Smita Sahay Editor-in-Chief

Dear Readers,

As we welcome you to the latest issue of Usawa, we invite you to meditate on the theme of ‘kindness’. What does it mean to you? Is it an act or emotion? Is it activism or self-care? Is it compassion or generosity?
How does it show up in our lives, how does it enrich our everyday?

This is your issue, every piece is an ode to your love and kindness. We hope the pieces live with you in your homes, under your pillows, as bookmarks, that they travel with you tucked in your socks, nestling in your pockets close to your hearts.

I’m very happy to announce a new section, Features, where writers respond to events in the news, such as Annie Ernaux’s winning the Nobel prize in literature, the tragic passing of the wonderful writer, Temsüla Ao, and the thought provoking art-exhibition, Woman is as Woman Does curated by the academic and writer, Nancy Adajania.

A heartfelt congratulations to our Poetry Editor, Vinita Agrawal for the publication of her award winning collection of poetry, The Natural Language of Grief , and our Translations Editor, K. Srilata for the publication of the timely and thoughtful volume, This Kind of Child.

We happily welcome the writer, poet, and research scholar, Ankush Banerjee as our Books Editor. Do check our forthcoming issues for reviews and book recommendations for more.

As the year comes to a close, the Usawa family is thrilled for the wonderful achievements and publications of all our contributors and editors.

Wish you all happy holidays. Do be kind, especially to yourselves.

With love,
Smita