Hi! I’m Sandhya Jain-Patel, the self-titled “Jain of All Trades.”

I gave myself this moniker because, well, see my last (maiden) name — Jain — and because I like to dabble in a wide array of subjects. From data-mining to life sciences to art history to fine arts conservation to languages and etymology to cultural and DEI advocacy… I guess you can say I’m a lifelong student.

This newsletter is a snapshot into my thoughts on a variety of subjects, from various forms of media and culture to the mundane. I promise a unique perspective through my own intersectional lens — that of a first-generation Indo-American woman with zero f*cks left to give. There will be shout-outs to people and cultural touchstones who have shaped my life, and maybe requests for beta readers and other audience participation. 

Each newsletter also may include any (or all) of the following:

  1. Hobson-Jobson Word of Month: Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive is a historical dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and terms from Indian languages which came into use during the British rule in India. I love it because it explains so much of what I discerned in my childhood as loanwords and cognates between Hindi and English, my two native languages. This lived experience inspired my love for languages and etymology.

  2. Valmiki’s Vahanas: Vahana is a Sanskrit word that means “carrier,” and usually refers to the animals the various Hindu gods use for transportation. In this case, I am using another definition, “a medium for the expression, communication, or achievement of ideas, information, power, etc.” Valmiki is a historical figure, a poet and to whom the Ramayana is attributed. It is also the email handle of my partner, Samir S. Patel, who scours the internet every morning for newsworthy stories, and sends me juicy articles on topics like astronomy, art and culture, and whatever TV show we’re currently binging. So here is where I will share with you some of what Samir has shared with me.

  3. What I’m Reading: Whatever is lighting up my kindle at night.

  4. What I’m Watching: I really can’t pretend this will all be high-brow and/or have a DEI or cultural advocacy lesson. But I can promise it’ll be fun.

I’ll try to write monthly but, you know, life… kids… {insert your poison here}. Or, as my son’s pre-K teacher (Ms. Kaluza, rest her soul) used to say, “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”

Peace, love, and salt,

Sandhya

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐲𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐧-𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥, #𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐎𝐟𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 | 𝐃𝐄𝐈 & Multicultural Content Strategist

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 | 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 | 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤

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