Second Edition

Volume I: The Audacity to Understand Knowledge

Born in 1982, Oeishik attended a Catholic grade school in Calcutta before transferring to a Methodist boarding school in Darjeeling.  After graduating from high school in central Illinois he studied at the University of Illinois, majoring in American history.  He continued his studies in law school, earning a Juris Doctor in September 2008.  He then served as an AmeriCorps member, developing mentorship curricula in Michigan before moving to Chicago in 2009.

Being gay, immigrant and dyslexic, Oeishik looks at the world differently, taking into consideration minute details that enhance the quality of his writing and the effectiveness of his communication. Gay history and civil rights issues, along with proficient writing, are his passions; he takes them seriously and strives to learn more as there is no such thing as learning too much.

In spirit of this scholarly quest to seek and understand knowledge, Tribute to Sam Steward began as an existential dialogue with one of America’s most intelligent, charismatic, and complicated scholars – Samuel M. Steward.  It has beautifully transformed into a collection of prose and poetry, paired with contextually related photographs, all connecting Sam’s life to Oeishik’s against the backdrop of society.

In an effort to understand the common human links, the posted pieces create dialogues with Mr. Steward about life.  To add, since Mr. Steward enjoyed company, Oeishik invited anyone who felt connected to the mélange of experiences to express themselves. The goal was to find a common human connection that transcended generations, space and time.

Tribute to Sam Steward remained on its namesake website (http://www.tributetosam.com) free of cost for the duration of the active creative process.  This allowed several readers to share their stories and virtues.    With over 75 comments from readers from various backgrounds and intersections, Oeishik’s first project reveals the pervasive presence of human connectedness by braving to publicly understand knowledge.