Stephen P Huyler is an art historian, cultural anthropologist, photographer, and author who has spent over five decades documenting India’s sacred art, crafts, and rural traditions. Averaging four months a year in Indian villages, he has recently published ‘Transformed by India’, a reflection on his lifelong journey.
Huyler has also served as a consultant and guest curator for more than 25 exhibitions on Indian art at leading institutions, including the Smithsonian, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of International Folk Art.
Speaking to Asian Voice about what first drew him to India, Stephen said, “I was invited to India at 18, However I went to the country during my 20th birthday, a moment I reflect on in my new book ‘Transformed by India’. A close American friend with ties to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Rukmini Devi Arundale inspired my fascination with rural India, which transformed me from a mediocre student into a straight-A one. I had to see India for myself—books and photos weren’t enough. Travelling overland from Paris through the Middle East deepened my appreciation for the cultural layers I’d later explore in India, especially its indigenous traditions.”
“On my first day, I met Kamaladevi, who became a guiding force. She gave me 60 personal letters of introduction that opened doors to homes and villages across the country. A month later, I was staying with Rukmini Devi at Kalakshetra in Chennai. Though I’ve studied local languages, English—thanks to colonial history, remained a bridge to communicate across India. In the 1970s and ’80s, as India modernised, many traditions risked being forgotten. I felt a deep purpose to document and understand the spirit of the country—not just in cities, but in small towns and villages. I wanted to know: Who are these people? What do they think? What do they dream of?,” he added.
“I could finally reflect on how India had transformed me”
About the idea behind the book and how it came together, Stephen said, “This book is a new kind of project for me. My earlier books focused on the stories of Indian people, not my own. I never intended to write a memoir. But during the Covid lockdown, unable to return to India or continue my research, I had an epiphany: I could finally reflect on how India had transformed me, through the individuals I met along the way. These stories aren’t just about well-known figures like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay or Rukmini Devi Arundale, though they were pivotal. Equally powerful were the everyday people, craftsmen, and farmers, weavers— whose wisdom and kindness shaped my journey. Some were illiterate, but deeply educated in other ways. My aim has always been to give voice to those often overlooked. Whether royalty or potter, greatness comes down to the individual. That’s the humanity I try to honour in this book.”
Emphasising that his book ‘Transformed by India’ spans castes, classes, regions, and vocations, Stephen explained how he chose the individuals to feature, “It was pure serendipity. The people of India are remarkably generous and hospitable—it’s part of the culture—and I come in with trust and without an agenda. That openness invites connection. I don’t objectify or impose; I simply listen. Whether in villages, towns, or cities, I’d meet people by chance, sometimes through introductions from Kamaladevi, but more often it was just the moment. That generosity and kindness, especially from strangers, is deeply embedded in my soul. It’s why I do what I do. India’s essence lies in reciprocity about giving, receiving, and giving back—and I’ve felt compelled to be part of that flow.”
Reflecting on what he hopes readers will take from the book, Stephen shared, “Just be open, whether you're reading this book or navigating life. The response in India has been overwhelmingly positive. Readers appreciate that I don’t approach India with an eroticised or closed perspective; I allow it to be itself. That’s the key—when we let experiences be what they are, we learn, grow, and change. I was transformed by India, but transformation can come from anything. This book is a collection of stories that shaped and changed me, bringing me to where I am today.
