Urvashi Sarkar

Thoughts, stories and ideas.

Tag: The Hindu

  • Imprints of a people

    PHOTO: Courtesy Ketaki Sheth/Photoink and National Gallery of Modern Art

    Published in The Hindu. 7 October 2013

    Intimate glimpses of the life of a community, vignettes from their culture and people at their unaffected best have been movingly captured by veteran photographer Ketaki Sheth in an exhibition on the Sidi, little known Indian tribes of African descent.

    Between 2005 and 2011, Ketaki travelled through Gujarat, Bombay, Goa, Hyderabad and the forests near Manchikere in Karnataka, clicking the Sidi. Elaborating on the complex process which yielded these photographs, Ms. Sheth said in an email, “As an outsider to a small community, I had to make sure I won their confidence and friendship. I took time to photograph them and returned with their pictures; slowly a friendship formed and I owe this to the three Sidi I have dedicated my book to.” The exhibition takes its title, ‘A Certain Grace. The Sidi: Indians of African Descent’, from her book which was launched earlier this year.

    These bold and arresting pictures, all in black and white, are striking in their grace and spontaneity and depict the community in a range of contexts and moods — the Sidi at home, at work, at music and dance, at festive and religious ceremonies.

    The pictures arouse a medley of emotions — ranging from the easy camaraderie of young boys, to the protectiveness of sisterhood, the cheekiness of youth, the shy delight of a bride-to-be, to the chutzpah of elderly women. The pictures of the Sidi also contain a great deal of natural imagery, such as forests, water and animals.

    According to an artiste statement by Ms. Sheth, the Sidi arrived in India well over 500 years ago as seafarers, merchants and slaves from the east coast of Africa. Her book on the Sidi also contains an introduction to the community by Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent Ugandan academic of Indian origin. According to Prof. Mamdani, the Sidi migrated to India over successive historical periods as traders, armed African sailors, pearl divers and as slave-soldiers.

    The Sidi in India have predominantly Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. According to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs website, the Sidi have ST status in districts of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Daman and Diu. Talking of discrimination against them, Ms. Sheth says she is aware of instances of racial barbs and problems with getting a passport. She mentions the instance of a Diu-based Sidi who was discouraged from joining the Indian Army, after people told him that he would not be accepted.

    “I think the real problem is that their ST status does not always get them the benefits they ought to get and some Sidi feel that other tribes are more fortunate,” she says.

    Prof. Mamdani in his essay also quotes the Sidi who say that unlike other tribes, they have not been able to organise well. The lack of Sidi in politics, teaching and medicine has resulted in their not being aware of their rights.

    Over the centuries, the Sidi have embraced local language, dress and food, but retain a distinct African heritage in their appearance, dance, music and spiritual practices. Though most Sidi live in rural areas, they are also in cities such as Mumbai, small towns and cities in Gujarat. Their religious composition is diverse — they are Sufis in Gujarat, Mumbai and Hyderabad; and Christians and Hindus in Goa and Karnataka respectively.

    Some of the most memorable imagery in the exhibition is of women. The images of Reshma, a part-time student and farmer; Hirbaiben Lobi posing on her three acre farm; the cigarette-puffing Aminaben and the strikingly beautiful Rizwana are hard to forget, and linger on.

    “I found the women to be strong, fearless and dynamic,” says Ms. Sheth, citing the instance of Hirbaiben Lobi, a farmer who employs Sidi women in her local organic manure business and is also celebrated for organising around 600 women from households where men would drink and gamble. There are other examples — of Farida who holds a bank job and spends her free time helping out in her community and Salmaben who has helped women resolve family and land-related problems.

    Ms. Sheth has been interviewed by a Johannesburg radio show and also been contacted by galleries and academics in relation to her work with the Sidi. But she is not sure how aware people in Africa are of the Sidi, or for that matter, if there is awareness of the community even in India where they live.

    The exhibition which is on till November 3 at the Jaipur Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, is presented by NGMA in collaboration with Photoink.

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/imprints-of-a-people/article5208365.ece

  • The dream of a long distance runner

    Published in The Hindu. 20 September 2012

    A brow gleaming with perspiration from the sultry Delhi weather, knees and arms bending and stretching effortlessly and an agile body which looks raring to sprint off at any moment – Arun Bhardwaj appears every inch an athlete. He is busy preparing for the audacious task of being the first person to run solo from Kargil to Kanyakumari, as he works out in the green environs of Nehru Park.

    ‘Run Arun Run’

    Arun will clock 4,000 kms over a course of 60 days beginning October 1. His route will include Leh, Kullu, Chandigarh, Delhi, Agra, Jhansi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Madurai. The message of the run is ‘Kargil to Kanyakumari; India is one’ according to his Facebook page aptly titled ‘Run Arun Run’.

    The ruddy glow on his face belies his 43 years. One is struck with further wonder as he narrates the metamorphosis from the ailing child weighing 26 kilos in Class IX to an athlete in the prime of health and physical fitness. “I have repeatedly suffered from malaria since Class II till 19 years of age. I was a sickly child. Even if I played football, I would always be placed at the back of the team. I also underwent four major surgeries of the parotid tumour between 14 and 17 years of age,” says Arun.

    Towards his third year of college, Arun started reading Swami Vivekananda, The Bhagavad Gita and doing yoga. “Perhaps that is when it all started,” muses Arun, who graduated from Delhi University and now works for the Planning Commission.

    The main trigger for Arun to become an ultra distance runner was his daughter’s birth. “I wanted to inspire her to run for the country.” He has another daughter and son whom he also encourages to run. Arun began running seriously at the age of 31 and has since participated in and won ultra marathons and endurance races across the world. He has also been touted as India’s first internationally recognised ultra distance runner.

    Toughest race

    He describes his toughest race till date as the South Africa six-day race in 2010. “It was continuously raining and the ground was muddy. Since the race kitchens were non-vegetarian, I survived on apples, bananas and oranges.” Victory was thus sweeter when Arun clinched the top position in the race, clocking over 90 kms daily.

    Arun, whose body has to accomplish extraordinary feats, follows no ordinary diet. He consumes half a kilo of honey, 10 litres of juice and dry fruits everyday and food with very little oil and spices. Arun claims he does not go to the gym. “Our body already has all it requires. Nothing external is needed.”

    But it is Arun’s exercise regimen which is inspiring and even jaw-dropping. “I work for the Planning Commission in Central Delhi and live in Dwarka. I sometimes run from home to office in the morning which is a distance of 25 kilometres.”

    Preferring to gloss over the politics dogging the treatment of various sports in India, Arun concentrates instead on drumming up excitement for his upcoming run which will doubtlessly be an opportunity of a lifetime, even for him.

    Cover photo for representation

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/the-dream-of-a-long-distance-runner/article3916308.ece

  • The neighbourhood bazaar

    Article published in The Hindu Sunday Magazine. 24 December 2011

    Dam ka Qeema mix, Haleem mix, Barbeque Biriyani mix, Paya mix, Karahi Gosht mix, Seekh kebab mix. As I scanned the glossy expanse of spice mixture packets used for pepping up a myriad of delicacies, I was instantly tempted to buy a packet of each from the Habib Spice Stall where they were on display at the Pakistan pavilion of the recently concluded India International Trade Fair.

    Accompanied by drool-worthy pictures of the dish, complete with directions to cook it the traditional Pakistani way, these spice offerings were truly hot. A Karachi-based company, Habib was one of the few spice brands which set up shop at the trade fair. “Habib has been exhibiting at the IITF since two years,” says stall manager Mustafa Hasan. “Shan (another spice brand) has been exhibiting its products at the IITF since six years,” he adds. Shan and Habib, I am told, are major rivals in the spices segment of Pakistan. “There are 70 Pakistani exhibitors. If more space had been allotted, more exhibitors from Pakistan would have come forward,” Mustafa says.

    Most of the spices on sale are meant to flavour non-vegetarian dishes. “Indians are mostly vegetarian, while in Pakistan, the diet is predominantly non-vegetarian,” says Mustafa, echoing a widely-held belief regarding the food habits of the two countries. However, sales are brisk.

    Persisting beliefs

    As we speak, Mustafa tells me that he is interested in buying Indian ethnic goods. He has visited Fabindia and wants more suggestions. Based on my limited knowledge, I ask him to visit the Cottage Industries Emporium, Dilli Haat and Khadi Emporium. Mustafa has heard of the first two.

    Moving on, I see Sabeen Akbar, Chief Executive of her clothing enterprise, using her persuasive skills to convince a woman to buy a richly embellished suit piece. She quotes a high price. “These goods would not be so expensive if they were not hand-made. Karachi deals mainly in manufactured goods while handmade items can be found in Multan,” she says.

    As I roam from stall to stall, I ask how business has been and get mostly discouraging replies. “The buying power of Indians has decreased,” claims Jehangir Iqbal Khokal whose stoles and suit pieces did not find too many takers.

    Folding a dressy cotton suit, Mohammed Salim from a neighbouring stall says that sales have not been too good. “People baulk at the prospect of paying more than Rs. 1,000 for cotton. They are oblivious to the amount of labour needed for work on the material itself.”

    For many of the exhibitors, the sales raked in at the fair are not as crucial as the materialisation of partnerships with Indian traders and sellers. A.N. Alim Ahmad, whose exquisite silk saris from Bangladesh are drawing interested buyers, says, “The partnerships that we had hoped for are not developing. We want Indians to sell our goods here. But the people on the Indian side want our goods on credit which we cannot agree to,” he says.

    I spend some time at the stall admiring the brilliant greens and fiery reds and golds that come to life on China silk and Bangla silk material. The saris don’t come cheap and start from Rs. 2,200. At another emporium, Afsaruddin, a salesman, is delighted to hear me speak Bengali. He exclaims: “Thank God someone speaks Bengali!” Jamdani silk and muslin have sold rapidly, I am told.

    Here too, the saris are exorbitantly priced. Afsaruddin claims that Bangladeshi women purchase saris worth Rs. 50,000 without batting an eyelid. “Here you tell the women that a sari costs Rs. 3,000, they baulk even if they have the money,” he says. Jute and silk saris are the main items of sale at the Bangladesh pavilion.

    I head to Hall number 18 which was hosting the exhibits of a number of other countries. The Turkey pavilion immediately beckoned me with its brilliantly coloured and bewitching lanterns and lamps in all possible hues and shades. The eyes and flashbulb were both extremely gratified. It was a pleasure to just stand there and muse on the warm lighting and note every glint and wink of the coloured lights. I trooped to the nearby Afghanistan pavilion where stall managers were kept busy with purchasers buying dry fruits in bulk. Mainly from Mazar-e-Sharif, the most lapped up items were anjeers, chilkot, dried mulberries, giant raisins and khurmanis. Saffron from Herat saw interested buyers but not much sale owing to the high rates. Qudratullah Rahmati of the Afghan Saffron Company said his sales had not been satisfactory owing to the proliferation of saffron stalls.

    The security cops, however, hung around the saffron stall demanding that saffron should be mixed with the water they were drinking!

    Learning experience

    More wandering took me to the carpet stall of Muhammad Hanif Rahim. This is Muhammad’s maiden participation in the IITF. For Muhammad, this experience has been about learning about Indian culture as much as it is about getting to know customer requirements. “Indians demand smaller carpets while Afghans buy much bigger ones,” he says. “Each room in an Afghan house must have a carpet.”

    The carpets which are made at Mazar-e-Sharif are priced at US$ 200 per square metre and created by local artisans in their homes. They are made of wool sourced from Australia and China.

    Does the instability in Afghanistan prevent them from doing work? “We find it difficult to sell Afghan goods to foreigners in Afghanistan,” answers Muhammad. This is because “foreigners don’t come to Afghan bazaars and stay in their bases. But the local demand is very good.” Mazar-e-Sharif, claims Muhammad is one of the safest places in Afghanistan. More stalls beckoned, but my tired feet stopped only once — to sample an Iranian date which was being offered to taste. I have never bitten into a softer or more tasteful date.

    Cover photo: Urvashi Sarkar

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-neighbourhood-bazaar/article2744455.ece

  • Delhi celebrates second anniversary of liberation

    Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

    Published in The Hindu. 3 July 2011

    It was an occasion to rejoice once again as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and their supporters converged at Jantar Mantar here on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the 2009 Delhi High Court judgment that struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and decriminalised sexual acts of adults in private.

    Relatively low-key compared with previous gatherings, the tone of the event was still celebratory as people donned colourful clothes, waved confetti and cheered and clapped. Many took to the makeshift stage and spoke stirringly about their experiences.

    Advertising executive Anand, who had come to the gathering with friends, said: “The judgment has at least resulted in increased discussion regarding issues of the LGBT community. While some positive changes have taken place since, obviously there is scope for a great deal of improvement in attitudes. The judgment is not a magic wand.”

    For Kali, a transvestite who has been regularly participating in the gay pride marches, the gathering was a moment of joy. For some, the gathering provided courage to articulate their sexuality. A 21-year-old boy wearing a colourful mask said: “Till last year, I did not dare attend such events. But now I have more courage and feel happier. I intend to come out to my family soon.”

    Also present at the event were the representatives of “Queer Campus,” a Delhi-based independent queer student and youth collective active since 2010. Queer Campus, which also has a Facebook page, screens films along with the Naz Foundation, a non-government organisation that works for sexual health.

    While general optimism was palpable among the people, most have an eye on the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the matter.

    Rights activist Gautam Bhan said: “There is a lot of hope that the Supreme Court verdict will be in the right direction.” Speaking about the aim of the parade, he said: “There is a need to rekindle the hope in the possibility of change. Further, we want to highlight that this is very much an issue which matters to people and can still bring them on to the streets. This event is also a way of giving life to the verdict.”

    Regarding whether ground realities have changed following the judgment, Mr. Bhan said: “There are definite changes. Our relationship with the police has changed. There was no problem of police protection for this event as they recognise our legitimacy. The change is noticeable across companies and how people are treated with regard to jobs.”

    But ground still remains to be covered in terms of removal of discrimination at educational institutions, hospitals, workplaces, police stations and other State-run and private institutions.

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/delhi-celebrates-second-anniversary-of-liberation/article2155113.ece

  • “DU admission offer at Rs 80,000”

    Published in The Hindu. 24 June 2011

    Hoping to cash in on the eagerness of students to get admission in one of the coveted colleges on the North Campus of Delhi University, a strategically placed notice in the Arts Faculty premises states that students wanting admission on the North Campus should call a particular mobile number.

    The Arts Faculty is the venue for registration of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates for admissions and also for a couple of other courses and is packed with student aspirants many of whom have come from outside the Capital.

    A call to the number resulted in a bizarre conversation. A man calling himself ‘Sameer’ offered admission for B.A. Honours History in a leading college on the North Campus for Rs. 80,000 saying that the student’s name would appear in the “second or third cut-off list”.

    “Admission will be through the staff quota and sports quota. The money charged from the student will mainly go to “professors” and for making certificates for admission through the sports quota,” he said, claiming that all colleges accept donations.

    The man, who claims to be a student of M.A. in Political Science in the university, sounded brusque and businesslike but did not attempt coercion.

    “I will not force you in case you are not convinced. I already have the documents of 60 students. These documents include photocopies of Class X and Class XII mark sheets, an electricity bill for address proof and must be signed by the student’s parents. The originals are not needed,” he said.

    “These students are looking for admissions in St. Stephen’s College, Miranda House, Hans Raj College, Hindu College, Shri Ram College of Commerce and others. They are also seeking admissions in South Campus colleges such as Sri Venkateswara College, Zakir Husain College which can be arranged at a lesser cost.”

    Reasoning that cut-offs are going to rocket this admission season, ‘Sameer’ quoted a sum of Rs. 1,80,000 each for admission to two prestigious colleges on the North Campus.

    “The down payment is Rs. 15,000 and the rest can be paid after admission,” he said.

    When contacted, Dean of Students’ Welfare Prof. J. M. Khurana cautioned: “Students are advised not to fall into such traps. These are nothing but humbug. Moreover, the rules for staff quota admissions are very stringent. Only the wards of university teaching and non-teaching staff are eligible for admissions. Colleges individually decide the relaxation which is given to this quota and it is usually about one or two per cent in every course. The employees also have to submit a letter signed by the college Principal and Registrar stating they are university employees.”

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/du-admission-offer-at-rs-80000/article2075686.ece

  • When death came suddenly from the sky

    Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

    Published in The Hindu. 27 May 2011

    An impromptu decision to enjoy the cool night breeze on the terrace of their two-storey home cost the mother, sister and wife of young Deepak Sehrawat their lives when a small aircraft crashed into their house on a narrow by-lane of the densely-populated Parvatia Colony here on Wednesday night.

    Deepak, who is in his 20s, was outside the house with his sister’s young son, and his father was near the gate when the tragedy struck. They survived while their female relatives and all seven onboard the aircraft were killed. The aircraft was carrying to the capital a critically ill patient from Patna, along with medical professionals of the Apollo Hospital in Delhi.

    Deepak’s mother Vedvati was at neighbour Sunil Sharma’s house, minutes before the tragedy struck. “As there was no electricity, Vedvati said she was returning to her house to spend some time on the terrace, as the weather had all of a sudden turned windy. She, along with her daughter and daughter-in-law, had just reached the terrace when the aircraft crashed into their house,” said Sunil Sharma.

    A driver, Deepak had married Rani only in February this year. Eyewitnesses said around 10.30 p.m., they heard the roaring sound of an engine and wondered what the source was. Soon, some people saw a small aircraft hovering dangerously close to the buildings. “Our family was sleeping on the terrace when we heard the sound of an approaching aircraft. The plane crashed into our neighbours’ house in front of our very eyes and exploded into a ball of fire. It sounded as if two gas cylinders had exploded together,” said another neighbour Jitender Upadhyaya.

    The aircraft destroyed two houses.

    Parts of the terrace floor where the aircraft crashed had broken to form gaping holes, extending to the base of the house. The mangled remains of the aircraft’s glossy bright blue fuselage were perched on the broken terrace. Its interiors were ravaged by the fire. Twisted and jagged metal sheets and destroyed component parts were intermingled with the debris of the two broken houses.

    Neighbours and rescue personnel pitched in to douse the fire and extract the bodies from the debris. “The police took some time in coming. However, soon after they arrived, they were helped by the locals in extracting the bodies. Ambulances and fire tenders also arrived soon after,” said Sunil Sharma.

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/when-death-came-suddenly-from-the-sky/article2052896.ece

  • Panel to probe plane crash

    Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

    Published in The Hindu. 26 May 2011

    The Union government will appoint a committee of enquiry to probe the crash of a small air ambulance in a residential area in neighbouring Faridabad on Wednesday. Ten people, including all seven onboard, were killed in the freak tragedy.

    The committee will also make recommendations to prevent such accidents, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. A preliminary report has been received by the Ministry.

    The nine-seater aircraft of Air Charter Services India Private Limited on its way from Patna to Delhi was carrying a 20-year-old jaundice-afflicted Rahul Raj, doctors Rajesh Jain and Syed Arshad Abbas and nurse Cyril Joy employed with the Apollo Hospital, Delhi, and a cousin of the patient.

    The crash killed all seven and also three women — Sarita, Vedvanti and Rani — when the plane smashed into their house.

    A Directorate General of Civil Aviation team has inspected the site.

    According to DGCA Director of Air Safety (Delhi) Ram Nath, who was present at the site, the strong winds could have caused the small single engine turboprop to crash. “Based on our initial investigations, it appears that strong winds and stormy weather may have been responsible for the incident,” he said.

    “Such small aircraft do not have a cockpit voice recorder or black box which can help in ascertaining the cause of these kinds of incidents. The black box could have helped us gather more information about the incident,” he added.

    Delhi airport sources also said sudden bad weather could have been responsible. “On Wednesday the weather was not favourable in the areas adjoining the capital and several aircraft were deviating from their path as there were very strong winds,” said sources.

    However, a technical malfunction may also have been a contributory factor as the pilot had communicated to the Delhi Air Traffic Control that the aircraft was unable to withstand the strong winds at an altitude of 8,000 feet. Though the ATC asked the pilot to maintain the altitude, he could not do so and the aircraft began to descend.

    The last contact of the pilot with the ATC was reportedly around 10.45 p.m.

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panel-to-probe-plane-crash/article2050774.ece

  • Mixed reactions to university getting minority status

    Published in The Hindu. 23 February 2011

    Mixed reactions greeted the granting of minority institution status to Jamia Millia Islamia by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions on Tuesday.

    While for many, this is a historic moment for the university, others are opposed to the minority status.

    Former Jamia Teachers’ Association secretary and a petitioner in the matter, Prof. Tabrez Alam said: “We are feeling reassured that the minority status of Jamia has been maintained by the Commission. We have always contended that the inherent nature of this university which was established by members of the Muslim minority community in 1920 is that of a minority status institute. The Commission has also agreed to this.”

    “Initially we had to grant 22.5 per cent reservations for the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. We will no longer be required to do so and we will be able to provide up to 50 per cent of seats in all courses for students belonging to the underprivileged Muslim minority community,” he added.

    Since the institute cannot have more than 50 per cent reservations, the provision of 25 per cent internal quota for those who have passed their qualifying examination from Jamia now stands to question.

    Jamia Minority Status Coordination Committee convenor Mohammad Iyas Malik also welcomed the announcement.

    “The first benefit is for the Muslim community which is educationally and socially backward and needs uplifting. Muslim students will now have more access to quality education. However, a secular milieu will also prevail,” he said.

    On the other Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association has said on its website: “Jamia was envisaged as a space of higher learning and critical thinking against the insularity and isolationism of all kinds. The demand for minority status vitiates that glorious history of Jamia as a secular inclusive space and will push the university towards ghettoisation.”

    Jamia Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung when contacted said: “The declaration does not actually change things much for Jamia. The university already has 51 per cent Muslims. The main concern for some is that this move will change the secular ethos of the university. Jamia is a liberal and modern university. This declaration increases the onus on the university to stick to its secularist and nationalist credentials.”

    Photo: jmi.ac.in

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/Mixed-reactions-to-Jamia-getting-minority-status/article15455082.ece

  • Aligarh college girls make history of sorts

    Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

    Published in The Hindu. 20 January 2011

    The Aligarh Muslim University Women’s College, established way back in 1906, was forced to come into being 5 km away from the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College (M.A.O.C.), later renamed AMU, as M.A.O.C. Principal William Archbold felt “female education was injurious to the health of the M.A.O. college”.

    Cut to 2011, students from the undergraduate women’s college took part in the AMU students’ union (AMUSU) elections here on Wednesday for the first time in the history of the university’s student union.

    The excitement in the air was palpable as scores of girls lined up in serpentine queues to cast their vote, eagerly brandishing their voting identification slips and identity cards.

    “Women too must have a say in the election process. It is heartening that girls from our college are contesting the elections for the first time,” said Sanae Rabbi, an arts student, as her friends nodded in agreement.

    Principal Bilquis Nasim Waris said: “Five girls are contesting the elections from the [women’s] college; two each for the posts of AMUSU vice-president and cabinet member, and one for student representative to the court.”

    The elections are taking place after more than four years.

    Voting took place for the posts of union president, vice-president, honorary secretary, 10 cabinet posts and 11 varsity court positions.

    The women’s college, usually out of bounds for men, barring university authorities, faculty and staff, opened its doors partially on Wednesday to admit male Press members with some hesitation. Male students were strictly barred from entering, and for about 15 minutes security personnel shut the entrance gates as some male students tried to enter the premises.

    “We are not allowed to interact with the students. How will they know about us as candidates? We would also like to see if proper voting is taking place inside the college, but we are not being allowed to enter,” complained a male presidential candidate.

    A total of 11 girls are contesting the elections — one each for the posts of president and honorary secretary, two for vice-president, four for cabinet and three for the AMU court. Of the total 18,500 voters, 6,500 are girls.

    However, the girls did not seem very optimistic about their prospects. “The girls are not voting in a united manner,” admitted a girl voter. “Still, we cannot vote blindly for someone just because it happens to be a girl. We will vote for meritorious candidates.”

    Honorary secretary candidate Naheed Mustafa said: “The votes are being split. Girls are not voting for female candidates owing to various reasons. The boys will not vote for us as they are unwilling to accept female post-holders. There will be no point in our having contested elections if we do not win.”

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Aligarh-college-girls-make-history-of-sorts/article15525245.ece

  • Families come out in support of gay members

    Published in The Hindu. 29 November 2010

    A riot of colours descended on Janpath in the heart of the Capital on Sunday as hundreds of colourfully attired revellers waving brightly shaded flags marched to Jantar Mantar marking the third annual Delhi Queer Pride parade.

    A spirit of celebration and ebullience prevailed as the enthusiastic marchers irrespective of sexual orientation triumphantly danced to the intoxicating beat of drums. Barriers of class and caste melted away as strangers matched dance steps united by a pervasive sense of elation. There were very few posters and hoardings that the marchers carried, but these did not appear to be missed as the sheer range of colours representing sexual diversity said it all. Policemen lined the route of the march.

    The heartening aspect of the parade was the number of individuals who had come out in support of their family members. “Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters are all here to extend their support. Compared to last year, fewer people are seen wearing masks. It’s a positive sign,” said a marcher who participated in the 2009 parade as well.

    But the literal “star of the show” was an elderly grandmother who came out in support bearing a placard stating that she was proud to have a gay grandson. “My children must have the right to lead their lives the way they want. Their happiness is the most important thing which no law should be able to dictate,” she proudly said, addressing the cheering crowds. Many came to the Capital for the specific purpose of participating in the parade. Mumbai-based Alka Sinha said: “I came here just to witness and also take part in the march. There is no need to hide any more and we can walk with our heads held high.”

    Twenty-five-year-old Mathew from the United States, who has been working in the Capital since the last two years said: “This march is really symbolic. There used to be a sense of direct and subtle marginalisation which the gay community would experience besides the attempt by society to make us invisible. However, the march has given us the space to be exactly who we are.”

    For most, the march was an occasion to celebrate the decriminalisation of sexuality after the Delhi High Court judgment last year. “We are out in the open now as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been struck down by the High Court,” said a 19-year-old lifting her mask, her smile speaking volumes.

    Activist Lesley Esteves said: “While decriminalisation is a step in the right direction, there is a need for the government to introduce anti-discrimination legislation to ensure that people are not harassed on the basis of their sexual orientation in public or private spaces. The queer community has to put up with many difficulties including ostracisation by families, violence and police harassment. Many have not been able to come out still. This march is not only to celebrate but also to protest against the indignities that have been meted out to members of the queer community.” “This is the third pride parade and over 3,000 people have come out to march which is more than the expected number. This march is a community movement. Organised by the Delhi Queer Pride Committee, this movement does not consist of organisations. Rather it is an initiative of individuals and the community,” she added.

    Read the original article: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/Families-come-out-in-support-of-gay-members/article15720269.ece

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