Gratitude

Firstly, I am indebted to a chance meeting with Gautam John, the ball he set rolling, and the interest Rohini Nilekani showed in my work. Marginlands would not have been possible without your support. Thank you, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, for believing in and standing by me. 

Thank you, National Geographic Society, for believing in me and supporting my forthcoming work.

Once in a lifetime, if you are lucky, you meet someone who becomes mentor, guide, sounding board, travel partner, lodestar, a willing butt of jokes, sparring partner, and the closest of friends. I got twice-lucky. Thank you, Prem Panicker and Paul Salopek, for way more than you can ever imagine and I can ever put into words. I am what I am in large part due to all that I continue to learn from you both. 

And Prem? I know you will cringe, but I have to say this: how lucky I am to have “possibly the best editor in the whole wide world” (Don Belt’s words — and he would know) in my corner. “Thank you” does not begin to describe how grateful I am to that Twitter exchange in early 2012. You’ve always been a … boulder, my friend!

I stand on the shoulders of giants. These are people with humongous hearts, generous with time and hospitality, unfailing in their attention, and magnanimous with their knowledge. To you, I am indebted for life, for what you have given I will forever carry with me: Chhattar Singh, Pradip Krishen, Harsha J, Payal Mehta, Manori Gunawardena, Pubudhu, Aparajita Dutta, Divya Mudappa, T.R. Shankar Raman, Pradip Chatterjee, Milan Das, Himanshu Thakkar, Sanjoy Hazarika, Arupjyoti Saikia, Chandan Mahanta, Radha Rangarajan, Raji Sunderkrishnan,  the late Dr. Latha Anantha, Nilanjana Roy, Ravindra Nath, Lakhi Hazarika, Shilppika Bordoloi, Farhad Contractor, Sonam Wangchuk, Mingyur Gya, Tarikul Islam, Kalyan Rudra, Shahryar Caesar Rahman, Pia & Mithva Krishen, Nachiket Kelkar, Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Subhasis Dey, Oken Tayeng, Katon Moyong, Dr. Hema Somanathan, Dr. V. V. Belavadi, S. Dilip Roy, S. Vishwanath, Mame Khan, Joydeep Gupta & The Third Pole, Kuntal Kapadia, Gayatri Vaswani, Abi T. Vanak, Chandrima Das, Saloni Bhatia, Rob Kunzig and many more.

My family — Sanjana and Sanat — I argue with you and fight you, but I love you far more, and will never lose sight of the fact that your trust in me as I wander is what keeps me going. Amma, Mamma, Papa, Supi — to you, i owe an immense debt for all that you have taught me. Anjilina, Ranjita, Srinivas, Anita: without you, I cannot do what I do. Thank you. Shyn, Shadow, Zorro — your presence is pure balm.

Mita, thank you for your support. And thank you, Teesta, for coming to me with the idea for this book. I had not dared imagine it, and you made it real. 

My deepest gratitude to the people I have met on this journey. You trusted me with your lived experiences, welcomed me into your homes, shared your meals with me, gave me rides, translated for me, and taught me about worlds within your worlds. You continue to keep me honest, and continually remind me how to truly “see.”

And finally, thank you dear reader, for your time, interest, and attention.