'Varta' Webzine

By Pawan Dhall

An audio roundup of how queer individuals, support groups and their allies are helping people face survival challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic in India

By Pawan Dhall, Vaaswat Sarkar

A rambling conversation with Islampur-based trans rights activist Joyita Mondal who not long ago had to change houses under threats of violence, but emerged stronger from the ordeal

By Chandrima Mukhopadhyay, Subhradeep Chatterjee, Utsa Ghosh

Jadavpur University students set Braille graffiti example, turn walls into bridges for inclusion

By Ananya Kar

The child in this poem is each one of us. Do we have the answers to this child’s plea?

By Duncan Rice

Duncan Rice is bowled over by the breakfast and motivation served up at café Sip N Bite

By Pawan Dhall, Vahista Dastoor

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

By Pawan Dhall

Stories of pride may be tucked away from all the rainbow glitter going around

By Santa Khurai

Santa Khurai on trans women in Manipur being denied their traditional space in the Lai Haraoba festival

By Kaushik Gupta

Kaushik Gupta explains the law on online child pornography

By Sayan Bhattacharya

Sayan Bhattacharya points at the inefficacy of queer activisms in India in the face of larger socio-political challenges

By Diksha Sanyal

Diksha Sanyal examines the constitutionality of a Bill which the Centre is keen to enact

By Pawan Dhall, Anupam Hazra

Here’s some unsolicited advice on queering it up as 'Varta' webzine turns six!

By Diksha Sanyal, Namrata Mukherjee

Diksha Sanyal and Namrata Mukherjee on the 20th anniversary of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’

By Shivalal Gautam

Look at the NRC exercise from trans persons’ points of view, urges Shivalal Gautam

By owais

owais on the 20th anniversary of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’, which grew into the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’

By 'Friendship Walk 20th Anniversary' organizing team

Text from pamphlet for 20th anniversary observations of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’ Celebrating 20 years of ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’   On July 2, 1999, a small group of 15 persons...

By Mihika Poddar

Mihika Poddar explains a recent court verdict on the right to marry for trans persons Reader queries Based on a recent Madras High Court judgement, can now marriage between a...

By Sadam Hanjabam

Sadam Hanjabam on the unaddressed mental health needs of queer youth in Manipur