On Tuesday 19 May at 7.30pm on Zoom, the British India Discussion Circle will hear from Kate James, an editor and writer for Lonely Planet who has an deep interest in Indian religions, and spent her childhood in south India, the daughter of Australian Christian missionaries. Kate is the author of “When Gods Collide: an Unbeliever’s Pilgrimage along India’s Coromandel Coast”: part detective story, part personal journey, Kate explores India's complex tapestry of religion and mysticism, assessing its Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and atheist heritage as she comes to terms with the faith she has rejected.
She is an intrepid explorer, considering air-conditioning a luxury and delighting in eating the dosa and idli of her childhood, bought from street stalls, while traveling the length and breadth of India by train.
A very worldly person, Kate still brings a freshness to her interactions with those she meets on her travels. She shares her obviously deep knowledge of India and its religions with disarming gentleness and absence of judgement. She has a lovely, wry sense of humour and genuine humility. This should make for an entertaining talk.
Kate has told us she is especially keen to talk about India’s British hill stations — places such as Ooty and Darjeeling — what they were like historically and how they have changed today.
The talk will take the format of a Q&A, keeping Kate sharing her observations and reminiscences with our questions. You are welcome to ask questions too.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see India through the eyes (and words) of someone who knows and loves it deeply.
Please register on the GSV website, What’s On > Events tab. This is a members only, free event.