Deras and Dalits of Punjab

One of the most talked about deras in recent times has been the Dera Sacha Sauda of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is convicted in multiple rape and murder cases

NO Truce IN SIGHT

Over 50,000 people have been displaced since May 3 due to the ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities. Still, there is little hope for reconciliation

Illiberal Education

The recent resignation of an economist from Ashoka University following the political backlash to his research paper on manipulation in the 2019 elections raises crucial questions about the state of higher education

Unleashing Queer Possibilities

The inability to listen, internalise and empathise marks many Indian movies on marginalised characters and themes Rituparno Ghosh's Chitrangada is different-because Ghosh was different

My Identity is Not a Hurdle

From dancing in hidden corners to avoid snide comments to performing on stage in front of thousands of people, transgender Bharatnatyam dancer Narthaki Nataraj's journey is one full of resilience. Hailing from a small village in Tamil Nadu, Nataraj's passion for dance was ignited early on. Alongside her closest ally, Shakthi, a transwoman, she overcame societal neglect and together they pursued their shared dream of training in Bharatnatyam. Nataraj's performances have gained international acclaim, and she has been bestowed with several awards and honours for her contributions to dance and her role in breaking down gender barriers. She spoke to Anisha Reddy about her journey so far.

Fair Portrayal Matters

Who gets to play trans roles? And who decides the norms of representation?

Trans Inclusion...Served Hot and Fresh

Spaces like Bambai Nazariya in Mumbai and Pride Café in Bengaluru are providing employment opportunities to transgenders to smash stereotypes

An Uphill Battle

Transgender persons continue to face hurdles in gaining access to inheritance, adoption rights family pension and important legal documents

Transcending Barriers

Transgender people are fighting hard and patiently waiting for their chance to contest elections or get government jobs

The Trans Lens

While films about transgender lives are garnering audiences, queer and transgender filmmakers and thespians weigh in on why representation may not always mean inclusion

Gender TROUBLE

If cis-gender actors can play transgenders on screen, why can't it be the other way round?

The Trauma of Erasure

Acts of gendered people are harming and punishing the existence of sexual minorities

Lives on the Fringes

Despite a few refreshing narratives, most of Indian mainstream cinema still struggles to portray transgender people with all their human complexities and contradictions

Too Loud A Clap

Taali is too much exterior, very little inward looking, too much tell, very little show

The Invisibility Cloak

\"My eyes are always hungry. They look at your face and move down and we long for that complete body. It is a strong urge to be a woman and to look better than any woman. We want to be mothers, too. That is an inherent part of being a woman\"- Gauri Sawant to me in an interview in 2012 for 'The Eunuch Mothers' that appeared in Open magazine

Laws That Target Minorities

The Narendra Modi-led government has enacted many laws that systematically discriminate against Muslims

The People Behind The Scenes

Who Are These People? by Leena Nandan, IAS officer and secretary in the environment ministry, is a thriller set in the backdrop of terror activities, garnished with stories of civil servants and their lives

The Fog Of Wordplay

Hijab, azaan, jihadi, anti-national, terrorist, mullah, miya-the meaning of these terms are blurred on purpose by many political leaders and Right-wing groups. They use it as a strategy to serve their own agendas, target religious minorities and stoke communal passions

Navigating Lives, Negotiating Desires

Patna Pride Parade took place last month. Many moving and inspiring queer life stories were shared at the event

Caste and Crime

The government's role in ensuring the safety and dignity of people from marginalised communities like Musahars is paramount in a caste-ridden society like Bihar

"We Cannot Let the Tribal Identity Vanish"

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in conversation with Chinki Sinha. The chief minister organised a two-day Tribal (indigenous) Festival in Ranchi recently to celebrate indigenous identity and also to show Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's assertion of tribal rights

"Muslims are not violent or barbarians, nor is the book they revere most a book of hate."

Political anthropologist Irfan Ahmad is a Professor of Anthro po­ logy and Sociology at Istanbul’s Ibn Haldun University in Turkey, known for his work on various aspects of Islam and Islamophobia, including Western and Indian thought.

Waves of Violence

Bengal, nationally known as a hub of secular-liberal ideals, is witnessing its centuries-old covert Islamophobia turning overt

Vulnerable at Home

To make sense of the Indian variant of Islamophobia, it is vital to examine its relationship with the notion of communalism-particularly their points of convergence

Discordant Notes

Clashes on festivals like Ram Navami sharpen the divide between Hindus and Muslims in Jharkhand

A Divided World

Anti-Islam narrative is being promoted by Right-Wing ideologues worldwide to exploit the latent hate for votes

Tranquil Change

In a world enveloped by Islamophobia, two institutions in Kerala are fostering peaceful conversions

Scarred Forever

Residents of North East Delhi relive the traumatic memories of the February 2020 carnage amid an endless wait for justice

In Search of Peace

The real question is how to build up trust between the two religions so that Islamophobia is staved off. At the core of both Hinduism and Islam lay the ideas of love, acceptance and togetherness that can offset Islamophobia and Hindutva