The Conference!

Queer Thoughts, the national conference organized by Sappho for Equality which was held on the 10th and 11th April, saw a very good turnout. Delegates had come from abroad and other parts of India, either to present a paper or just support the cause.

There was some very thought provoking stuff discussed which ranged from Dr Dhar talking about Freud, Lacan and psychonalysis to Sutanuka talking about polymorphosity and the multiplicity of identity.

I presented the first paper of the conference and am glad to say it went off rather well. I spoke about identifying and locating the 'Queer' identity in Popular Indian Culture (which was mainly films). I spoke at length about Fire and My brother Nikhil and also comparing it to more 'general' films like Honeymoon travels Pvt Ltd. and how the identity has changed over time. The Queer man from being the ridiculed character in side role to taking over as the mainstream serious hero.

The other papers were quite good too. In particular I like Niluka's paper on Disability and Sexuality in the Sri Lankan context. Also noteworthy was Monidipa's paper on Kari( a graphic novel by amruta patil on a lesbian girl) Its important to see how the proliferation of the different kinds of media has given it a more wider readership and understanding in terms of both engaging the heteronormative audience and in interrogating the flailing gender theories.

Pramada Menon comments on joining the academic space with the activist's voice was another point worth thinking about.
All in all the conference went off rather well and I am looking forward to more such events in the near future. Next on the cards is The Queer film festival (June or July, i will know exact dates soon) at Max Mueller Bhaban later this year.



P.S: Photo courtesy Niluka Gunawardena

Lumbini. The Start.

Over the last month, I started frequenting Lumbini Park Mental hospital. Tucked away in a corner of New Ballygunge, the inconspicuous and harmless yellow building houses one of the 3 mental hospitals in the city, where ANJALI runs it's rehab programmes. On my very visit, I was there to attend the "Basanta Utsab" (Spring Festival) organised by ANJALI. I didn't get to interact with them, cos the place was flooded with guests and they themselves, were flushed with the performances they'd put up.

The first impression of Lumbini, left me quite shaken. The narrow corridors, the dingy dorms, the rough beds, the cage in the female ward, where the warden sat under a fan, chit chatting... and mostly, the faces, of all the inmates..

The idea of starting photo therapy there, had grown and fermented in my head. I had spoken to both ANJALI, and CHOICE, about the revamped project, so now I set about talking to the people who would from he axis. On my next few visits, I went alone, and without my camera. It didn't take very long to get familiar with them. They love having someone to talk to, and they talk a lot. They absorb you into their world..

Gradually I broached the topic of photography. Most of them were very enthusiastic, but some had their reservations. But the response was overall, predominantly positive. So, over the last month, armed with an old digital point and shoot, I started taking the photography "classes".

Since there was only one camera going around, it also gave us time to talk. They slipped easily into personal accounts of their stay in Lumbini, and their memories, and sometimes delusions. A game that we often play, is "Moner Frame-e, ei muhurte, kon chobi ta ghurche?" (Which picture do you see in your mind's frame right now?)

The results are absolutely intriguing.. Ranging from childhood stories to complaints against the hospital authorities, it paints a vivid picture of the lives they lead.

I am collecting narrative and pictures from these visits to design the eventual awareness workshop. Here are some of the pictures, they've taken so far:

More soon. 

Pujarini.

Intern, ANJALI.

Last minute Conference prep

Come then, I pray,
grant me surcease from sorrow,
Drive away care,
I beseech thee,
O goddess Fulfil for me what
I yearn to accomplish,
Be thou my ally.

~Sappho~

The conference is less than ten days away. Work is on full swing. The Conference related literature is being published (the abstracts and bio notes on the key speakers). Activists like Pramada Menon, Asha Achuthan, academics like Dr Amit Dhar and Paromita Chakraborti will be chairing the sessions and presenting special papers.

The conference will be a good ground for ethnographic study and discussion on queer issues in India. There are a number of gay movements taking place through out the world and in particular south asia through literature, films, photography and direct activism.. It is time to interrogate the muffled silence of acceptance identity, morality and religion that are intertwined together within the tapestry of the Indian gay movement impacting the erotic silence of the closet and the dynamics of a love that we are afraid to speak of. This conference will bring to light all those issues, ideas and support.

P.S: i have put up a event invitation on facebook called 'Queer thoughts' Please RSVP if you want to attend.