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
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Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 3)
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
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May '20Amphan adds to social trauma caused by coronavirus for trans women
By Sukanta Banerjee
Sukanta Banerjee reports on how Amphan has aggravated the socioeconomic vulnerabilities of many trans women in West Bengal and what immediate mitigation support they need
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May '20Missing in the migrant story, silenced in the ‘atmanirbharta’ clamour
By Joyita Mondal, Pawan Dhall
Joyita Mondal speaks to Pawan Dhall on the precarious situation of Launda dancers from North Bengal stranded in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh because of the lockdown
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May '20Epidemic of wins and losses over viruses (and disabilities)
By Ishan Chakraborty
Ishan Chakraborty opens up about multiple distresses as a person with disabilities during the coronavirus lockdown but wishes not to be crowned a ‘hero’
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Apr '20It’s my life, not for yours to imagine
By Shivalal Gautam
Shivalal Gautam wants queer activists and groups in mainland as well as North-East India to be honest to the purpose of community development work in north-eastern India
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Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 2)
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
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Apr '20Sexual intimacy and risk of coronavirus infection
By Dr. A. Sathish Kumar, Rafiquel Haque Dowjah
Dr. A. Sathish Kumar provides guidance on playing it safe sexually during and after the countrywide lockdown imposed to counter the coronavirus pandemic
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Mar '20Coronavirus outreach news from ‘Varta’
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
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Story of a trans warrior – 10 years done, more to come (part 1)
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
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Mar '20Look, there’s something subaltern about this graffiti!
By Chandrima Mukhopadhyay, Subhradeep Chatterjee, Utsa Ghosh
Jadavpur University students set Braille graffiti example, turn walls into bridges for inclusion
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Mar '20A child’s plea
By Ananya Kar
The child in this poem is each one of us. Do we have the answers to this child’s plea?
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Feb '20Hope makes a good breakfast. Sip N Bite does it better
By Duncan Rice
Duncan Rice is bowled over by the breakfast and motivation served up at café Sip N Bite
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Feb '20Bioscope of your intimate dreams and public protests!
By Pawan Dhall, Vahista Dastoor
The Varta website has transitioned again – amid many contentious social transitions!
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Sep '19Explorations of ‘self’ pride beyond Section 377
By Pawan Dhall
Stories of pride may be tucked away from all the rainbow glitter going around
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Sep '19Attempts at erasing trans cultures in Manipur
By Santa Khurai
Santa Khurai on trans women in Manipur being denied their traditional space in the Lai Haraoba festival
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Sep '19Legal facts on transmitting, viewing and reporting online child pornography
By Kaushik Gupta
Kaushik Gupta explains the law on online child pornography
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Aug '19Comfort of echoes in a chamber
By Sayan Bhattacharya
Sayan Bhattacharya points at the inefficacy of queer activisms in India in the face of larger socio-political challenges