This document provides an overview of the inaugural issue of the magazine "Boundaries" published by the New School student organization "Imagining Global Asia." It summarizes the contents of the issue, which includes an essay on Pakistan's political history and violence, an excerpt from a short story, an article on a friendship made in Japan, and a children's story inspired by a Himalayan visit. It also provides contact information for students interested in submitting works to future issues.

1. boundaries Spring/Summer 2011 • Vol. II • Issue I
the journal of imagining global asia
Boundaries Co-Editors Welcome to the inaugural print issue of Boundaries! Boundaries is a magazine of
Vandana Chauhan the New School student organization “Imagining Global Asia.” Imagining Global
Namrata Goyal
Asia is a platform for intellectual, cultural, and artistic exchange dealing with
Imagining Global Asia building bridges between Asian cultures and people in a global world.
@ The New School • 2010–2011
President
Vandana Chauhan
In this issue, we have an essay written by Kavitha Cherian on Pakistan’s political
Vice president history entitled “Pakistan’s Surging Violence: How Big a Risk?”
Namrata Goyal
Secretary We also have an excerpt from a short story written by Vandana Chauhan, about
Patrick Boyle a little girls’ exposure to some harsh realities of life.
Treasurer
Nicole Courtemanche Matt Wice writes about a friendship he made while spending a couple of years
Communications Officer
teaching abroad in Japan.
Chloe Mura
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Castano We have a childrens’ short story that Shaunak Nanavati was inspired to write after
a visit to the Himalayas.
Imagining Global Asia
Advisory Board
If you have a creative, fiction or non-fiction piece, that you would like to submit for
Phil Ackre, The New School
Jonathan Bach, The New School
the next issue of Boundaries, please email iga@newschool.edu.
Bruce Byers, Technology Consultant
Anuj Desi, Yale University
Faisal Devji, Oxford University Pakistan’s Surging Violence: How Big a Risk?
Carolyn Fischer, Japan Foundation
Jaeho Kang, The New School Kavitha Cherian
Laura Liu, The New School
Jean-marc Coicaud, United Nations University A string of attacks by foreign and homegrown militants in Pakistan in October has
Brian McGraf, The New School focused attention once more on Pakistan’s vulnerabilities and increased pressure on
Sanjay Rupparelia, The New School Pakistan’s fragile civilian government. Instability in Pakistan has broad ramifications
Eiko Ikegami, The New School on regional security given Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, its role as a de facto safe haven
Shouleh Vatanabadi, New York University for the Taliban insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan and its dangerous rivalry
Imagining Global Asia with India. Moreover, Pakistan faces continuing trouble attracting the capital inflows
Founders needed to finance its current account and fiscal deficits and attracting the long-term
Anushay Said investment needed to spur a revival of economic growth.
Chris Eberhardt
Sri Peddu With U.S. policy in the “Af-Pak” region under review, these attacks underscore the
Ahmet Sibdial Sau stakes involved. The U.S. has allied itself with Pakistan for geopolitical reasons over

2. the past six decades, providing billions of dollars worth of military offensive to retake the region, a bloody affair which displaced over
and economic aid and development assistance. Yet Pakistan’s two million civilians followed.
ties to the Afghan Taliban, ostensibly severed after 9/11 but in
The army declared the Swat Valley safe for its residents to return in
fact still actively cultivated by the country’s ISI intelligence service,
July 2009, yet the threat emanating from the area has not ended.
have been a cause for concern to the Obama administration. The
The Swat Valley is less than 100 miles from Pakistan’s capital,
deterioration in Pakistan’s domestic security situation complicates
Islamabad, and its location along the border with China’s restive
the administration’s goal “to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al
Muslim region of Xinjiang poses a host of problems. Ultimately,
Qaeda and its extremist allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
full government control over Swat and its environs may be a
Added to Pakistan’s domestic political fissures, its history of military prerequisite for wider stability in the country.
interference in politics, its simmering nuclear rivalry with India and
economic challenges, these weaknesses in Pakistan will complicate
Nuclear-armed Pakistan
Political security concerns have raised worries about the safety
efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Obama has stressed that the core
of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. Hans Kristensen of the Nuclear
American interest in the region – anti-terrorism -- lay in Pakistan
Information Project of the Federation of American Scientists
and Afghanistan. As President Obama reassesses US strategy in
estimates that Pakistan has 70-90 warheads. Pakistani authorities
Afghanistan, security issues in Pakistan amount to far more than a
say that the nuclear weapons are not assembled and are stored
distraction, and experts warn that if left unattended the country’s
separately under the strictest security. The warheads are also
problems could make Afghanistan look simple by comparison.
electronically locked lest terrorist do manage to assemble
Growing Militant Attacks them which is a highly unlikely scenario. In order to prevent
The pact of attacks by militants against symbols of the Pakistani unauthorized access to these weapons, reports the Council
state through 2009 accelerated in October as Taliban militants, on Foreign Relations, Pakistan’s arsenal is under the control of
al-Qaeda cells and their allies in Pakistan’s tribal militias sought the National Command Authority (NCA), a ten-member body,
to preempt a looming ground offensive by the Pakistani Army comprising the president; prime minister; chairman of the joint
against the extremist stronghold in South Waziristan. The attacks chiefs of staff; ministers of defense, interior, and finance; director-
general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD); and the commanders
have grown more brazen, including an October 28 blast killing
of the army, air force, and navy. The Obama administration has
almost 100 in the northwestern city of Peshawar just hours after
reiterated its confidence that Pakistan will keep a close reign on
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in the country.
its nuclear stock despite recent attacks on the Pakistani army. Yet
This capped a campaign of coordinated strikes against Pakistani
Bruce Riedel who led the most recent Af-Pak security review for
counter-terror institutions starting in mid-October with targets
the U.S. government, notes that Pakistan has the fastest growing
including the army’s headquarters and the Federal Investigation
nuclear arsenal in the world and “the danger of Pakistan becoming
Agency. A few days earlier the Taliban held the army headquarters
a jihadist state is real,” says Reidel.
in Rawalpindi under a 22 hour siege, killing over a dozen officers,
followed by a bomb explosion which claimed over 40 lives in the Fragile Democracy
Swat Valley. More than 350 lives have been lost in militant attacks Pakistan has only recently emerged from military rule. Benazir
in 2009 and the carnage looks likely to continue. Bhutto, former prime minister and the frontrunner of the 2007
elections, might have provided at least medium-term sustainability.
Instability in Swat Valley Her assassination seven weeks before Pakistan’s first democratic
A significant part of the pressure emanates from the Swat Valley,
elections in almost a decade instead propelled her widower, Asif
typically known as a resort area but recently the site of fierce
Ali Zardari, to the presidency. Zardari, who spent years in prison
battles for control between the government and Taliban-allied
for corruption, lacked his wife’s popularity and administrative
militants. In February 2009, after several failed attempts to wrest
experience, and was further distracted by wrangling between
the region from the militants, the government assented to a peace
his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and that of his coalition partner,
deal, conceding to the establishment of the Islamic system of
another former prime minister and convicted felon, Nawaz Sharif.
justice in the Swat Valley and suspending its military action against
Their cohabitation collapsed after barely five months in office.
Taliban-linked militants in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region.
Sharif, a longtime rival of the Bhutto clan, has staked his claim
Clinton and other American officials criticized the peace deal,
since as a vocal and occasionally disruptive opponent of Zardari’s
and some critics described it as a capitulation that could pose an
government. The precarious political position of the civilian
existential threat to the Pakistani state. Indeed, by May 2009, amid
government has only been exacerbated by the increased terrorist
heightened militant attacks, the Pakistani army began a full scale
activity.
2 www.imaginingglobalasia.org

3. Controversial U.S. Aid Despite supportive remittances, waning capital flows suggest
Strictures which accompany the latest U.S. aid package also Pakistan will have trouble financing the trade and current account
threaten to widen domestic fissures. In October 2009 President deficits during 2009-10. Even as global risk appetite has picked
Obama signed the Kerry-Lugar Act granting Pakistan US$7.5 up, domestic violence and security risks will make external debt
billion in civilian aid over a period of five years. The bill almost issuances increasingly unattractive. Attractive valuations, a credit
triples foreign assistance to Pakistan, much of it earmarked to ratings upgrade, IMF and other loans encouraged portfolio equity
help the government to invest in social infrastructure. But, in a flows in Q3 2009, but in October foreign investors became net
switch from the Bush years, the Obama team’s aid is conditional sellers, infecting domestic investors. Foreign direct investment (FDI)
on demonstrable Pakistani anti-terror efforts. The shift in U.S. aid, is likewise plunging and investors are repatriating their earnings
which for the first time legislates funds for solely civilian purposes, rather than reinvesting in Pakistan. Both short-term and long-term
has upset the politically powerful military. Pakistan’s civilian investors are concerned that Pakistan’s security and political
government is young, with the military having ceded formal problems will persist for a long period of time.
control only in March 2008 after the ouster of Pervez Musharraf,
The additional IMF loan and aid from the U.S. and other bilateral
whose nine-year military regime maintained close ties to the Bush
and multilateral donors will be exhausted soon while Pakistan’s
administration. Shorn of power and their allies in Washington,
security and economic conditions remain bleak. Government
Pakistan’s military has raised to the terms of the U.S. aid on two
fiscal consolidation efforts including slashing subsidies and raising
counts: that military aid is to be distributed by civilians, and that
tax revenues will be dwarfed by the military and development
the aid disbursement is subject to the “micromanagement” of
spending in the violence-affected areas. With low foreign
performance reviews of the country. The U.S. Congress, in part
exchange reserves and weak capital inflows, Pakistan could again
reacting to fears that Pakistan was diverting anti-terrorism aid
face challenges in financing its balance of payments and servicing
to weapons systems and units geared to take on the country’s
its external debt during 2009-10. Due to economic and security
traditional foe, India, insisted this time on strict accountability
vulnerabilities, the IMF could further ease the loan conditions.
measures.
Without continued foreign aid, including the planned U.S. support,
President Asif Ali Zardari believes the grant will provide a investor confidence will be shaken again, posing risk to the asset
clean slate to Pakistan on its way to “democracy, nuclear non- markets and economic growth.
proliferation and drug control.” The Pakistani military, joined
by opposition groups, portray these measures as an affront
to Pakistani sovereignty and accuse the president of selling
Koki’s Café
the country short. To soothe the rising tensions in Pakistan, the
bill’s American sponsors, U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Matt Wice
Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), released a “Joint Explanatory
Statement” clarifying the intent of the bill and insisting it “does not The first time I met Koki was at a potluck party in Usuki, the small
seek in any way to compromise Pakistan’s sovereignty, impinge on Japanese town where I was living at the time. I was told by my
Pakistan’s national security interests, or micromanage any aspect of supervisor, who had invited me to the party, that I would like Koki
Pakistani military or civilian operations.” and could speak “native” English with him. This became clear soon
after we started talking. Koki had clearly learned English the right
Fragile State Raises Economic Vulnerability way: from American movies, popular culture, travel, international
The increase in political instability, the fragility of the government friends and significant others. In short, he didn’t learn it from a
and the sustained military operations have weighed on textbook.
Pakistan’s economic growth during 2008-09 and slowed policy
implementation. The October violence could further undermine I soon learned that Koki had spent time living in the U.S. and
economic activity and reduce capital inflows as investors privilege had happened to move to New Orleans with a girlfriend shortly
more liquid and stable markets. As detailed in the recently before Katrina hit. He returned to Japan soon after the disaster. I
released quarterly update of RGE’s Global Economic Outlook, had family in New Orleans who had also lost their home in the
consumer spending and investment, weakened by high inflation hurricane and couldn’t believe this bizarre and tragic connection.
and interest rates and a reduction in foreign investment, will remain
sluggish. RGE expects the economy will grow only around 2.0% “No way!” I exclaimed when I heard this.
in 2009, similar to that of 2008 but well below the 6%-7% growth
“Way,” he responded with a solemn nod.
rates of recent years.
boundaries — the journal of imagining global asia 3

4. Koki’s hair is a wild, dark mop with drastic swoops and to the bar after dinner. The shop was empty and as closing time
big shapes. It looks like abstract art. The image of Edward approached, Koki dimmed the lights and told us that he was
Scissorhands comes to mind. He usually wears a tie with a black heading home. As he disappeared into the prep area behind the
shirt, skinny jeans and converse sneakers. Like Miles Davis, Koki’s bar, my date and I started to kiss. When we pulled away from
classic coolness is of the variety that can be appreciated by almost each other to get ready to leave, I saw Koki crouching in a corner
anyone. The guy chain-smokes Marlbro Reds, plays a snarling behind the bar taking a video with his cellphone, grinning guiltily.
electric guitar and rides a motorcycle. I don’t know anyone who
doesn’t find at least one of those things cool. I don’t consider my friendship with Koki to be a cross-cultural
friendship. I loosely identify with being American just as Koki does
At the party, I learned that Koki’s cafe would be closing soon and with being Japanese. But I think that we are both a little too weird
re-locating to a new spot in the same neighborhood. The menu and stubborn to conform too closely to one group, no matter how
would grow to include hot dogs and Koki’s homemade curry. It large and heterogeneous. I also felt that Koki’s presence eventually
would stay open later and serve alcohol. Koki and his architect transcended friendship. While I was in Japan, I had plenty of
friend would be building this new place up from scratch. In an surrogate family members and Koki was definitely my Japanese
effort to help get the new bar/café up and running faster, I started older brother.
showing up at the new site and offering my services. These services
included my imprecise sawing, uneven painting and the providing I spent my last night in Japan at Koki’s café, taking shots of Wild
of constant distractions. Turkey and trying not to acknowledge that this was the end of
an era. It’s never easy to leave a place that names a drink in
Despite my interference with the project, the bar was soon your honor called “Bad Decisions.” In the midst of many tough
completed. With a futuristic, European feel to it, the cafe was goodbyes, this was one of the hardest.
strikingly different than the traditional Japanese-style surroundings
of the neighborhood. Half-Star Wars and half-Amsterdam, Koki’s Soon after I had settled into life back in the States, Koki’s wife gave
new shop became my second home for the next two years that I birth to their first son. When his wife was pregnant, he told me
spent in Usuki. that he was going to name him Cobra, but in the end settled on a
more traditional Japanese name. I like to think that if I was around,
After I became a regular, Koki and I reached a level of honesty
I could have convinced him to go with Cobra. As much as I hate to
and openness I didn’t expect to find in this town. What I mean by
admit it, maybe it’s better for our “grown-up” lives that the majority
that is that the people of Usuki were just so kind and courteous
of our communication is limited to Facebook.
that I doubted whether my co-workers would tell me if I was doing
a shitty job at work or making a mistake speaking Japanese. Koki
didn’t have that problem.
Bitter — excerpt from a short story
One example of this honesty grew out of typical Koki-esque
conversation regarding his fetish for calves, an obsession only Vandana Chauhan
slightly less confusing to me than his crush on Joan Cusack. I
Until the summer she was twelve, Seema was troubled by things
happened to be wearing shorts that day and when I spun around
like dust coating her sweaty skin as she came home from school.
for his appraisal, he looked horrified. “Kimochi warui,” he said,
She was careful not to sit too close to Johnny because he smelled,
which means “gross” or in extreme cases and in a more literal
dutifully did her homework in notebooks with brown covers, and
sense, “it makes me sick.” I think that it was the latter in my case.
heeded her mother’s call to help her chop onions or to sweep
And since that day, I’ve made it a priority not leave legs out of my
away the dust on the main floor. Seema accepted these routines
workout routine.
as natural and looked forward to free time when she would take
Brutal honesty aside, I believe that Koki was genuinely concerned out her box of pencils, crayons, and pens of assorted colors and
for the happiness and well-being of his friends. Not just myself, decide which shade of blue or shade of red she would color the
but others who were regulars at his place, unloaded a barrage of pictures in her coloring book. Sometimes she was brave enough to
complaints on him and more often than not he had some sound draw her own pictures on plain paper, but got frustrated by how
advice or at least a funny distraction to offer. When I had come out they weren’t perfect outlines as the ones already in her picture
of a long-term relationship, Koki played a behind the scenes role in book. Then she would switch to coloring within the printed outlines.
my dating life.
One day, as she washed dishes in the sink while her mother stirred
One night, I brought a girl that I had been out with a few times a pot of stewing potatoes, her mother said, “Seema, soon you are
4 www.imaginingglobalasia.org

5. going to have someone to play with and to help me take care of!” Seema sliced through the red onion and knew that the vapors were
rising up to make her eyes water. She prepared for the impact by
Seema looked up into her mothers face. Her brown eyes, lined
squinting. Her mother was next to her heating oil in a pan. Her
by black kohl which had begun to smudge because of the sweat
sharp kohl lined eyes looked at the pan but her solemn, worried
developing in her creases, looked back at her. Her mother had a
countenance revealed that her mind was elsewhere.
soft kind expression just then, and she put her hand on Seema’s
shoulder. “Do you want a little brother or a little sister?” Ever since her mother had hinted to Seema that she was going to
have a little brother or a little sister, Seema had looked forward to
Seema understood and smiled as she went back to rinsing her soap
helping her mother in the kitchen. Her mother seemed happier even
lathered plate under the faucet.
though she never openly showed it. When she smiled at Seema
The rickshaw biked over big stones and potholed roads, jostling there was more kindness in her face; as she prepared afternoon
its inhabitants. Seema had the misfortune of sitting next to Johnny tea her face was pleasant. She would even give Seema an extra
today and with every hard bump on the road, plump Johnny was biscuit at tea time. It was as if mother and daughter were silently
pushed into her side and Seema breathed in whiffs of his pungent and constantly celebrating the new arrival.
odor. She held onto the side bars and turned her face to the
window. Today, the excitement vanished. Seema had sensed something
was different when she came home from school and Lakshmi, the
A small group was gathered outside Dr. Ramdayal’s Gynecologic neighbor’s maid, yelled out to Seema from the adjacent veranda
Clinic. There was a van whose original color was white but was that her mother and father would be home in an hour.
now brownish grey. It looked like it had driven a long way. A
board in the rear window displayed in bright red colors “Delhi Seema had nibbled on sugary tea biscuits and sipped glasses of
Women’s Press”. Women in orange and pink salwaar kameezes, Fanta until she heard keys jiggling at the main door. She went to
dupatta’s falling off their shoulders, and big black sunglasses the foyer to greet her parents then stopped short when she saw
on their faces, were standing outside the main entrance of Dr. them. Her father, a tall, thin, dark skinned man with oily black
Ramdayal’s clinic. A couple of them were holding notepads and hair, had pursed his lips into a straight line. His eyes, brown with
writing in short fast bursts while the others talked to a man who slightly yellowed whites, conveyed his relief. Her mother stood next
made defensive gestures with his arms. It seemed he would never to him, her sari modestly wrapped around her head, outlining a
stop shaking his head. face whose full lips quivered and appeared to be permanently set
in a frown. Her sharp eyes glistened. The puffiness of her eyelids
Seema surmised that the man must be the doctor because he had
suggested they shone because she had been crying.
a big bald head, with tufts of white hair behind his ears, and big
black framed glasses on his face. The doctors she colored in her They both looked at Seema but didn’t acknowledge her. They
coloring book often had the same features. He wore a grey stiff entered through the doorway together and then their bodies
collared shirt, with dark sweat stains in the armpits, and khaki separated into different rooms. Seema was left standing there,
pants. feeling an emotional wave of a deep, dark kind. Her belly
tightened. She went to her room and pulled out her coloring things.
“Can you hear what they are saying?” Johnny’s voice interrupted
For the first time she put them back away in her closet again
her attention. He was much closer to her than Seema could tolerate
without using them.
and his bitter smell irritated her so that she snapped, “No, how can
I hear from all the way here what they are talking about?”
The stinging vapors from the onion flowed into her eyes making
“My mummy writes for the newspaper. She says Dr. Ramdayal has Seema tear. The overwhelming natural response to wash away the
some unfair arrangement with his ultrasound technician.” irritant melted her resolve to appear strong and she found herself
saying out loud,
Seema pushed Johnny back with her elbow. “How do you know
these big words.” “What happened to the baby, Mama”
“I read, stupid”, Johnny snapped back. “You should be happy you “There is no baby anymore” her mother spoke softly. Seema felt her
were born. Otherwise your mother also would have gone to Dr. mother’s hand on her shoulder. It felt light and weak.
Ramdayal to clean you out after learning you were a girl baby in
her tummy.”
—
boundaries — the journal of imagining global asia 5

6. Her dad nodded. Sahana also said that she had noticed
Sahana and the King something. There was a small rash on the
Shaunak Nanavati bottom of the king’s right foot. She saw it while they were doing
yoga together. She had looked carefully and recognized the
Sahana was a little girl. She lived in the jungle in the Himalayan pattern of dots. Her dad’s face instantly brightened. In the evening,
Mountains with her mom, dad and little brother. Her father made the family and the king ate a delicious meal together. Sahana told
medicines for people when they were sick. Her mom made fresh the king that they would bring a remedy in ten days to his palace.
bread. Sahana made artwork. Her little brother mostly made First they needed to take a journey to find a special herb near
trouble. His name was Taglu. Sahana’s father would go into the Mantalai Lake. The next morning, the family left for their journey.
jungle. He would go high into the mountains to find the right herbs. They walked through dense jungles, fields of rubies, quartz and
Sahana and Taglu would go with him. They were a team. blue mystic topaz, and high mountain passes. They saw beautiful
waterfalls. They saw wild stallions, friendly sheep, and inquisitive
When they found the right herbs, her dad would boil them in
goats. Finally, Sahana found the cave where the special herb grew.
water, or crush them into powder or heat them with oils. Sahana
Her dad lit a candle and they went inside. The cave was magical,
helped her dad make medicines but Taglu was still too small to
filled with pink salt crystals and purple geodes, with a small
help. They would bake cookies, play music, and dance together.
waterfall and lake. Her dad knew that the herb was near the back
One day Rishi came to the village to meet Sahana’s father. He was of the cave.
a traveling sage. He said that the king was ill. None of the doctors
in the kingdom could help him. Sahana was listening near the When they arrived to the back of the cave there was no herb.
curtain which separated the yoga area from her playroom. However, Sahana did see a small hole in the wall with a shaft of
light coming through. When Sahana’s dad looked through the
“Well, there is one doctor,” she said. The sage and her father hole, he saw the plant. He reached his hand through but could
turned to see a little girl with her arms akimbo. Her dad smiled. not touch the plant. It was too far. The hole was too small even
“Well, yes,” her dad said. “Sahana will see the king. I will be her for Sahana. What to do? The king would die without this herb.
assistant.” Sahana and her dad sat on the rocks and tried to think of a
solution but could not. They were sad. Just then, the Taglu crawled
This time Rishi smiled. Seven days later, the king arrived with his
into the hole.
entourage. Sahana’s father welcomed him with a hug. Sahana
folded her hands, and said “Namaste.” Sahana’s mom made a He was just small enough to fit. He picked the buds off the plant
yummy healing soup. Taglu brought him water when he went to and crawled back through. Sahana and her dad were amazed.
rest. Taglu had saved the day.
The next morning, the king awoke at dawn. Sahana and her dad They went home , built a fire and made the medicine. Sahana
made a fire. The king sat down next to them without a sound. crushed special stones, boiled the herbs and mixed in the oils. It
Sahana’s dad took the king’s pulse. He placed three fingers an inch slowly cooked over the fire for three days and then cooled. They
below the king’s wrist. He watched the king’ breath and looked put their potion in a silver flask and went straight to the palace. The
into his eyes. Sahana’s mom taught a yoga class to Sahana, Taglu king had become much weaker. The rash had grown. The king was
and the king. At the end of class, Sahana sang a simple Sanskrit scared. When they sat down, Sahana took the king’s pulse. They lit
sloka softly: jai guru deva, nothing’ s going to change my word…
a fire and
Sahana’s dad stoked the fire outside. The king told his story.
Sahana’s dad listened very carefully. The king took a nap in the practiced yoga. Afterwards, the king took the medicine. The king
afternoon while it rained outside. Sahana’s dad spent many hours began to sweat. He laid down and fell asleep. Sahana sat by the
in the library, looking in old books. Then, her dad went for a long bed all night and observed the king’s breathing. In the morning, he
walk. felt a little better. In two days, he started walking at dawn. In four
days, he began to run. He breath deepened.
He called it: “Going for a think.”
The king drank clean mountain water and ate fresh apples
Sahana’s dad came home puzzled. He asked her: “What do you
everyday. He cooked his food over a fire that he built. Every day,
think about the king?
he took their remedy. After four days, the king was better.
“I think the king is very nice. I like him.”
6 www.imaginingglobalasia.org

7. Above the palace, a double rainbow appeared,
And
on that day,
in all the villages of the Himlayaa,
kids and grown-ups
told the story of Sahana.
Author Profiles
Kavitha Cherian
Kavitha is a geopolitics analyst at Roubini Global Economics. Her
areas of expertise include Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, as
well as climate change, nuclear proliferation, U.S. foreign policy
and international development.
Matt Wice
Matt Wice is pursuing his MA in Psychology at the NSSR. Before
joining the New School, he spent two years teaching abroad in
Japan.
Shaunak Nanavati
Shaun is an experimentalist and pediatric neuropsychologist. He
recently travelled to the Himalayas where he drew inspiration for
Sahana and the King. The story was co-written by me and my
daughter, Saloni, during bedtimes over a month.
Vandana Chauhan
Vandana is completing her second doctoral year in Psychology at
the New School for Social Research. When she isn’t researching
social support systems, she enjoys writing.
boundaries — the journal of imagining global asia 7