We’ve all grown up secretly flipping through glossy covers and slick magazines that our mum used to read. Then, when we grew up, those magazines became one of the indulgences that we used all the saved up pocket money for. Now, with everything going digital (guilty as charged), the charm of feeling paper in your hand and taking time out to read something interesting has been replaced by swipes and clicks. We are still a little old school though, and if you are too, then we’ve got a list of magazines that are braving the online storm and churning out quality content. From publications that tackle relevant cultural and contemporary issues, to those that tell a story through photographs – these are the 5 new age print pioneers we love!
Art India
Art India has been around for 19 years now and prides itself as India’s premier art magazine. A significant platform for discussions on all things art – be it painting, sculpture, installation art, new media art, photography or architecture – it was chosen by Paris’ Beaux Arts as one of the leading art mags in the world and has been awarded by the Federation of Indian Publishers. With issues dedicated to Ceramics, Gender, and even one called A Bouquet Of Modernisms – it’s the one mag that makes us sound smarter than we are. Pity that they only do 4 editions annually, but those are more than enough!
Cost : Rs 640 (annual subscription)
Subscribe here
Motherland
This bi-monthly magazine was founded in 2010 and has found a niche following since then. An engaging journal with a strong focus on “contemporary and emerging Indian cultures”, Motherland stands out not only for its unique content but also its fresh perspective and unusual style of storytelling. Each issue is dedicated to a sole theme, which is explored through a collection of in-depth features, photographs, artwork and essays. Past issues have centered around the controversial yet pertinent world of Item Girls, the intriguing question of Skin in India, and – our favourite – one solely dedicated to the Military.
Cost: Rs 150 (single issue)
Subscribe here or read here
The Indian Quarterly
The Indian Quarterly documents the literary and cultural landscape of India. The magazine looks to make a difference in the now fading genre of long form journalism through essays, reviews of essays, features, poetry, travelogues, illustration and photography. Finding an independent voice of its own in this impressionable age of social media, while simultaneously upholding the progressive thoughts of cosmopolitan India is integral to this quarterly publication.
Cost: Rs 640 (annual subscription)
Subscribe here
Gaysi
Gaysi or The Gay Desi puts modern India’s best foot forward – a forum to voice the opinions of those from the South Asian Subcontinent who recognise themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. Starting out as a blog in 2008, they quickly evolved to The Gaysi Zine – a self published magazine – that brings forth stories that are powerful and deserve to be heard. Authors like Parvati Sharma, Arunava Sinha and Benjamin Law have contributed to previous issues that include queer narratives from an intensely personal space, giving us reasons to think beyond the societal norms of sexuality.
P.S: You can also subscribe to their e-version, which is delivered by email.
Cost: Rs 350 (single issue)
Subscribe here
Marg
A not-for-profit publisher in Mumbai, with the sole intent of creating interest and awareness about Indian art and culture, is something truly noteworthy. Marg – A Magazine Of The Arts – is the oldest name on our list and came to life way back in 1946 with eminent writer Mulk Raj Anand as its Founding Editor. Since then, it has continued its print run and built a loyal audience thanks to its deep insights into the trends of the art world, and research of both established and emerging art scholars as well as historians. A fine collection of essays, photographs and designs is carried by the quarterly magazine that constantly aims to be a “loose encyclopedia of the arts of India and related civilisations.”
Cost: Rs 350 (single issue)
Subscribe here
We’ve all grown up secretly flipping through glossy covers and slick magazines that our mum used to read. Then, when we grew up, those magazines became one of the indulgences that we used all the saved up pocket money for. Now, with everything going digital (guilty as charged), the charm of feeling paper in your hand and taking time out to read something interesting has been replaced by swipes and clicks. We are still a little old school though, and if you are too, then we’ve got a list of magazines that are braving the online storm and churning out quality content. From publications that tackle relevant cultural and contemporary issues, to those that tell a story through photographs – these are the 5 new age print pioneers we love!
Art India
Art India has been around for 19 years now and prides itself as India’s premier art magazine. A significant platform for discussions on all things art – be it painting, sculpture, installation art, new media art, photography or architecture – it was chosen by Paris’ Beaux Arts as one of the leading art mags in the world and has been awarded by the Federation of Indian Publishers. With issues dedicated to Ceramics, Gender, and even one called A Bouquet Of Modernisms – it’s the one mag that makes us sound smarter than we are. Pity that they only do 4 editions annually, but those are more than enough!
Cost : Rs 640 (annual subscription)
Subscribe here
Motherland
This bi-monthly magazine was founded in 2010 and has found a niche following since then. An engaging journal with a strong focus on “contemporary and emerging Indian cultures”, Motherland stands out not only for its unique content but also its fresh perspective and unusual style of storytelling. Each issue is dedicated to a sole theme, which is explored through a collection of in-depth features, photographs, artwork and essays. Past issues have centered around the controversial yet pertinent world of Item Girls, the intriguing question of Skin in India, and – our favourite – one solely dedicated to the Military.
Cost: Rs 150 (single issue)
Subscribe here or read here
The Indian Quarterly
The Indian Quarterly documents the literary and cultural landscape of India. The magazine looks to make a difference in the now fading genre of long form journalism through essays, reviews of essays, features, poetry, travelogues, illustration and photography. Finding an independent voice of its own in this impressionable age of social media, while simultaneously upholding the progressive thoughts of cosmopolitan India is integral to this quarterly publication.
Cost: Rs 640 (annual subscription)
Subscribe here
Gaysi
Gaysi or The Gay Desi puts modern India’s best foot forward – a forum to voice the opinions of those from the South Asian Subcontinent who recognise themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. Starting out as a blog in 2008, they quickly evolved to The Gaysi Zine – a self published magazine – that brings forth stories that are powerful and deserve to be heard. Authors like Parvati Sharma, Arunava Sinha and Benjamin Law have contributed to previous issues that include queer narratives from an intensely personal space, giving us reasons to think beyond the societal norms of sexuality.
P.S: You can also subscribe to their e-version, which is delivered by email.
Cost: Rs 350 (single issue)
Subscribe here
Marg
A not-for-profit publisher in Mumbai, with the sole intent of creating interest and awareness about Indian art and culture, is something truly noteworthy. Marg – A Magazine Of The Arts – is the oldest name on our list and came to life way back in 1946 with eminent writer Mulk Raj Anand as its Founding Editor. Since then, it has continued its print run and built a loyal audience thanks to its deep insights into the trends of the art world, and research of both established and emerging art scholars as well as historians. A fine collection of essays, photographs and designs is carried by the quarterly magazine that constantly aims to be a “loose encyclopedia of the arts of India and related civilisations.”
Cost: Rs 350 (single issue)
Subscribe here
