Tag: Privileges | Varta Trust

This indoor mid-range photograph shows drag artiste Ahon Gooptu acting out a scene from the show ‘Item’. The performance space is a room painted white, with wooden furniture, a door and two windows polished brown; the room has a tiled floor and a high ceiling with beams running criss-cross. The room has a blue and white, staid ambient light. A lightly bearded and moustachioed Ahon is dressed in a light-coloured saree, full-sleeved blouse, light jewellery on his neck, wrists, fingers, and ears, and designer footwear; his shoulder-length hair is curly and untied. Ahon is seated at a wooden table, one leg over the other. The table top is cluttered with a table lamp illuminating the wall next to it, a painted flower vase with artificial flowers, a small wooden case, a couple of Japanese hand fans, and four sets of blingy goggles. Ahon has a pensive, far-off look as he mouths some dialogues. A few greeting cards and cutouts are pasted on the wall next to the table. One of them, with rainbow hues, says “Fab Yule Us”, while another says “You’re a cut above the rest.” A little distance behind Ahon is a full-length, wooden-framed mirror placed in a corner against the wall. Two windows, their shutters closed, can be seen on the walls next to the mirror. A pink dupatta and a blanket with two shades of green hang from a beam on the ceiling adding to the colourful but restrained ambience. Photo credit: Abhilasha Das

Insight, Vartanama Apr '25

Zenia, ‘Item’ and the future of the (western) queer dream

By Mihir Seth

Mihir Seth fears the dream of being oneself is crumbling as queer and transgender rights face setbacks globally

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

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

Quote: Somewhere amid all these positives, I also expect queer people with disabilities to be more visible, do well in life, and not be silenced in both queer and disability communities. Homophobic, transphobic and ableist people will still be around, but they may well be pushed to the fringes. A decade hence we may sit down and compare the predictions made by various authors on the pages of Varta and calculate the percentage of those that have come true.

My Story Aug '23

Cautious predictions for 2033 CE

By Rajib Chakrabarti

On ‘Varta’ webzine completing 10 years, Rajib Chakrabarti writes about the changes he expects to see for queer people and persons with disabilities a decade from now

This is a close-up indoor shot of a pile of six mid-sized ‘motichoor’ laddus placed on parchment paper on a black plate. The gorgeous and mouthwatering orange colour of the laddus is marked with specs of green, red and white condiments. The background of the photograph is blurred to enhance the appeal of the laddus. Main photo credit: Priyam1307 via ‘Wikimedia Commons’

Vartanama Apr '23

All this marriage (equality) talk!

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

This illustration is a combination of a graphic and an extract from the accompanying article on marriage equality in India. The graphic shows a floral photo frame (orange flowers interspersed with green leaves), but the space for the photo is empty. This is symbolic of the assertion in the article that everyone should be free to fill up this space in the way they find it meaningful – the photo in the frame need not be one of marriage. The extract from the article says: “Of all the petitions on marriage equality being heard by the Supreme Court, the one that stands out is Rituparna Borah & Others Vs. Union of India, which has been filed by four queer-feminist activists and three anonymized couples. The prayers in it go beyond the legal recognition of same sex / same gender marriages. It argues that rather than just rule on the constitutional validity of marriage equality, the court should also grapple with the issue of family diversity as well as protect queer people who face violence from natal families, those who may not want to get married but should be entitled to other rights traditionally emanating from marriage, and those who want to get married, but do not have support from their families.” Graphic credit: OpenClipart on ‘Wikimedia Commons’

Insight, Policy Matters Apr '23

Marriage equality – petitions, pushback and politics

By Namrata, Shreyashi

Namrata and Shreyashi trace the developments in the marriage equality litigation and bring to light issues and claims from queer activists that go beyond marriage equality

Quote: The Internet today is scattered with advice on the importance of friendships. A recent Bumble survey found that many more Indians seek platonic friendships today. Within the terrain of social and legal recognition, proposals have been placed before the Indian State to recognize friendships and other significant relationships outside the natal family in the form of a ‘legal representative’. Something has shifted in the mythological place romance holds in our lives. And while we may not have stopped worshipping at its altar, we are slowly coming to terms with the fact that it may not be the only worthwhile way of pursuing intimacy in the 21st century.

Insight Mar '23

Re-imagining intimacy, re-configuring kinship: Some notes on friendship

By Diksha Sanyal

Diksha Sanyal writes about intimacies and relationships beyond romance in the current Indian context, and invites you to share your thoughts – this is the first in a series of...

Printed Word, Vartanama Feb '23

In search of an ideal world, or at least a better one

By Pawan Dhall

Sharif D. Rangnekar’s new book 'Queersapien' takes you through a self-reflective account across countries, cultures and issues

This photograph is an early evening-time long shot of a spectacular view of the north-western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It shows a vast expanse of blue and placid sea water leading up to a number of icebergs and partially snow-covered mountains stretching across the horizon. The light of the setting sun has turned the white of the icebergs and snow on the mountains into a striking gold that contrasts sharply with the deep blue of the sea. Above the mountains, grey-pink clouds adorn a greyish sky. We stand to lose the incredible beauty and serenity of innumerable such scenes because of global warming and the resultant melting of the polar caps. Photo credit: Murray Foubister via Wikimedia Commons

Poetry Feb '23

The polar caps

By Rajib Chakrabarti

Rajib Chakrabarti is cautiously hopeful about our planet’s future

This photograph shows a scene from a march held in Kolkata in 2013 to protest against the violence faced by women and queer communities in India. The photograph is an evening-time close-up shot of a poster held up by a participant in the march. The poster, in large blue and red lettering on a yellow background, simply says “Not labelled”. The poster seems to indicate at the silence around the existence of queer people in society and their experience of violence. The participant holding the poster is not visible in the photograph. Only their hands and arms holding the poster are visible. Glimpses of several other people walking in close vicinity of the participant can also be seen. Photo credit: Kaushik Gupta

Commentary, Insight Jan '23

Being queer – the key or the cage?

By Tanya Kole, Kaushik Gupta

Tanya Kole elaborates on the ‘queer conundrum’ as it relates to day-to-day life

This illustration shows a copy of the reply received from the LIC against the application filed by queer couple Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee under the RTI Act, 2005. The couple had asked if it was possible for them to nominate anyone who was not related to them by birth, consanguinity, marriage or adoption as a nominee for their insurance policies. The reply clearly states that there is no illegality in nominating any person, including a stranger or a legal entity. This part of the reply has been highlighted in the illustration in red colour. The reply also has details pertaining to other minor queries filed in the RTI application. The reply, dated April 26, 2022, is printed on the official letterhead of the LIC and carries details such as the name and signature of the LIC official concerned and the address of the LIC office in Delhi. The residential address of Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee has been redacted for reasons of confidentiality. Copy of reply courtesy Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee

Advice - Rights and Laws Oct '22

Clearing the mist on banking and insurance nomination rules

By Kaushik Gupta

Queer individuals in India can designate their partners or friends as nominees and successors for their bank accounts and insurance policies. Kaushik Gupta elaborates