'Varta' Webzine

By Nu Misra

Disabled persons do not need to be pathologized, patronized or pitied, says Nu Misra

By Mihir Seth

Mihir Seth finds the strength to go on in queer stories of trials, tribulations and hope

By Rajib Chakrabarti

To mellow is not to lose lustre, says Rajib Chakrabarti

By Pawan Dhall

End / beginning of the year self-reflection notes by Pawan Dhall

By Shampa Sengupta

How equipped are the government-run one stop crisis centres for women to carry out crisis intervention? Shampa Sengupta shares insight from a recent survey of the centres in four states...

By Mahua Seth

Mahua Seth points out the importance of allies within the larger family fold for parents of queer individuals

By Pawan Dhall

Pawan Dhall writes about his musings on 'saudade' – the presence of absence?

By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy asserts that our desires run like a subterranean river and can survive all forms of censorship

By Mihir Seth

Mihir Seth reflects on the pilot Queer Kolkata Heritage Walk held on July 2, 2024 to mark the 25th anniversary of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’

By Anureet Watta

‘Don’t Interrupt While We Dance’ is a film about queer and trans joy interrupted by the State, police, and shadows of violence and scrutiny that have always been cast on...

By Pawan Dhall

Self-reflection and self-transformation have an important place in social campaigns for justice, argues Pawan Dhall

By Sayan Bhattacharya

Amidst the unending stream of ‘happiness’ being thrust on us from every quarter, Sayan Bhattacharya strikes a necessary discordant note

By Diksha Sanyal

Diksha Sanyal summarizes a study on the art and cultural advocacies undertaken by queer community groups in West Bengal in the 1990s and 2000s. The study has been co-developed by...

By Pritha Bhattacharya, Sambrita Chakraborty

Pritha Bhattacharya and Sambrita Chakraborty report on an art exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of ‘Friendship Walk ‘99’, India’s first rainbow pride walk held in Kolkata on July 2,...

By Lipikor, Jia Mata

In kink, ‘switch’ is something you do rather than what you are, argue Lipikor and Jia Mata

By Namrata

Namrata writes about the developments around the Deed of Familial Association in Tamil Nadu and how it can lead to recognition of queer relationships