Raksha, I’m so grateful to know you and follow your work. Your writing is powerful and moving. Hopelessness is all around, but writing like yours lifts up spirits and recenters mindsets. Misery loves company and reading how people like you (caring and insightful) are coping or at least processing is nothing short of reinforcements for the discipline of hope.
Sara, you are so kind. I'm so grateful to know you as well and I so appreciate you engaging so deeply and regularly with my work. I can't wait until our paths cross again IRL (hopefully soon!)
This is such wonderful writing. I'd never heard of Neogy. Thank you for introducing me to him. I will seek out his writing. His sad ending reminds me of what Hemingway endured. Will humans ever stop the political oppression? Thank God for artists and others who are willing to stand up and speak the truth, even when it costs them so much.
Thank you for reading! Neogy is a fascinating character -- you can find most of his writing on JSTOR if you sign up for a free account. There's so much more to say about him and his legacy -- but I'll save that for my book :)
I love your writing and your stories so much. Thank you for teaching us about this person. It is quite relatable in many ways … it feels like a loss of hope to me … I just watched a movie called “Past Lives” … same feeling… the idea of what could have been and should we have taken a different path.
I haven't seen Past Lives yet but have been meaning to! But in general, I agree it's worth acknowledging that incredible people don't live up to their potential or dreams -- not necessarily through any fault of their own but because of trauma, the systems we live under, and random (mis)fortune. It's sad but I also think it's worth reminding ourselves we are not fully responsible for our own fate, which can also be freeing.
I don't remember subscribing to Transitions but I was so happy when I found it in my mailbox earlier this year. I have enjoyed reading it very much and am astrounded by the history of this journal! And now I am fascinated by its founding editor, Neogy, thanks to you. I often think of writing through despair and I appreciate how eloquently you describe this experience through the lens of history.
Ah I'm so curious how you came to Transition (or how it came to you)! Neogy’s story has haunted me since I heard of it, and I often think of him now in the worst moments of my creative life. I'm glad it resonated with you too.
Thank you for this introduction to Neogy. I look forward to more of your writing and to the book. Your thoughts on hope resonate; I’ve also lived in an authoritarian nation as an outsider, and much of that experience feels familiar at home now.
I didn't know Neogy before reading this and would like to know more. But really, the thing that really hit me is how you've articulated the emotional moment of being frank about how hope for any kind of justice or democracy is so very difficult right now--and yet, we're here and we must get up every day. I struggle with mindless optimism and chatter about the next election or whatever (this is all so so much bigger) as much as I struggle with despair. And it's hard to know where to land.
There is a lot more about Neogy in my book. And I agree the current atmosphere in America is so disorienting, I cycle through 10 different emotions everyday and it's just exhausting. And yet, the world continues to spin.
Obsessed with your writing. This was so gorgeous. Thank you for articulating, with such stinging clarity, exactly where I am and for teaching me about Transitions!
Fascinating- the narrative, his writing and its continuing life force, your pilgrimage, and for me, living in a rough hotel in SF in the late 70s, to think I might’ve passed him on the sidewalk. Poignant story. Inspiring. Thank you, Raksha.
I was deeply unsettled by this piece. Something so heartbreakingly mundane about Neogy's fate, the powers that seek to break us, while also holding fast to the long-winding legacy of hope. Thank you for your writing.
Thank you for reading! And yes, it's so heartbreaking to consider all he might have done and become if not for the political repression and trauma he faced. I find him both an inspiring and cautionary figure...
I've been rendered useless by writers block and this inspired me on multiple levels. I've never heard of Rajat Neogy before and I can't wait to explore his work, and legacy.
Raksha, I’m so grateful to know you and follow your work. Your writing is powerful and moving. Hopelessness is all around, but writing like yours lifts up spirits and recenters mindsets. Misery loves company and reading how people like you (caring and insightful) are coping or at least processing is nothing short of reinforcements for the discipline of hope.
Sara, you are so kind. I'm so grateful to know you as well and I so appreciate you engaging so deeply and regularly with my work. I can't wait until our paths cross again IRL (hopefully soon!)
This is such wonderful writing. I'd never heard of Neogy. Thank you for introducing me to him. I will seek out his writing. His sad ending reminds me of what Hemingway endured. Will humans ever stop the political oppression? Thank God for artists and others who are willing to stand up and speak the truth, even when it costs them so much.
Thank you for reading! Neogy is a fascinating character -- you can find most of his writing on JSTOR if you sign up for a free account. There's so much more to say about him and his legacy -- but I'll save that for my book :)
I love your writing and your stories so much. Thank you for teaching us about this person. It is quite relatable in many ways … it feels like a loss of hope to me … I just watched a movie called “Past Lives” … same feeling… the idea of what could have been and should we have taken a different path.
I haven't seen Past Lives yet but have been meaning to! But in general, I agree it's worth acknowledging that incredible people don't live up to their potential or dreams -- not necessarily through any fault of their own but because of trauma, the systems we live under, and random (mis)fortune. It's sad but I also think it's worth reminding ourselves we are not fully responsible for our own fate, which can also be freeing.
I don't remember subscribing to Transitions but I was so happy when I found it in my mailbox earlier this year. I have enjoyed reading it very much and am astrounded by the history of this journal! And now I am fascinated by its founding editor, Neogy, thanks to you. I often think of writing through despair and I appreciate how eloquently you describe this experience through the lens of history.
Ah I'm so curious how you came to Transition (or how it came to you)! Neogy’s story has haunted me since I heard of it, and I often think of him now in the worst moments of my creative life. I'm glad it resonated with you too.
I love this.
Thanks Deirdre 💜
This was incredible. 🙏🏿
Thank you so much Sisonke! It means a lot coming from you 💚
💕
I’ve also just seen, via Instagram, that Transition is on Substack!
Oh my gosh, I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads-up, and for reading.
Thank you for this introduction to Neogy. I look forward to more of your writing and to the book. Your thoughts on hope resonate; I’ve also lived in an authoritarian nation as an outsider, and much of that experience feels familiar at home now.
I didn't know Neogy before reading this and would like to know more. But really, the thing that really hit me is how you've articulated the emotional moment of being frank about how hope for any kind of justice or democracy is so very difficult right now--and yet, we're here and we must get up every day. I struggle with mindless optimism and chatter about the next election or whatever (this is all so so much bigger) as much as I struggle with despair. And it's hard to know where to land.
There is a lot more about Neogy in my book. And I agree the current atmosphere in America is so disorienting, I cycle through 10 different emotions everyday and it's just exhausting. And yet, the world continues to spin.
Obsessed with your writing. This was so gorgeous. Thank you for articulating, with such stinging clarity, exactly where I am and for teaching me about Transitions!
Thank you so much for reading, Gioncarlo. I think you'll also like the photography and visual art in Transition.
Fascinating- the narrative, his writing and its continuing life force, your pilgrimage, and for me, living in a rough hotel in SF in the late 70s, to think I might’ve passed him on the sidewalk. Poignant story. Inspiring. Thank you, Raksha.
Thank you Anne! To think you might've passed him indeed...
I was deeply unsettled by this piece. Something so heartbreakingly mundane about Neogy's fate, the powers that seek to break us, while also holding fast to the long-winding legacy of hope. Thank you for your writing.
Thank you for reading! And yes, it's so heartbreaking to consider all he might have done and become if not for the political repression and trauma he faced. I find him both an inspiring and cautionary figure...
I've been rendered useless by writers block and this inspired me on multiple levels. I've never heard of Rajat Neogy before and I can't wait to explore his work, and legacy.
I'm so glad to hear that! You can find most of his writing on JSTOR --as well as writing about him -- if you sign up for a free account.
Oh, awesome!! I am certain I still have my free JSTOR account - thanks for the tip, and this moving, inspiring essay, too.