Author: Jia Mata | Varta Trust

Jia Mata

Jia Mata is a queer freelance writer-translator, part-time soft skills trainer, and part-time activist. As a parent of a 16-year-old happy and well-adjusted gender fluid, panromantic, Ace child, Jia is proud to have made a safe enough space at home for the offspring to be completely and proudly themselves.

Printed Word Nov '22

Ins and outs of a queer memoir

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata reviews Jaydip Jana’s debut book ‘Amar Bhitor Bahire’, a new addition to contemporary queer literature in Bengali
Insight, Policy Matters Sep '22

Challenges in meeting queer community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Susanta Pramanik, Jia Mata, Pawan Dhall
Excerpts from an analysis of the role played by community based organizations in working with queer people in India during the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges faced by the organizations
Thought for Food Aug '22

Where ‘adda’ and photography keep the tea pot boiling

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata recommends some 'cha', 'chhobi' and 'charcha' at café Zoom Tea-O-Graphy, which is bubbling with possibilities in its third year
Cinemascope, Insight May '22

‘Aa jaane jaan . . .’

By Jia Mata, Lipikor
Jia Mata and Lipikor on portrayals of female desire in Bollywood films and songs
Insight Apr '22

Logging out of toxic relationships

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata on social norms, toxicity in queer relationships, and what can be done to make things better
Happenings, Insight, Policy Matters Feb '21

Transgender rights in South Asia: Trends, crises and opportunities

By Debjyoti Ghosh, Jia Mata, Pawan Dhall
Excerpts from the report of a recent webinar on transgender rights in South Asia organized by Partners for Law in Development and Varta Trust
Cinemascope, Insight Apr '19

All the world’s a stage, and an act

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata on a new short film that does not tick all the gender boxes in a conventional way
Insight, Thought for Food Jan '19

For that mental connect over cake and coffee

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata was at café Crust & Core to start off our new column 'Thought for Food'
Happenings, Insight Aug '18

Symposium on queering mental health

By Jia Mata
Jia Mata was at 'Varta’s' 5th birthday event focussed on queer perspectives on mental health
Insight May '18

To school, with fear . . . of confessions!

By Jia Mata, Sudha Jha, Nikita Kabra
Jia Mata, Nikita Kabra and Sudha Jha report on the recent homophobic violation of child rights in the Kamala Girls' High School incident involving the school's headmistress and the West...