An American's ever-lasting Indian affair

Stephen Huyler pedalled into India on his twentieth birthday in 1971, carrying what he now openly acknowledges were the advantages of being a white male - letters of introduction to luminaries like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Rukmini Devi Arundale.

- SANDHYA MENDONCA

But what sets him apart is how he transformed these initial privileges into five decades of genuine cultural immersion and feminist advocacy.

His journey started almost by chance or should we call it destiny? Back in the US, he'd been a disinterested student until he began doing chores for his neighbor, who happened to be the pioneering Dada artist Beatrice Wood. This introduction to art sparked what would become a 52-year exploration of Indian villages and subcultures, leading to his transformation into Dr. Stephen Huyler - art historian, cultural anthropologist, and champion of overlooked artists in villages, particularly women.

When I first picked up his memoir "Transformed By India" to prepare for our discussion at the Bangalore International Centre, I was struck by the ease with which doors opened for him - it was classic White privilege. But as I read on, what emerged was the story of someone who recognised his advantages and used them not to further himself, but to amplify marginalized voices, especially those of women.