A fictional character featured in Buffyverse tie-in novels, India Cohen was the slayer that preceded Buffy Summers.
Biography[]
India Cohen was born in North Carolina in 1978. She became the slayer in 1993, and was stationed in Japan, with her Watcher Christopher Bothwell, whom she called Kit. They traveled all over Japan, slaying vampires. Over a few years Kit and India fell in love, but they had to keep it a secret from the Watchers' Council. Kit even bought her a dog. In 1996, they returned to America, and went to California. There, "Wanderer mummies" attacked and tried to steal India's essence. India fended them off, but they captured Kit and her dog. India sacrificed herself for her only family. The Wanderer killed India and released Kit and her dog.
Supposedly, when India was killed in San Diego, Buffy was called as the slayer in Los Angeles. It is also learned that India's predecessor was killed by a Congara demon, which means that she was not Nikki Wood, who was killed by Spike in 1977.
Whistler would later remark, "She [Buffy] must be prettier than the last Slayer [India]."
According to The Code of the Samurai, India's father was a captain in the Navy and she had dark hair like her Watcher/lover Kit.
Sources[]
- "Tales of the Slayer", Volume III, The Code of the Samurai.
- The Book of Fours
Canon issues[]
- India has appeared only in sources that are not usually considered by fans as canonical. However, unlike fan fiction, overviews summarizing their story, written early in the writing process, were approved by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), and the books were therefore later published as officially Buffy/Angel merchandise. Furthermore, the information regarding her character does not contradict any information regarding Buffyverse canon.