Category: People | Varta Trust

This illustration is a combination of a photograph of Karthik, a Bangalore-based software developer and the interviewee in the accompanying article, and a quote attributed to him in the article. The photograph shows a bespectacled Karthik smiling cheerfully at the camera. He is wearing a white t-shirt with a stylized rainbow-coloured image of a clenched human fist. The image is accompanied with text that says #PRIDE, also in rainbow colours. Karthik is holding on to a crutch with his right hand. The background behind Karthik shows a blurred office environment. The accompanying quote says: “This is called ‘inspiration porn’ in the disabled community. People have set the bar so slow, just because they have disabilities it doesn’t mean they’re doing great things by just living their lives. The name comes from the fact that people try to derive inspiration from people with disabilities without understanding basic problems like lack of resources and support that is preventing us from doing extra stuff. We won’t have inspiration porn if there are more narratives about disabled people just living their lives.” Photo courtesy Karthik

Insight, People Mar '22

Disability, representation and pride

By Eishita

Karthik, a Bangalore-based software developer, opens up to Eishita on disability, sexuality and queer pride

This photograph is a striking long shot of the early morning sky taken from the balcony in Mayuri’s home. A major part of this vertical oriented photograph consists of silver-white clouds flecking a blue sky like a carpet right up to the horizon, where a rising sun has painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. A few buildings and trees can be seen in the near distance, somewhat still in the dark, with a number of hills rising behind them in the far distance. The entire scene is one of morning calm symbolizing peace and positivity. Photo credit: Mayuri

Coronavirus Diary, Insight, People Oct '20

Lockdown takeaways: Achieving higher ground

By Shivalal Gautam

In this second paired narrative of queer lives during the lockdown in Assam, Shivalal Gautam tells us how two queer women negotiated multiple trials and reached a better place in...

This is an abstract artwork created with pen ink and highlighter marker pens on white art paper. It is a mosaic of several irregular shapes drawn with green ink; all the shapes fit into each other. The shapes are contained in a vertical rectangle with thick white borders. Each shape contains outline drawings of human faces or limbs drawn with deep blue ink. The drawings are overlaid by floral and other random patterns drawn in different colours, predominantly different blues and greens, pink and orange. The collection of disjoint human faces and limbs seems to symbolize the disarray that the protagonist in the accompanying article has been experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. Graphic credit: Anupam Hazra

Coronavirus Diary, People Oct '20

A lesser known lockdown reality

By Sudipa Chakraborty

Sudipa Chakraborty narrates the story of a gigolo in Kolkata – before and during the coronavirus lockdown

This illustration is a combination of a photograph of Sanjit Mondal, whose story is the subject matter of the accompanying article, and a quote extracted from the article. Sanjit’s photograph has been taken in an outdoor location in the early evening light. Head bent to the right and with his right hand in his crop-topped hair, Sanjit looks into the camera with the hint of a smile. He is dressed casually in a shirt with sleeves rolled up and denim shorts, and has a friendship band on his left wrist. He is seated on the raised edge of a paved pathway. Behind him is a patch of manicured green and two palm trees. A small portion of a pavement with a single pedestrian, a thoroughfare with no traffic, an overhead carriageway for a railway line, and in the distant background some buildings and more trees can also be seen. The accompanying quote says: “Obviously we’ve just got the right to have sex in our own bedroom, which isn’t enough for a human being. Nothing’s really been done for our rights. Only when LGBT people are able to avail of all the basic rights that heterosexual people take for granted in their day-to-day life can one say that yes we’ve got our rights.” Photo courtesy Sanjit Mondal

Coronavirus Diary, People Oct '20

Right to have sex in one’s bedroom not be-all and end-all of LGBTIQA+ rights

By Pradosh Dash

Pradosh Dash chats with political science student Sanjit Mondal who survived a recent queerphobic attack by the Bidhannagar City Police and turned adversity into opportunity

This graphic is a combination of a photograph and an extract from the accompanying article. The photograph to the left of the graphic shows a daytime long shot of an empty and calm Guwahati city street during the ongoing lockdown. Only a cyclist and a couple of pedestrians can be seen on the road some distance away (moving away from the photographer). The road has a verdant canopy of trees and several buildings can be seen in the background, across the road. The extract says: “In Raj’s case, his family is at least aware of his gender identity. But for Madhav, talking about his sexual orientation to his family of farmers and daily wage earners seems impossible. Just like with Raj, chances are that his family too will disown him. For now he prefers to live in peace, dreams of learning 'Bollywood dance' so that he can be a professional dancer some day, and desires to have a same-sex partner. Raj desires stability and wants him and his wife Meena to be accepted by his family. He wishes for an inclusive workplace and a regular source of income so that he can provide for Meena’s needs and focus on his own gender affirmation surgery and aftercare.” Photo credit: Indranee Kalita

Coronavirus Diary, People Jul '20

Amid pandemic of struggles, no lockdown on aspirations

By Shivalal Gautam

In the first of paired narratives of queer lives during the lockdown in Assam, Shivalal Gautam brings you the stories of two queer men

This illustration shows two photographs – on the left is a threat letter received by Joyita Mondal on December 7, 2018 apparently from a Hindu politico-religious outfit located in Joyita’s neighbourhood in Islampur. In gist, it says Joyita as a trans person has been a bad influence on Islampur, that she should leave the Thana Colony area, failing which there could be drastic consequences. The letter is unsigned and ends with the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram, Bharat Mata ki Jai’. The letter is written in Bengali with orange coloured ink on plain white paper (no letterhead used). More details on the letter content available in the article below. To the right of the threat letter is a complaint filed by Joyita at Islampur Police Station also on December 7, 2018. The complaint was against persons unknown for threatening Joyita through the anonymous letter. The complaint was also written in Bengali – on the letterhead of Dinajpur Natun Aalo Society, a queer support organization headed by Joyita. Photographs courtesy Joyita Mondal

Insight, People May '20

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 3)

By Pawan Dhall, Vaaswat Sarkar

A rambling conversation with Islampur-based trans rights activist Joyita Mondal who not long ago had to change houses under threats of violence, but emerged stronger from the ordeal

This daytime photograph shows a scene from the first rainbow pride walk organized by Dinajpur Natun Aalo Society in Islampur in 2017. The event was titled ‘Sathiya Uttorer Gourab Jatra’. The photograph shows a number of walk participants, mostly trans women, passing through a busy street in Islampur. Some of the participants are dressed in colourful attire and dancing to the music of drummers. Others are waving small rainbow flags. A couple of two-wheelers are moving along with the walkers. A crowd of bystanders can be seen on the pavement which is lined with a variety of shops. Some people are using their mobile phones to take photographs or videos of the walk. All in all a cheerful and dramatic capture of the walk. Photo courtesy Dinajpur Natun Aalo Society

Insight, People Apr '20

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 2)

By Pawan Dhall, Vaaswat Sarkar

A rambling conversation with Islampur-based trans rights activist Joyita Mondal who not long ago had to change houses under threats of violence, but emerged stronger from the ordeal

Insight, People Mar '20

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 1)

By Pawan Dhall, Vaaswat Sarkar

A rambling conversation with Islampur-based trans rights activist Joyita Mondal who not long ago had to change houses under threats of violence, but emerged stronger from the ordeal

This is a collage of seven photographs of the interviewees Rudra Kishore Mandal and B. Kumar, mainly of their earlier years, reflecting a range of moods. None of the photographs have both of them together. In the case of Rudra Kishore Mandal, some of the photographs date back to his childhood. Most of the photographs are of indoor locations. In some of them the interviewees are not alone, but the other individuals, probably friends, are not visible in the photographs. All the photographs are from Rudra Kishore Mandal’s personal collection (scanned from photograph albums) and were published in twos and threes also with the earlier parts of this interview conducted under Varta Trust’s Queer Kolkata Oral History Project (or Qatha).

People, Qatha Nov '18

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 4)

By Pawan Dhall, Soma Roy Karmakar

'Varta' brings you the next series of articles under the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’

People, Qatha Aug '18

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 3)

By Pawan Dhall, Soma Roy Karmakar

'Varta' brings you the next series of articles under the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’

This main photograph shows a picture each of B. Kumar and Rudra Kishore Mandal, the two interviewees for this article, from their earlier, youthful days. B. Kumar can be seen in the first photograph on the left, which is likely taken in a public place with low lighting. He can be seen warmly embracing another man – both are looking towards the camera, but the other person’s face is camouflaged. Both men are dressed in shirts and trousers; Kumar has a waist wallet on. The second photograph to the right shows Rudra Kishore Mandal relaxing on a divan. He’s seated with his back leaning on the wall behind him, one leg raised on to the divan, and a mobile phone in his hands. A bespectacled Rudra Kishore Mandal dressed in a sleeveless t-shirt and jeans looks at the camera with a bemused smile. Photo credits: Rudra Kishore Mandal’s personal collection

People, Qatha Jul '18

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 2)

By Pawan Dhall, Soma Roy Karmakar

'Varta' brings you the next series of articles under the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’

This main photograph shows pictures of B. Kumar and Rudra Kishore Mandal, the two interviewees for this article, from their earlier, youthful days. They are both all smiles in their respective photographs. B. Kumar’s photograph is accompanied with a dialogue cloud that says: “I used to keep boys away because they wanted to reach the girls through me, and I don’t want to play a second fiddle, but I would like to be a first fiddle!” Similarly, a dialogue cloud along with Rudra Kishore Mandal’s photograph says: “I used to scribble on the walls, I used to draw, and that was one of my biggest escapes from the reality around me, and I don’t know why I needed to escape but there was always this feeling that I’m not fitting in somewhere.” Photo credits: Rudra Kishore Mandal’s personal collection

People, Qatha Jun '18

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 1)

By Pawan Dhall, Soma Roy Karmakar

'Varta' brings you the next series of articles under the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’

This illustration is a combination of Beyonce’s face picture and accompanying text, which says: “Beyonce’s story, like many other trans persons’ stories, is one of relentless struggle. At home she had to deal with her father’s expectations. During MBBS studies in Imphal, it was not just the class mates who teased her, but also faculty who demeaned her. Even the patients had a laugh at her expense. When she joined her first job in Delhi, she somehow escaped a physical screening that could have put her in trouble right at the start. And now, she has had to give up her job in Delhi and return to Manipur as she couldn’t arrange fresh identity documents in time to reflect her transgender identity.” In the photograph, Beyonce can be seen in long black hair and makeup, both markers of her initial steps in coming out as a transgender woman while she was in university. Photo courtesy: Beyonce

Manipur Diary, People Jun '18

Systemic (trans)gender injustice yet again!

By Santa Khurai

Santa Khurai narrates medical doctor Beyonce’s struggles around her transgender identity

This first (main) photograph shows a bespectacled and curly haired Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta smiling into the camera. It is daytime, and the photograph has been taken outdoors. Behind Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta the river Thames and a few buildings of London can be seen. There is a bridge across the river and a small ship in the waters. Towards the right, a few people are walking on a rather gravelly river bank. Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta is wearing a brown jacket and a scarf with a checks print. The photograph is accompanied by a quote of Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, which says: “I wasn’t planning to stand as a parliamentary candidate. But when Brexit happened, it was absolutely devastating for an internationalist like me. I have made England my home for the last eight years, and as an academic I also think it’s a civic duty for us to be engaging with the public. That was the reason I threw my hat into the ring . . .” Photo courtesy Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta

Insight, People May '17

Voice of reason with Kolkata connect in UK polls

By Pawan Dhall

Comparative literature studies to researching and teaching gender, sexuality and digital media; Kolkata to London; and now a step into the UK general elections arena on a Labour Party ticket...

Insight, People Dec '16

Court battles for ground level transformation

By Pawan Dhall

A conversation with primary school teacher Atri Kar who recently succeeded in getting the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) to include ‘transgender’ as a gender option in its application...

People Oct '16

Qatha: Recalling dark room discoveries and more (part 3)

By Pawan Dhall

Varta brings you the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’, an initiative to document five decades of queer lives in Kolkata (1960-2000). Our aim in this project is to go back in...

Tagged Under: People

Disability, representation and pride

Lockdown takeaways: Achieving higher ground

A lesser known lockdown reality

Right to have sex in one’s bedroom not be-all and end-all of LGBTIQA+ rights

Amid pandemic of struggles, no lockdown on aspirations

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 3)

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 2)

Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 1)

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 4)

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 3)

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 2)

Qatha: On the uses of ‘sil-batta’ to make you straight & more queer tales (part 1)

Systemic (trans)gender injustice yet again!

Voice of reason with Kolkata connect in UK polls

Court battles for ground level transformation

Qatha: Recalling dark room discoveries and more (part 3)

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