Star quest: Fighter with a heart

Clickhappy! Star Quest, Apr '16
By Kaustav Manna

Star of the month: Anurag Maitrayee at the 'Kolkata Rainbow
Pride Walk 2011'. All photo credits: Nilanjan Majumdar

Star Quest is a series of photo-stories of individuals who may not be public figures like politicians, artistes, social activists or media persons, but have in their own way contributed to social equity and empowerment around gender, sexuality and related issues.

The contribution of the ‘stars’ we zoom in on may be in an intimate arena – among friends and neighbours, their local community, a village or slum school, their own work place and so on. It may not have attracted any media attention, yet the importance of their efforts cannot be underscored enough. Varta is happy to bring to light such hidden ‘stars’ and focus on endeavours that generate hope for a better present and future.

Some murders ‘more foul’ than others?

Insight, Feb '16

Terror attacks in Paris last year set Aude Vincent thinking about the ‘hierarchy’ of genders, races, aggressors and violence in France

Posters in support of Jacqueline Sauvage: "Before rapists and aggressors all
our answers are legitimate!" and "It's never too late to end domestic violence!
We're not alone!" Photo provided by Aude Vincent

In 2015 in France, 147 people were killed in terror attacks by Islamist extremists. In 2014 in France, 134 women were killed by their partners or ex-partners (all males) – numbers for 2015 are yet to be communicated. If you include suicides by victims of domestic violence, you can add around 200 women to the figure for 2014.

The first number of 147 is supposed to be an ‘historical record’, a ‘premiere’ and a ‘shock’, widely reported and commented on by the media. The second number of 134 is just ‘business as usual’. Since as long as these deaths have been counted (at least since 20-30 years), on an average in France a woman is killed by her partner every two or three days. Information about it does exist, and more now than a few years ago, but certainly not as massively as for the terrorist killings.

Intimacy, family and violence in queer lives

Insight, Policy Matters, Jul '15
By Pawan Dhall

Intimate partner violence or family violence, not quite alien facts of life, with news headlines and television serials full of one or the other! Victims of intimate partner violence are often women, sometimes men; while family violence seems to affect inter-racial, inter-caste or inter-religious couples at an alarming frequency. But this is only part of the reality around intimate partner and family violence.

What if the violence is between two males in an intimate relationship, or between a Hijra and her male lover? What if the family violence is directed at a son who would rather be a daughter? Or how do you help trans women who face relentless physical and emotional abuse at home because of their gender non-conformity, and then face it also from male intimate partners to whom they turn to for solace and love? Equally importantly, why does such violence happen, what is its impact and how can it be reduced, if not eliminated?

Tackling blackmail around Section 377

Advice - Rights and Laws, Jul '15
By Kaushik Gupta

Reader queries

My friend is a bisexual man and has been a victim of blackmail by someone known to him. The blackmailer threatened to expose my friend's sexual relations with another man to my friend's parents and had to be paid money to keep quiet. Is there any law at all that can be used to protect my friend from this blackmailer?

Anonymous, Kolkata

Burning questions

Advice - Rights and Laws, Mar '14
By Kaushik Gupta

Reader queries

Wouldn't criticizing the decision of a court of law publicly amount to contempt of court?

Anonymous, Kolkata

It will not be contempt if the criticism is fair and not derogatory. It depends on the manner and context in which such criticism is made. It is also important to use restrained language. There should not be use of un-parliamentary words or an attempt to malign the judiciary. A fair criticism of a judgment will not be deemed to be contempt. A person shall not be guilty of contempt of court for publishing any fair comment on the merits of any case, which has been heard and finally decided. The Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression includes in its ambit the right to fairly criticize a judgment of a court of law.

Sexual harassment

Advice - Rights and Laws, Dec '13
By Kaushik Gupta

Reader queries

What is sexual harassment?

Kishore, Kolkata

The law relating to sexual harassment is new in India. It was brought into effect on February 3, 2013. The offender necessarily has to be a man and the sufferer of such a crime, a woman (unfortunately, till date, the law of the land, by the term ‘woman’, understands only biological women). If the man makes an unwelcome and explicit physical contact or an advance with explicit sexual overtures, or demands or requests sexual favours, or shows pornography to a woman against her will, or makes sexually coloured remarks, then he will be guilty of the offence of sexual harassment. The first offence is bailable but if he commits the same crime again after the first conviction then the same is non-bailable.

Examining rape and abuse

Happenings, Aug '13 (update 2)

Pawan Dhall reports on SlutWalk Kolkata’s first seminar as part of its gender literacy drive

Kolkata, August 17, 2013: It was an hour late to start, but a worthwhile Saturday evening date. In a move to go beyond its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/slutwalkkolkata) and the two marches it has organized so far in the city since last year, SlutWalk Kolkata organized a seminar titled ‘Examining Rape and Abuse’ at the Birla Planetarium and launched its magazine SLUTKOTHA on the occasion. The speakers were Niladri R. Chatterjee, lecturer in English Literature at University of Kalyani; Arnab Saha, researcher on gender and sexuality; Madhuja Mukherjee, professor of film studies at Jadavpur University; and Satin’s Love, fashion editor, gay activist and avid blogger.

Speaker Arnab Saha making a point. To his right is Niladri R. Chatterjee, and to the left
Madhuja Mukherjee and Satin's Love. Photo credit: Pratik@Shades of Passion