Born in London to Indian parents, Sanjeen Payne Kumar reflects on a life shaped by migration, identity, and community.

His father arrived in 1959 to become a dentist, later bringing Sanjeen's mother from India. Raised in the Home Counties away from established Indian enclaves, Sanjeen was often the only brown face in school, learning to navigate the complexities of race, belonging, and humour as a survival tool. His father remained committed to NHS dentistry despite financial pressures to go private, embodying a deep-rooted ethic of service.

Sanjeen’s life has spanned cultures from an arranged marriage tour in India to marrying a New Zealander and raising mixed-race children in rural Wiltshire. Volunteering at a hospice in university, he forged a moving connection with an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, touching on themes of reincarnation and memory. A deep believer in cultural fusion and adaptability, Sanjeen has found peace in embracing both Indian and British identities, building bridges through food, family, and community service in Wiltshire.