Category: Vartanama | Page 2

This night-time photograph shows up close a scene from a pre-Independence Day rally near the Ruby Hospital crossing in South Kolkata to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College & Hospital on August 9, 2024. A throng of people fill up the photograph with raised fists, mobile phones with lit torches held up, banners with slogans like “We demand justice for victim” in English and Bengali, and a variety of posters with graphics and textual material. Some protesters are holding lit candles. The atmosphere seems charged with anger and cries for justice. In the background, is a building with its windows lit up and a large tree with leaves glistening under the streetlights. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Vartanama Aug '24

Embodying the justice one is demanding

By Pawan Dhall

Self-reflection and self-transformation have an important place in social campaigns for justice, argues Pawan Dhall

Quote: News channels air yoga shows to promote positivity. Harness your inner potential, says your favourite superstar. Universities are asked to present the shining glorious history of the nation state to inculcate positivity about the country. Health gurus ask you to consume avocado and chia seeds and quinoa for unleashing your inner efficient innovator. Therapy speak has become commonsensical. The joke goes I am ready to date you if you can pay for my therapy post our breakup. The catalogue is never ending, but scratch the surface only slightly and the edifice falls apart like your nearest shining airport or the Parliament.

Vartanama Jul '24

On the compulsion to be happy

By Sayan Bhattacharya

Amidst the unending stream of ‘happiness’ being thrust on us from every quarter, Sayan Bhattacharya strikes a necessary discordant note

Happenings, Vartanama Jun '24

Celebrating the magic of friendship

By Pritha Bhattacharya, Sambrita Chakraborty

Pritha Bhattacharya and Sambrita Chakraborty report on an art exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’, India’s first rainbow pride walk held in Kolkata on July 2,...

Vartanama May '24

Celebrating 25 years of friendship, pride and diversity

By 'Friendship Walk 25th Anniversary' organizing team

Extracts from a pamphlet for the 25th anniversary observations of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’ to be held in Kolkata and other places in West Bengal primarily in July 2024

This is a close-up daytime photograph of the author Santa Khurai posing for the camera with her companion John Nongmaithem. The author is seated on a chair not visible in the photo and is gazing up at John who is standing behind her and looking back at her. With his left hand, he is caressing the strands of the author’s hair. Santa is wearing a red and white dress, has nude makeup on and kohl-lined eyes. John is dressed in a black shirt with the collars drawn up and a black cap. A white vest is visible behind the shirt partially open at the top. He has dark sunglasses hanging casually from the shirt parting. He has a small black ‘tilak’ on his forehead. Both persons are gazing at each other lovingly. The leaves of a neem tree and the blue sky form the backdrop of the photograph, which has been shot on the terrace of the author’s home. Photo credit: Jessia Takhelmayum

Vartanama Apr '24

Sweet surrender

By Santa Khurai

Santa Khurai writes about a different kind of love story blossoming in the middle of sociopolitical conflict in Manipur

This image is a sketch of Arvey Malhotra’s face drawn by Rimu Panda and posted on Instagram along with a line that says “Sweet soul, we are all sorry.” In the sketch, a youthful Arvey is looking at the reader, gently smiling and holding up his hands to show nails painted in different patterns and colours. Arvey was a jewellery and nail paint artist. He is wearing a red ring on the ring finger on his left hand. He has a thick mop of hair and is bearded. He is wearing a light brown pullover jacket. The artist has drawn a small white halo above Arvey’s head to the left side of the image. The sketch has a pleasing background of hues of pink, yellow and orange. The image has been slightly edited by the author of the article Mihir Seth

Insight, Vartanama Mar '24

The paradoxical need for queer death

By Mihir Seth

Death by suicide among queer youth should galvanize action to address the global mental health crisis, argues Mihir Seth

This daytime photograph shows around half a dozen parents and other family members of queer persons smiling brightly and walking behind a large banner of Sweekar – The Rainbow Parents at the ‘20th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ held on December 17, 2023. The author is also among these parents. A few individuals walking behind them are holding up two placards in Bengali that translated into English say: “So what if they are trans or gay, they are our children.” The photograph has been taken at a point on Park Street, from where a part of the Maa flyover can be seen behind the walkers. A popular furniture store Wood Junction can be seen on the right side of the photograph, while several tall trees are visible on the left side. The background behind the parents is a mish-mash of hundreds of other walkers, hoardings, traffic lights, and overhead cable wires. The sky above is a clear greyish blue. Photo courtesy Sweekar – The Rainbow Parents

Vartanama Feb '24

Why I walked with the banner of Sweekar

By Mahua Seth

Mahua Seth walked as an ‘out’ parent of a queer child at the ‘20th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ and loved every moment of it

Quote: It was said at the conference that sexual behaviour is ‘down there’, while sexual identity is ‘up there’. But the general perception seems to be: Never mind how much grey matter’s up there, down there it had better be big. Perhaps saying so is being unnecessarily pessimistic. Even so, in many minds the size fetish evokes a very real fear – a fear of inadequacy, of being unattractive, of being unwanted. This fear can only hinder the progress towards a healthier existence.

From the Archives, Vartanama Jan '24

Better fallible than supreme

By Pawan Dhall

There’s still time to make New Year resolutions that don’t celebrate excess, big size or Pyrrhic standards of perfection, says Pawan Dhall

This photograph shows a close-up daytime shot of dazzling white flowers growing on a slender stalk on the forest floor. The plant is surrounded with diverse green foliage growing on the wet soil. The whiteness of the flowers clearly stands out against the green and brown of the surroundings. The photograph was taken at the Karlapat Sanctuary Range near Bhawanipatna in Odisha in 2017. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Vartanama Dec '23

My anger narrative is white hot

By Pawan Dhall

Coming to terms with your anger can be a creative approach to welcoming the New Year, says Pawan Dhall

This is an early evening mid-range shot of around 14 trans masculine and other queer persons associated with the Samarth trans collective of Odisha standing behind a large rainbow pride flag during the ‘Puri Rainbow Pride Walk’ held on June 13, 2023. The flag is held at chest level across several of the walkers. Some of them are also holding posters with Odia and English text or small rainbow pride flags. They are all smiles as they look at the camera, and exude happiness. A number of other walk participants can be seen behind them. In the background, to the left, are several buildings, while to the right are some more buildings, a couple of palm trees, and a handful of open sky. Photo courtesy SAATHII

Vartanama Nov '23

Dreams and demands

By Bana, Pawan Dhall

Trans masculine individuals in Odisha are speaking up louder about their aspirations for the future – Bana shares a wish list with ‘Varta’ – hopefully most of it will come...

Quote: Justice Bhat issued a direction to the State to address the discrimination that trans and queer couples face in relation to social welfare entitlements and employment benefits in cases where such benefits can only be available to legally married couples. Justice Chandrachud spoke about the urgent need for anti-discrimination laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and give full effect to all civil and social rights of trans and queer persons. Justice Kaul agreed with him on the need for an anti-discrimination law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Advice - Rights and Laws, Vartanama Oct '23

Anti-discrimination mantra for long and happy trans and queer lives (married or not)

By Namrata

Namrata examines the Supreme Court’s marriage equality verdict and suggests further advocacy and litigation possibilities for queer activists and lawyers – with inputs from Lalit Panda, Senior Resident Fellow (Charkha),...

Cinemascope, Vartanama Sep '23

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

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph is of a large blackboard with a light brown wooden frame. At the lower edge of the blackboard, the wooden frame has a ledge on which some chalk and a duster are placed. Text extracted from the accompanying article has been placed on the blackboard image in a typeface to simulate the image of text written with white chalk on a blackboard. The text says: “What can discussions on sexuality in a classroom do? I believe that when we confront sexual difference in the classroom, we learn to understand and respect diversity. Queer perspectives and narratives of pride and suffering open a space not just for acceptance but critical self-understanding. Queer lives are so precarious that even a space bound by a timetable can be liberating. Being acknowledged and validated in a classroom may engender a hope to survive outside it, and sometimes, it is survival that is at stake.” Blackboard image courtesy Cliparts.co via ‘Wikimedia Commons’

Insight, Vartanama Aug '23

For that sliver of hope

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

Vartanama Jul '23

Tensions of the past and future

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

This graphic is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows a scene from a Woolworths outlet in Johannesburg. Two mannequins clad in t-shirts, jeans and shoes stand next to rows of t-shirts and other clothes. One of the mannequins stands on a pedestal, with a long rainbow pride flag hanging behind it, and a poster in the forefront that says: “Be an ally – celebrating Pride 2023”. The extract of text says: “Pride isn’t about stating that we’re good enough to be accepted a month in a year. Pride is about making sure we’re accepted each and every day all through the year. Corporates play a big role in making that happen. However, when we will see performative allyship, we will call you out and remind you exactly how we contribute to your market. Because not only does our money matter – we matter too.” Photo credit: Debjyoti Ghosh

Insight, Vartanama Jun '23

Show us what pride is really all about

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh calls upon corporates to demonstrate stronger allyship that transcends anti-queer social and political pressures

This is a cheerful daytime mid-shot of a green canopy of trees taken from below. The photograph shows a variety of foliage in layers, extending from clumps of relatively larger leaves in the foreground to a network of trunks, branches, twigs, and smaller and ornate leaves higher up. Different shades of green lend a touch of drama to the scene. The sky peers through the gaps in the canopy. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Vartanama May '23

Me and myself

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

Tagged Under: Vartanama

Embodying the justice one is demanding

On the compulsion to be happy

Celebrating the magic of friendship

Celebrating 25 years of friendship, pride and diversity

Sweet surrender

The paradoxical need for queer death

Why I walked with the banner of Sweekar

Better fallible than supreme

My anger narrative is white hot

Dreams and demands

Anti-discrimination mantra for long and happy trans and queer lives (married or not)

Celebrating the queer gaze in Hindi cinema

For that sliver of hope

Tensions of the past and future

Show us what pride is really all about

Me and myself

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