All our stories are available for free on our website. Subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates and story compilations.

Thank you for being part of our reader community. We deeply appreciate your continued support and look forward to sharing more.