May arrives steeped in ancient ideas of fertility, renewal, and quiet abundance.. It is a month that carries within it the memory of blossoming and of cycles returning to fullness. In that spirit, our May issue gathers a profusion of voices and forms, and becomes a celebration of literary abundance that mirrors the vitality and expansiveness of the natural world.

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At its centre is a conversation with Amitav Ghosh, a writer whose work has persistently reimagined the boundaries of history, ecology, and narrative. From the Jnanpith Award to the Erasmus Prize, and most recently a Guggenheim Fellowship, his recognitions trace the arc of a body of work deeply attuned to the urgencies of our times. He is also the winner of The Wise Owl Literary Award 2026 for his book Wild Fiction: Essays​. 

 

In a special tribute, we honour Raghu Rai, a figure who has shaped not just the visual imprint of India but also taught us how to see it. To engage with his work is to enter a lifelong conversation between image and truth, between the fleeting and the enduring, between 'dekhna' and 'darshan karna'

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In the Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Non-Fiction segments this issue brings together voices that speak across geographies and sensibilities, distinct yet interconnected, reminding us that literature remains one of the most porous and enduring forms of community.

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We also turn to the visual with Gautam Kadian, whose photography dwells in the quiet, unguarded spaces of human experience. In the Visual Art section, the essay by Harmeet Singh reflects on the idea of the biological signature in an age increasingly mediated by artificial intelligence, returning us to the irreplaceable gesture of the human hand. We also revisit an intimate cultural moment, a screening of Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha, followed by an insightful conversation around ageing with Tanuja Chandra and Anupama Mandloi, director and producer.

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In our Review section, Radha Chakravarty’s In Your Eyes, A River is reviewed with sensitivity by Lakshmi Kannan, while Aakriti Kuntal’s Night Breaks Apart Like Pomegranate Seeds in My Palm finds a careful interlocutor in Shabnam Mirchandani. We also feature a review by Harish of Chilco by Daniela Catrileo, translated into English by Jacob Edelstein, alongside a film review of Hello Bachon by Ramandeep Mahal.

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This month’s Wise Owl Picks include The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri and A Flower Traveled in My Blood by Haley Cohen Gilliland, works that extend meditations on memory, inheritance, and becoming.

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Take your time with these pages, wander a little, linger where you like, and we hope you’ll find something that stays with you.