Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy is a faculty member at the Institute of Public Health Kalyani. She is interested in matters related to gender, disability, and social justice.

  • Quote: Transgression of boundaries in 'Aamis' sets the protagonists as well as the audience on a path of realization that nothing is off limits. What can be eaten, what cannot be eaten, who can be desired, and who cannot be desired are just some of the questions that the film explores. The appetite of humans for food and desire cannot be contained. The garb of respectability within the confines of morality leads to suppression of desires. The intimacy that the protagonists craved between themselves was never expressed in words or actions. Instead, their forbidden desires found a release in food.
    Commentary Sep '25

    Liberation in sin

    By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

    Questioning the so-called morals around desire can set us on the path to a more accepting, less judgmental life, says Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

  • This photograph shows a close-up shot of a slogan printed on a black t-shirt worn by a woman. The slogan says “A woman does not have to be modest in order to be respected.” Two heart signs accompany the text, which is printed in white on the black cloth of the t-shirt. The woman’s face is not visible in the photograph, but a part of her neck and arms are visible. A deep blue sky with white clouds is visible in the background. Photo credit: The frolicsome Fairy on Unsplash
    Insight Mar '25

    Reclaiming ‘whore’

    By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

    Women, queer and transgender persons must take back the words that men have fabricated with regressive meanings to make them feel ashamed of themselves, says Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

  • This horizontal rectangular image is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph is to the left and it shows the flame of a fire burning in the dark. The flame is emerging from pieces of firewood. The rising flame is a yellow-orange in colour, while reddish embers can be seen below the firewood. Nothing else is visible as the darkness surrounds the fire. The accompanying text says: “If rules, heteronormative or any other kind, are to apply to desire, whom to desire, how to desire and furthermore, how to act on that desire, then the very essence of desire is stripped away. It restrains the fluidity of desire. However hard one may try, our desire in its unrestricted form cannot be wished away. It is there, sitting, waiting patiently, simmering beneath the surface, making its presence felt; waiting for the person to take cognizance.” Photo credit: László D. on Unsplash
    Commentary, Insight Oct '24

    Meandering desire

    By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

    Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy asserts that our desires run like a subterranean river and can survive all forms of censorship

  • Quote: Rape is a non-consensual act. There is no iota of enjoyment in the act. When one is asked to ‘enjoy’ rape in case of its inevitability, the ground on which the definition of rape stands, collapses. It no longer remains rape. It becomes an act of sexual intimacy where the parties involved feel safe and respected, and work with each other in harmony to derive and provide pleasure from the act and from each other. None of these conditions hold true for rape.
    Commentary Jan '24

    Stop trivializing rape

    By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

    Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy questions regressive social attitudes around sexual assault that persist even in ‘progressive circles’

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