Category: Happenings | Page 3

This artwork shows the poster of the 4th birthday event of ‘Varta’ webzine to be held on August 5, 2017 at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale’s premises on Park Street in Kolkata. The foundation day falls on August 1. The poster headline says: “Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion”. Next to it is the graphic of a handheld loudspeaker. The text of the poster says: “How has the media helped the queer movements in India? Or has it created more barriers for them? What if it has done both? Why did queer movements feel the urge to create their own media content? What are those histories? Come and explore these questions and more with a panel discussion and also celebrate ‘Varta’ webzine’s 4th birthday! Varta is a forum for publishing and advocacy work around gender and sexuality, in particular queer issues. Panellists: Soumitra Das, senior journalist who writes on culture and heritage; Dr. Subhagata Ghosh, founding member of Sappho and Sappho for Equality, and Editor, ‘Swakanthe’ (In Her Own Voice); Sukhdeep Singh, Editor, ‘Gaylaxy Magazine’; Sanjoy Kr. Gayen, Editor, ‘Dream News’; and Pawan Dhall, founding member and Editor, ‘Varta’. Date: August 5, 2017. Time: 7:30 pm onwards. Venue: Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Park Mansion, 57A, Kolkata 700 016. Light refreshments will be served post discussion.” The visual in the background over which the text is printed shows a newspaper clipping from an article titled ‘Sad to Be Gay’ published in ‘The Statesman’ in the early 1990s. A sketch of two women holding hands and sitting close to each other can be seen in the article, but the text is faded out. The article was sourced from the Counsel Club Archives maintained by Varta Trust. At the bottom of the poster are the logos of the event organizers – Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Varta Trust, Kinky Collective and Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival. Artwork credit: Alliance Francaise du Bengale

Happenings Aug '17

‘Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion’

By Sayan Bhattacharya

Sayan Bhattacharya will anchor 'Varta' webzine’s fourth birthday event at Alliance Francaise du Bengale on August 5, 2017, 7.30 pm onwards

This photograph shows a copy of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 lying in the foreground on a table. The name of the Act can be read on the cover, yellow in colour. In the background, the meeting room can be seen. To the left there are three people seated on chairs and engaged in a discussion; further beyond to the right is a person slightly bent over a table, writing something; and to his left are the two speakers of the meeting Dr. Rukmini Sen (Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi) and Shampa Sengupta (founder of Sruti Disability Rights Centre) – they are seated behind a long table meant for presenters and are facing the rest of the room. Behind them a white screen can be seen. The photograph is taken such that there is a sharp focus on the copy of the Act, while the rest of the photograph is relatively diffused. Photo credit: Abhirupa Kar

Happenings, Policy Matters Jun '17

Community review of new disability rights law

By Dr. Ishan Chakraborty

Ishan Chakraborty reports on a recent meeting held in Kolkata to analyse the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act which was passed in December last year

Happenings May '17

Special Olympics: More than about sporting rivalry

By Shampa Sengupta

The Olympic Games are common knowledge. Even the Paralympics have begun to gain attention. But not many have heard of the Special Olympics – a sports-based movement of people with...

This first (main) photograph shows the book launch ceremony during the event ‘Books, Films and IDAHOBIT 2017’ organized at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale Park Street centre in Kolkata on May 4, 2017. Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Pawan Dhall and Stephane Amalir (standing from left to right) can be seen holding the two books launched, smiling and facing the cameras in the audience. The books launched were ‘Digital Queer Cultures in India – Politics, Intimacies and Belonging’ and ‘Social Media, Sexuality and Sexual Health Advocacy in Kolkata, India’. The first was authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Lecturer in Media and Creative Industries at Loughborough University, UK. The second was co-authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta and Pawan Dhall, queer activist and Founding Trustee, Varta Trust. Stephane Amalir is Director, Alliance Francaise du Bengale. In the background is a screen projection of a graphic highlighting the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Photo credit: Arunabha Hazra

Happenings May '17

Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

By Kaustav Manna, Arunabha Hazra

Two books on the relationship between digital media and queer lives were launched recently in Kolkata. The event was part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia observations....

The photograph shows a close-up shot of the hands of two young children with autism. One of them is playing a rattle, the other a tambourine. The children are sitting cross-legged on the floor, and there are other children around them. We can’t see the faces of the children as the focus is on their activities. The photograph was taken during an event organized on April 3, 2017 in Kolkata to mark Autism Awareness Day (which was on April 2). The event consisted of poetry recitals, songs, music, dance and storytelling involving a number of children with autism, their parents, guardians and caregivers. The event was organized by Transcendent Knowledge Society, an NGO that runs Wonder House, a day-care centre for children with autism in the Tollygunge area of Kolkata. Photo courtesy Transcendent Knowledge Society

Happenings Apr '17

Autism eye-opener

By Aparajita Dutta

Aparajita Dutta was bowled over by the vibrancy at an event organized to mark Autism Awareness Day in Kolkata recently

Quote: Government of India questioned on glaring absence of rules to ensure education, social security, health, rehabilitation and recreation for persons with disabilities!

Happenings, Policy Matters Mar '17

Discord on rules for Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

By Disability rights organizations in India

Excerpts from a letter sent to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment by the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled Delhi, March 25, 2017: The National Platform for...

Happenings Mar '17

(Un)equal before the law?

By Danish Sheikh

Danish Sheikh on the launch of a report on obstacles to justice faced by queer people in India Delhi, February 24, 2017: The International Commission of Jurists today launched a report titled “Unnatural Offences”...

Word cloud in the shape of a ‘yes’ tick mark on the theme of transgender socio-economic inclusion – it includes words like ‘transgender’, ‘trans*’, ‘gender’, ‘woman’, ‘man’, ‘genderqueer’, ‘fluid’, ‘equity’, ‘economic’, ‘inclusion’, ‘court’ and ‘verdict’. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Happenings Mar '17

Government banks can’t write off trans inclusion!

By Pawan Dhall

State Bank of India told to include ‘transgender’ option in its examination forms. Kolkata, March 16, 2017: After the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) in December last year, today the...

Happenings Dec '16

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a reality!

By Disability rights organizations in India

Persons with disabilities in India and organizations fighting to uphold their rights have gained a new legal recourse for equity and justice. Excerpts from a media release issued by All...

Happenings Dec '16

Small step, big victory!

By Pawan Dhall

The West Bengal Administrative Tribunal directs WBPSC to include 'transgender' in its forms. Kolkata, December 5, 2016: Transgender rights received a strong morale booster in West Bengal today! Atri Kar, a...

Happenings

Kolkata pride calls for laws that respect human rights

By Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival

The 15th edition of the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ is planned for December 11, 2016 – exactly three years since the infamous Supreme Court of India verdict on Section 377,...

Quote: Ever since the Standing Committee submitted its recommendations in May 2015 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, a phased countrywide campaign urged the government to clarify its stand with regard to the Bill and recommendations made by the Standing Committee . It is welcome that the government is introducing amendments that address some of the major concerns disability rights organisations had with regard to certain provisions in the Bill.

Happenings Dec '16

Disability rights milestone in India!

By Disability rights organizations in India

A sustained campaign by several disability rights activists and organizations across India has forced the government to bring amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 Delhi, December...

Tagged Under: Happenings

‘Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion’

Community review of new disability rights law

Special Olympics: More than about sporting rivalry

Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

Autism eye-opener

Discord on rules for Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

(Un)equal before the law?

Government banks can’t write off trans inclusion!

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a reality!

Small step, big victory!

Kolkata pride calls for laws that respect human rights

Disability rights milestone in India!

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