Welcome to The Pen of India
Welcome to The Pen of India, a sanctuary for those who seek to understand the soul of a nation through its culture, history, and traditions. This is not just a blog—it’s a love letter to India’s enduring spirit, written with reverence and curiosity.
What We Do
Our mission is to illuminate the quiet beauty and complex layers of Indian society. We go beyond surface-level tourism and stereotypes to uncover the stories behind temple carvings, festival rituals, regional crafts, and everyday customs that define life across the subcontinent. Through thoughtful storytelling, we invite readers to see India not as a monolith, but as a living, breathing mosaic of voices, beliefs, and traditions.
Topics We Cover
We explore a rich tapestry of subjects, including:
- Traditional Indian arts: painting, dance, music, and handicrafts
- Historical narratives from ancient empires to colonial legacies
- Festivals and seasonal rituals across states and communities
- Everyday customs: food, dress, family structures, and rites of passage
- How ancient traditions shape modern Indian identity
- Interviews with artisans, scholars, and cultural custodians
About the Creator
I’m Alistair Sunwood, a writer and cultural observer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Though not born in India, I’ve spent over a decade immersed in its literature, music, and philosophy—first through books, then through travel, conversations, and deep listening. What began as personal curiosity evolved into a commitment to share nuanced, respectful, and accurate insights about India’s cultural heritage. This website is the culmination of that journey.
Why This Website Exists
I noticed how often India’s richness is reduced to clichés: spice markets, yoga poses, or Bollywood glamour. But beneath those images lies a profound depth—philosophies that have endured for millennia, art forms that carry entire worldviews, and communities that preserve knowledge through oral tradition. I created The Pen of India to honor that depth, and to offer a space where readers can move beyond the surface and truly understand what makes India’s culture not just beautiful, but vital.
Our Values
Every article is researched with care, written with humility, and reviewed for cultural accuracy. We prioritize voices from within India, cite sources transparently, and avoid exoticizing or oversimplifying. We believe culture is not a spectacle—it’s a living inheritance. Our goal is to be thoughtful stewards of that inheritance, not just passive observers.
Contact Us
If you have a story to share, a suggestion, or simply want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected]. You can also find me on social media through the links in our footer. Thank you for being part of this journey.
