'Varta' Webzine

Bioscope of your intimate dreams!

  • Vartanama Dec '16

    ‘Yahan se shahar ko dekho’

    By Pawan Dhall

    Christmas is in the air, and the New Year is nigh. Given as we are to stock taking this time of the year (as if there’s not a New Year...

  • Clickhappy! Dec '16

    Cinema, erotic poetry, music and moves

    By Pawan Dhall, Prosenjit Pal

    Prosenjit Pal and Pawan Dhall were at the ‘Hang Out with KRPF’, a queer evening of arts and adda graciously hosted by Alliance Française du Bengale, Kolkata on December 2, 2016...

  • Happenings Dec '16

    Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a reality!

    By Disability rights organizations in India

    Persons with disabilities in India and organizations fighting to uphold their rights have gained a new legal recourse for equity and justice. Excerpts from a media release issued by All...

  • Happenings Dec '16

    Small step, big victory!

    By Pawan Dhall

    The West Bengal Administrative Tribunal directs WBPSC to include 'transgender' in its forms. Kolkata, December 5, 2016: Transgender rights received a strong morale booster in West Bengal today! Atri Kar, a...

  • Happenings

    Kolkata pride calls for laws that respect human rights

    By Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival

    The 15th edition of the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ is planned for December 11, 2016 – exactly three years since the infamous Supreme Court of India verdict on Section 377,...

  • Quote: Ever since the Standing Committee submitted its recommendations in May 2015 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, a phased countrywide campaign urged the government to clarify its stand with regard to the Bill and recommendations made by the Standing Committee . It is welcome that the government is introducing amendments that address some of the major concerns disability rights organisations had with regard to certain provisions in the Bill.
    Happenings Dec '16

    Disability rights milestone in India!

    By Disability rights organizations in India

    A sustained campaign by several disability rights activists and organizations across India has forced the government to bring amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 Delhi, December...

  • Vartanama Nov '16

    Keep the fire burning

    By Pawan Dhall

    In childhood I remember using an assortment of toys to construct entire cities complete with houses, offices, markets, hospitals and roads busy with humans, animals and cars. Some of these...

  • Disability - Advice, Insight

    Need for speed on disability rights law

    By Shampa Sengupta

    'Bring Back RPD Bill' will be the rallying cry on Delhi streets this December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Shampa Sengupta wants government apathy towards the Rights...

  • Commentary Nov '16

    Privilege 101: Your handy primer to oppression and privilege

    By Asmita Ghosh

    Asmita Ghosh wants us to acknowledge and push back our social privileges, often invisible to our own eyes but painfully evident to those denied the same This article was originally published on Feminism...

  • My Story

    Little joys of childhood

    By Pallav Bonerjee

    Parents must ensure their children remain in touch with the real world – Pallav Bonerjee continues his series of personal narratives on psychology, people and destiny The word ‘childhood’ triggers...

  • Clickhappy! Nov '16

    Queer carnival beats Delhi smog

    By Sukhdeep Singh

    Sukhdeep Singh photo-documents the 'KinkPin Presents Queer Carnival' held in Delhi, November 13, 2016

  • Vartanama Oct '16

    Beyond human bondage

    By Pawan Dhall

    Spring cleaning in any season can lead to some invaluable finds tucked away in forgotten corners. The handout below – well, excerpts from a handout – is the result of...

  • Insight, Policy Matters

    Disorder to dysphoria – humanizing the trans citizen?

    By Debjyoti Ghosh

    Debjyoti Ghosh on the World Health Organisation’s plans to delist transgender identity as a mental disorder

  • My Story

    The boy from Patna

    By Aakash

    It was a rainy evening in Delhi – the drizzle increased the slight chill of the early October air. My mind, after the daylong torture of multiple meetings, difficult conversations,...

  • People Oct '16

    Qatha: Recalling dark room discoveries and more (part 3)

    By Pawan Dhall

    Varta brings you the ‘Queer Kolkata Oral History Project’, an initiative to document five decades of queer lives in Kolkata (1960-2000). Our aim in this project is to go back in...

  • Poetry

    Gogyohshi #2

    By Rajib Chakrabarti

    The poet uses Gogyohshi, a form of Japanese micropoetry, to express what he felt when he heard a man ridicule filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh soon after his demise in life and...

Skip to content