Celebrating the queer gaze in Hindi cinema
By Debjyoti Ghosh
As ‘Varta’ turned 10 on August 1, 2023, Debjyoti Ghosh caught up with pioneering filmmaker Onir for a chat on his vision for queer empowerment in Hindi cinema and beyond
By Debjyoti Ghosh
As ‘Varta’ turned 10 on August 1, 2023, Debjyoti Ghosh caught up with pioneering filmmaker Onir for a chat on his vision for queer empowerment in Hindi cinema and beyond
By Zaid Al Baset
Making educational institutions inclusive spaces for everyone is an uphill battle, but Zaid Al Baset is not giving up yet – his forecasts on inclusion as ‘Varta’ completes 10 years
By Pawan Dhall
An imperfect digest of ‘Varta’ webzine’s journey through a decade of climaxes, anti-climaxes, and explorations for a social G-spot
By Debjyoti Ghosh
Debjyoti Ghosh calls upon corporates to demonstrate stronger allyship that transcends anti-queer social and political pressures
By Pawan Dhall
Pawan Dhall still can’t shell out two-minute wisdoms on Instagram Reels. Here’s a two-minute essay instead on clicking an inner selfie
By Pawan Dhall
Pawan Dhall has something to say to argumentative Indians who’ve been bickering over who can have the marriage laddu and who can have only the laddu
By Pawan Dhall
Pawan Dhall on being lost in a forest, whether made of shrubs and trees or ideas and words
By Pawan Dhall
Sharif D. Rangnekar’s new book 'Queersapien' takes you through a self-reflective account across countries, cultures and issues
By Pawan Dhall
The central government’s discomfort about queerness in the judiciary throws up many more uncomfortable questions
By Pawan Dhall
The author recalls winning a cricket match to secure space for playing badminton near his childhood home in Kolkata
By Pawan Dhall, Souvik Rakshit
Pawan Dhall is back with his monthly ‘Vartanama’ rant – well, not quite monthly any longer as you may notice many other names authoring this column
By Debjyoti Ghosh
Why does West Bengal have such a poor rate of transgender identity certification? Debjyoti Ghosh raises pertinent questions
By Pawan Dhall
A visit to the Ballygunge Post Office after more than a year reminds the author of his relationship with this ‘heritage site’ for Kolkata and India’s queer movements
By Pawan Dhall
What could it be like to burn in hell – for the collective conscience of an entire society?
By Pawan Dhall
Highlights from an art workshop organized to celebrate 100 monthly issues of 'Varta' webzine
By Debjyoti Ghosh
Debjyoti Ghosh elaborates on a webinar he moderated on polyamory on June 17, 2022 – with inputs from Arkadeepra Purkayastha