Celebrating humanness
Shital Ravi Ardhanarishvara, is where Lord Shiva is depicted as a half-male, half-female figure, with one half representing Lord Shiva and the other representing Goddess Parvati. The Ardhanarishwara image is often interpreted as a symbol of the unity of male and female principles in the universe, as well as the fluidity of gender identity. Mohini […]
Unlocking the claustrophobic closet
Who will open this closet: the one in which a child is trapped – claustrophobic, searching for light, oxygen and his identity? Anshu Arora A person who has claustrophobia fears enclosed spaces, and may panic when inside a space such as a lift, a plane or a crowded room. Imagine if this space was one’s […]
Working with transgender people
Lack of skilled workforce and communication skills and that most transgender people have limited education are aspects that cannot be overlooked, say HR experts Reena Mathai Luke Today we are aware that advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is high on most corporate agendas even in India, but the real challenge of embedding DEI in […]
Spinning a rainbow of hope
Prachi Raturi Misra White flowers, his favourite cake, lots of candles and some of his favourite people. Everyone ringed in his 18th birthday on 8 April with the joy and love he thrived on. The only one missing was him. “When I saw him smile in the picture, I reminded myself he was hopefully in […]
WHY the WHY’s? Inclusivity of diversity
Moving beyond prejudgements and questions to embracing the person in all their rainbow colours Namrata Gupta Not normal’, ‘it will get better with time’, ‘just experimenting’, ‘just a phase’, ‘they look odd’ are some of the many reactions to being queer you might have heard. We like to believe of ourselves as individuals with independent […]
हम अलग हो सकते हैं, ग़लत नहीं
आपका समाज की नज़रों में अच्छा होना ज़रूरी नहीं, ख़ुद की नज़रों में सुंदर होना ज्यादा ज़रूरी है हर्षित सिंह जब से मैंने होश सम्भाला है तब से मेरी यादें कुछ ऐसी रहीं हैं कि कभी किसी दोस्त, कभी घर आये रिश्तेदार, कभी कोई अजनबी मेरा मज़ाक़ उड़ा रहा होता है। मज़ाक़ के पात्र मेरी […]
Proud and how!
From working at a dhaba to being sold to the eunuch community to finally becoming the woman she wanted to be, Naaz’s journey speaks of determination and strength Veenu Singh She owns the space she walks into. Honest, bold, and towering in height and stature, that is Naaz Joshi for you. India’s first international trans […]
Of courage and conviction
Akkai Padmashali’s book A Small Step in a Long Journey is a brutally honest account of her journey and
victories
How seeking help helped me
Siddique Shaikh I grew up in a large joint family with a business background in manufacturing and retail of footwear in Mumbai. Living in a joint family has its own benefits as you grow up with a stronger emotional bond with your cousins, uncles and aunts until the time for property distribution arrives. God has […]
मैं दिमाग में कचरा नहीं रखता
आज के दौर में जहां चार वर्ष के बच्चों को भी कहते सुना जाता है कि मुझे टेंशन है, ऐसे में हंसी के फव्वारे लाना और दुखी आत्माओं को हंसाना कोई छोटी बात नहीं। कोई वक्त ऐसा भी आता होगा जब उनके खुद के शरीर और दिल में दुख का दरिया हिलोरें ले रहा होता […]