Tag: Digital Media | Page 2

This illustration is a combination of a graphic and text. The text says: “Social stigma still outsmarts legal change and even availability of queer-friendly legal aid. While changing the way the police functions and advocating for greater family acceptance remain important, the thinking in the Queer Friendly Lawyers Network – West Bengal (QFLN) is that more needs to be done within the queer communities so as to reduce the vulnerability of queer individuals to blackmail.” The accompanying graphic is borrowed from an earlier alert on safer dating developed by the QFLN in early 2017. The graphic is provided as a small inset and its text on safer dating tips is not readable. But the graphic’s headline “Blackmailer Alert” stands out along with the sketch of a man's face with a stricken look and mouth shut, symbolizing the fear of a victim of blackmail. Graphic artwork credit: Rudra Kishore Mandal and Pawan Dhall

Advice - Mind Body and Family, Insight Sep '20

Better mental health for safer dating?

By QFLN - West Bengal

Festive season’s round the corner, coronavirus lockdowns have eased up – have fun dating but don’t let your heart and wallet become easy game! Queer Friendly Lawyers Network – West...

This graphic is a snapshot of two pages from the January-July 1997 issue of ‘Pravartak’ journal, which was published by the erstwhile Kolkata-based queer support group Counsel Club in the 1990s. The pages are opened up flat. The focus is on the right hand side page where the headline of the editorial ‘Growth Pains’ is prominently visible below the name of the editorial column ‘Periscope’. The editorial is signed off by Counsel Club members Partha and Pawan. The journal dateline is visible on the bottom page margin. The article text itself is not readable. The left hand side page carries information on the journal editorial team, suggested contribution for the journal and its subscription details. The snapshot of the two pages is presented at a slant against an attractively patterned background of pink and grey. The pages show a certain degree of wear and tear and yellowing given that they are part of archival material going back to the 1990s. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

From the Archives, Vartanama Aug '20

History lessons in growth pains

By Pawan Dhall

As 'Varta' webzine starts off on its eighth year, a look at what its predecessor 'Pravartak' was focusing on around the same time of the year in 1997

This illustration shows the cover page of the report ‘Gendering of Development Data in India: Beyond the Binary’ published by the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore in June 2020. Right on top of the page are the logos of Big Data for Development and the Centre for Internet and Society. The title of the report follows in a bold green typeface. Below the title are the names of Brindaalakshmi K. and Sumandro Chattapadhyay, the author and editor of the report, respectively. The bottom of the page has the following text: “Produced as part of the Big Data for Development network supported by International Development Research Centre, Canada.” This is followed by the name and website of the Centre for Internet and Society https://cis-india.org. The cover page is white and has minimal colours from the logos and the text. The page is presented against a deep blue background.

Policy Matters Aug '20

Red flag on ‘data-driven exclusion’ of transgender people

By Brindaalakshmi K.

‘Gendering of Development Data in India: Beyond the Binary’ – study reveals how structural gaps keep out transgender persons from the social welfare net, not just poor data collection

This pencil sketch on paper is a symbolic representation of citizen journalism. It shows a number of citizenship documents lying on a flat surface in a small pile – the owner’s name, their photograph on the documents and other document details are blurred out. Placed right on the documents, is an ordinary gel pen with red and white patterns on its body. The pen, as a symbol of citizens taking on a journalistic role, is in sharp focus against a blurred background consisting of the citizenship documents and the surface they are lying on. Graphic credit: Ranjay Sarkar, based on a photograph by Pawan Dhall

Coronavirus Diary, Vartanama May '20

When consumers of news wield the pen (or a smart phone)

By Pawan Dhall

Varta’s citizen journalism initiative – a tool for skills building, citizen action and resources generation to deal with the coronavirus challenge

This is an artistic, close-up shot of leaves in multiple bright colours. In the forefront are a few deep brown and young leaves on a slender stem; the stem itself branches out from a larger stem with golden yellow leaves. Water droplets can be seen on the stems and the young leaves. In the background is a blurred mass of green leaves interspersed with dark, unlit spaces in between. The contrast in colours seems to symbolize hope and a blend of the ‘new’ emerging from the ‘old’ over time. Photo credit: Vahista Dastoor

Vartanama Feb '20

Bioscope of your intimate dreams and public protests!

By Pawan Dhall, Vahista Dastoor

The Varta website has transitioned again – amid many contentious social transitions!

This photograph is an indoor shot of Anurag Maitrayee standing next to a sideboard in one corner of a room. To her right is a French window, while the sideboard on the left is decorated with a metallic bust of Buddha and a flower vase. She is dressed in a saree, full-sleeved blouse and accessories, and has a large handbag on her right forearm. The photograph is accompanied with a quote from Anurag Maitrayee extracted from the article: “I plan to have programming in ‘LGBT Online’ that will engage queer individuals in speaking about larger social issues, be it politics or the economy. Why the pigeonholing that one comes across all the time? People may be well intended, but why are they surprised to see me in a procession on political issues? Can’t transgender people have an interest or stake in issues other than their gender identity?” Photo courtesy Anurag Maitrayee

Insight Jun '18

Queer and Bengali on YouTube

By Pawan Dhall

Anurag Maitrayee tells Pawan Dhall about 'LGBT Online', YouTube’s first Bengali talk show from India on queer issues

This photograph captures a boisterously happy moment from the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Carnival 2018’. A woman exults in joy as she picks up another woman in her arms, quite clearly heavier than herself. The second woman is also all laughter and pumps her fist in the air at the success of her friend. A crowd of people around the two women also laughs and cheers, as a number of photographers mill around to capture the moment. The woman doing the lifting is dressed in a ‘kurta’, has short cropped hair and tops in her ears. The woman being lifted is dressed in a colourful saree and ‘bindi’. The carnival was organized by the West Bengal Forum for Gender and Sexual Minority Rights on February 18, 2018 at Triangular Park in South Kolkata. Photo credit: Nazia Khan

Clickhappy!, Insight Mar '18

Queer cheer at rainbow carnival in Kolkata

By Nazia Khan

Nazia Khan was busy shooting moods and moments at the recent ‘Kolkata Rainbow Carnival 2018’. The fair was organized by the West Bengal Forum for Gender and Sexual Minority Rights...

This is a collage of photographs of contributors to the ‘Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur’ blog, a unique online documentation initiative that advocates inclusion of gender and sexual minorities in Manipur in different socio-economic spheres. The contributors narrate personal stories of their struggles (both failures and successes) to gain socio-economic inclusion. Clockwise from top left: Bonita Pebam (a trans woman), Thoibi and Meme (a trans man and lesbian couple), Hemba (a trans man), Prem Angom (a trans woman), Santa Khurai (transgender activist seen in a photograph of a march to protest violence against women, including transgender women), and Naresh (also a trans woman). All photographs courtesy 'Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur'

Insight Jan '18

Blogging for economic inclusion – by and for queer people

By Pawan Dhall, Boicha Huidrom

Pawan Dhall and Boicha Huidrom on 'Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur', an online documentation initiative to advocate for economic inclusion of gender and sexual minorities from grassroots to policy levels

Vartanama Oct '17

Varta@50 says thank you!

By Pawan Dhall, Rudra Kishore Mandal

Fortunate is the editor who gets to compensate the lack of inspiration for his 50th editorial with a thank you note!

The photograph shows a collage of a few newspaper and magazine articles on queer issues. Two of the prominent ones are headlined ‘LGBT Andolan Je Bhabe Mool Strotay’ (Growth of LGBT Movement) and ‘Who Said it Was Simple’. The first written by Pawan Dhall was published in the newspaper ‘Ei Samay’ in December 2012, and the second by Sthira Bhattacharya was published in the ‘Kindle’ online magazine in July 2013. Visuals in the articles include a photograph of participants in a queer pride walk in Kolkata, and another one of an individual clapping their hands like often Hijras and other transgender persons do (such clapping is termed as ‘thikri’ in Bengali and often signifies assertion and protest). Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Commentary, From the Archives Aug '17

Memories in media outings (part 4)

By Pawan Dhall

In 'Kolkata’s Queer Movement: A Recollection of Media Outings – Mid-1984 to Mid-2013' Pawan Dhall remembers his personal queer-story over the years (concluding part)

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

Quote: The posts, some of them pretty insightful and perhaps even cathartic for the writers, have attracted considerable likes, laughs and comments. All good in the spirit of freedom of speech, and some of these posts may even compel a few of the Adarsh Gay Bhakts and Sanskari Homos to introspect on their double standards and biased outlooks. But as they say, too much of a good thing need not be good.

Vartanama Jun '17

One foot in the door

By Pawan Dhall

Adarsh Gay Bhakt, Sanskari Homo, Adarsh NRI Homo . . . a quick search on Facebook will take you to some of these posts that have been doing the rounds...

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...

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 is of a full moon shining brightly, seen through the branches of a nearly bare tree in the night sky. It occupies the centre of the frame with the broad and thinner branches of the tree forming a mesh across the sky. But none cross the image of the moon, which lies intact within an irregular pentagon formed by the branches. The thinner branches growing off the main ones have scanty leaves on them. Even though the sides of the picture have a black tinge, the light of the moon illuminates the centre of the photograph creating a serene environment. Photo credit: Vahista Dastoor

Vartanama Aug '16

Welcome to the new Varta website!

By Pawan Dhall, Vahista Dastoor

Hasn’t the subject of gender and sexuality been done to death? Isn’t it all over the media in ever more tantalizing formats?

Tagged Under: Digital Media

Better mental health for safer dating?

History lessons in growth pains

Red flag on ‘data-driven exclusion’ of transgender people

When consumers of news wield the pen (or a smart phone)

Bioscope of your intimate dreams and public protests!

Queer and Bengali on YouTube

Queer cheer at rainbow carnival in Kolkata

Blogging for economic inclusion – by and for queer people

Varta@50 says thank you!

Memories in media outings (part 4)

‘Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion’

One foot in the door

Voice of reason with Kolkata connect in UK polls

Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

Welcome to the new Varta website!

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