The internet, once my dear home of oddities, has begun to feel like big trashcan to me lately, where everyone is saying every thing but nothing at all. The constant waterboarding of information, even the kind we enjoy, has deeply broken how a human being processes things. So even when feelings emerge, we're prone to glance at them and scroll to the next one like our phones have taught us to. Part of why we feel both so empty and full of angst all the time, I believe, is because of this strange condition of being in the digital age that only looks exciting but is emptying us of our cognition and complexities.
Which is why I think every one should make a Zine atleast once in their lives. First of all, it's not just for "artists." If you can post a story about how your lunch at a new cafe sucked, you can make a zine about it. No idea is too small. Secondly:
1. Any time spent offline is a blessing and arts and crafts is one of the oldest ways to have fun. Sure, you could share it as an Instagram story or a tweet or a post but both of us know that would only feed your algorithm designed to direct ads at you.
2. You'd yourself the precious experience of diving into your own thoughts and witness how deeply you feel about something, which may feel too mundane to talk to others about.
3. You'd get high on your own supply: the dopamine of finishing a 'project.' instead of scrolling for a quick hit.
I think I've convinced myself to honour my ancestors indulge in some physical media. If you're still on the fence, here are 4 Indian zine collectives that you can use for some inspiration and even publishing, if you end up making one!
Bazinega is a Bengaluru-based independent publishing house and online zine marketplace founded by artist Ano Patel. Built as a digital "zineverse," it aims to make zines an everyday reading habit while helping more people become storytellers. Alongside its online store for independent zines, comics, and art prints, Bazinega regularly organises festivals like Zine Scene and Zine Mela, hosts workshops on zine-making and experimental publishing, and creates opportunities for emerging artists to share their work. The collective also supports queer and feminist voices, publishes stories rooted in everyday experiences, and offers curated monthly Baz Bundles that bring independent publications directly to readers.
Zinedabaad is an Indian zine collective founded by Devashree Somani and Riya Behl that uses self-published booklets to bring people together through storytelling and creative expression. The collective runs interactive zine-making workshops for communities, festivals, and organisations, creating spaces where anyone can participate regardless of artistic experience. It also curates pop-up zine libraries, including projects like Potluck: The Cui-Zine Library, to introduce readers to independently published work. Rooted in ideas of community solidarity and social impact, Zinedabaad creates and shares zines exploring themes such as queerness, mental health, and social equity while continuing to champion independent, small-circulation publishing.
Cross Cat Collective is an independent comix, zine, and publishing collective based in Agartala, Tripura, working to grow alternative publishing in Northeast India. The collective self-publishes comics, zines, graphic novels, stickers, and posters, including its annual comic anthology Psychera, while bringing together writers, artists, activists, and self-taught creators from across the region. Their publications document personal memories, overlooked local histories, and regional experiences, creating an archive of stories that are rarely represented elsewhere. Cross Cat Collective also regularly participates in public events like the Agartala Book Fair and collaborates with cultural organisations on film screenings, exhibitions, and other community-led arts initiatives.
DelhiZine is an independent, non-profit underground art and literary collective run by students and creatives in and around Delhi. The collective handcrafts self-published zines, poetry collections, and art booklets that are printed, cut, and folded by hand before being distributed across Delhi campuses and mailed to readers around the world. Their publications explore indie art, album reviews, commuting, poetry, and everyday experiences of city life, while staying rooted in a DIY publishing ethos. Every sale also supports local relief funds and free library projects, making community care an important part of the collective's work.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
Koalas & Eldritch Entities: A Homegrown Zine Wants To Help You Survive The Supernatural
Jahnavi Sharma's Zine Centres Women's 'Drawers' As A Site Of Intimacy & Ritual
Pooja Saxena’s India Street Lettering Zines Are An Ode To India’s Lettering Heritage