From the Editor’s Desk

18 December 2023

Namaskar! 

Introducing ‘Van’duh,’ our winter-themed edition that draws inspiration from the chill of Kashmiri winters. While the temperatures may have dropped (if you witnessed a summer in England) the nostalgic embrace of kangri, Gaad baat, and khetch mawas promises to keep us snug, both literally and metaphorically.

With this issue, ISBUND marks a triumphant three-year journey, three volumes in the making—an idea born during a casual conversation that has now materialised into a tangible reality. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our contributors and our dedicated readers. While the tagline ‘Quarterly’ on the front cover remains an aspirational milestone, we playfully ponder if ‘Termly’ might be a more accurate description, given our consistent releases during the main term breaks of Easter, Summer, and Christmas. Nonetheless, we aim for four issues in volume 4 in 2024, embracing the abundance of 4s.

Despite having numerous planned initiatives yet to materialise, it only underscores our enduring motivation to sustain this endeavour. The desire to produce a printed version has been echoed by our community, and we’re exploring options with our esteemed executive team and vendors to bring this to fruition.

The vibrancy of our Diwali party this year, attended by many of you in your fabulous attire, deserves acknowledgment. Behind the scenes, the diligent planning and execution by our exceptional executive team surpassed expectations. We express our heartfelt gratitude to them on behalf of the entire community, recognising the challenges involved in orchestrating such events.

In an insightful conversation (albeit virtually), our own Mridula Kaul (or Ruby as we know her) engages with Dr. Sundeep Kaul (Sunny Bhaiya), the current KPAE president. The interview delves into his connections with KPAE and his vision to propel the organisation and our community forward. The transcribed version is available in this issue, with the interview set to be released on our digital platform soon. Details about the updated website release dates will be shared by the Exec team, but we are excited to announce the winning KPAE logo designers in this issue, with the finalised logo to be revealed shortly.

This edition features the remarkable journey of Shashi Kaul, who conquered Mt Everest in 2017 and continues to embark on climbing expeditions and run marathons. Additionally, we showcase Dalip ji, who has discovered his passion for photography. True to form, our youth contribute thought-provoking initiatives and writing, adding depth and meaning to this issue. Compiling this edition has been a pleasure, and we sincerely hope you derive as much enjoyment from it as we have.

Lastly, as the year comes to a close, it’s time for celebrations with friends and family- a moment to rejoice, rejuvenate, reflect on the journey of the past, savour all things delightful, and bid a fond adieu to 2023, eagerly embracing the dawn of 2024.

Team ISBUND wishes you all a fantastic Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Read the full issue here.