Stories and Journeys from the Indian Himalayas

The India China Institute is proud to welcome Payson R. Stevens and Kamla K. Kapur to The New School.

The husband and wife team will talk on their lives and work in India over the last 12 years living in a remote Himalayan Valley. Payson’s career is multi-faceted with training in art and science. He has been an advisor to the Great Himalayan National Park/GHNP (2000-14) and spearheaded its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kamla is a well-known author of three acclaimed books reimagining Indian myths, stories and tales from three main spiritual sources: Hinduism, Sufism, and Sikhism. They will share their stories and unique creative perspective with Kamla reading from some of her books and Payson sharing the perspective of an American living in a valley where the old mythic ways still survive. He will also show some of his experimental videos that focus on India’s sacred sites.

About Payson:

Payson has had two parallel career tracks: in the field of science/science communication and in art and design. He is an award-winning author, artist, filmmaker and digital pioneer with training in science and art. His two companies consulted to NASA, USGS, and NOAA on global change and helped pioneer the digital new media at its beginnings (1981-1998). He received the Presidential Design Award from Bill Clinton for these groundbreaking innovations. He has been involved with traditional and new media as an artist, designer, writer, and filmmaker for over 45 years. During the last 14 years he has worked on Himalayan rural community and conservation issues related to the GHNP. He continues to paint and make his experimental VideoTonePoems combining his video, poetry and music in compelling mash-ups. Visit his website to learn more.

About Kamla:

Kamla was born and raised in India, and is a citizen of the United States. She got her Bachelor's in English Honors from India, and her Masters Degree in literature from Kent State University, Ohio She taught literature, mythology, and creative writing at Grossmont College for 17 years. Many of her poems have been published in prestigious American journals and quarterlies. She is an accomplished playwright with recent performances of her award-winning play, Kaamiya, in Mumbai. Recent books (published in North America and South Asia) include: The Singing Guru (2015), Pilgrimage to Paradise: Rumi’s Tales from the Silk Road (2009), Ganesha Goes to Lunch (2007). She is currently working on numerous writing projects including the multi-volume, Sikh Saga; Coherences, a novel of contemporary India, and a young-adult fantasy novel, Malini in Whirlwood. Visit her website to learn more.