Mass Awareness Events

Events that Varta Trust organized or participated in

Book fair: Books by Queer Ink and Seagull Books at Dumdum Swikriti Society’s little magazines stall at ‘45^th International Kolkata Book Fair 2022’, including copies of Queer Potli: Memories, Imaginations and Re-imaginations of Urban Queer Spaces in India edited by Pawan Dhall, Gulabi Baghi edited by owais, and Out of Line and Offline: Queer Mobilizations in ‘90s Eastern India written by Pawan Dhall – Dumdum Swikriti Society, Varta Trust

Kolkata, February 28 to March 13, 2022

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Facebook Live session: ‘Celebration of 22nd Anniversary of First Pride Walk in Kolkata and Discussion on Coming Out and Safer Dating’ – ‘Live with Pride’ series hosted by Suchandra Das

Kolkata, July 2, 2021

Poster credit: Suchandra Das

Online panel discussion ‘The Past, the Present Continuous – Does History Matter?’ – as part of ‘Digital & One: Rainbow Lit Fest - Queer and Inclusive’, December 5-6, 2020 – Embrace: Music Justice Arts, Epic India, Varta Trust

Delhi, December 5, 2020

Poster credit: Rainbow Lit Fest

Book fair: Queer Ink books at Dumdum Swikriti Society’s little magazines stall at ‘44^th International Kolkata Book Fair 2020’, including copies of Queer Potli: Memories, Imaginations and Re-imaginations of Urban Queer Spaces in India edited by Pawan Dhall and Gulabi Baghi edited by owais – Dumdum Swikriti Society, Queer Ink, Varta Trust

Kolkata, January 30 to February 9, 2020

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Discussion: ‘AKLF Adda: Pride and Prejudice – Experiences and Perspectives across the Pride Rainbow Spectrum’ – as part of ‘Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2020’ – Apeejay Surrendra, Oxford Bookstores, Max Mueller Bhavan Library

Kolkata, January 18, 2020

Photo credit: AKLF

Release of Q & I festival magazine; book launch Out of Line and Offline: Queer Mobilizations in ‘90s Eastern India, Pawan Dhall; and panel discussion ‘When they Gave us Pride – Stories from the First Pride’ – as part of ‘Rainbow Lit Fest - Queer and Inclusive’ – Embrace: Music Justice Arts, Epic India

Delhi, December 7-8, 2019

Photo credit: Rafiquel Haque Dowjah

Public events to mark 20th anniversary of 'Friendship Walk '99' held on July 2, 1999, often billed as the very first rainbow pride walk in Kolkata, India and South Asia – Amitie’ Trust; Dumdum Swikriti Society; InterPride; Nazariya – A Grassroots LGBT+Straight Alliance; Queer Ink; Wings Employee Resource Group, Tata Steel; Varta Trust

Watch video documentation of the anniversary events here

Kolkata, June 29, 2019 / Chandannagar, June 30, 2019

Photo credit: Prosenjit Pal

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Panel discussion: ‘No Going Back: Post 377 Celebration and Possibilities of Queer Magazines’ as part of ‘Kolkata Queer Literary Festival’ and ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Week 2019’ – Max Mueller Bhavan, West Bengal Forum for Gender and Sexual Minority Rights

Kolkata, January 5, 2019

Photo credit: WBFGSMR

Chennai launch event of Varta Trust’s online database on queer friendly sexual health, mental health and legal aid service providers – British Council, Grindr For Equality, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Chennai, September 29, 2018

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Rally to celebrate Honourable Supreme Court of India’s verdict reading down Section 377, Indian Penal Code – Several civil society organizations and collectives. Inset shows poster developed by Varta Trust to celebrate verdict

Kolkata, September 16, 2018