Author: Dr Swarupa N Kshirsagar

A poster of the film ‘Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Barish’. In the poster, an image of a woman glancing sideways is shown and on the right is an image of a young boy in a wheelchair and a man behind him enjoying rain.

Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish: A platonic togetherness

·November 2, 2020
·Dr Swarupa N Kshirsagar
·0 Comments

The movie was criticised for its stereotypical portrayal of Debu as a gay man. But, the beauty is that it also highlights the reversal of gender roles. The smiles, and the laughter sounding throughout the house, create a cheery note in the movie.

Read »

दो पैसे की धूप, चार आने की बारिश – आदर्शवादी संबंधों की दास्तान

·November 1, 2020
·Dr Swarupa N Kshirsagar
·0 Comments

दीप्ति नवल द्वारा निर्देशित फिल्म, दो पैसे की धूप, चार आने की बारिश, (वर्ष 2009, नेटफ्लिक्स पर 2019 में रीलीज़) कमोबेश एक यथार्थवादी फिल्म है और कहा जाता है कि फिल्म की कहानी एक वास्तविक घटना से प्रेरित है। देखने में फिल्म की कहानी किसी भी आम फिल्मी कहानी की तरह ही शुरू होती है…

Read »

In Plainspeak publishes two issues with a theme every month.
A cross-cutting theme across all forthcoming issues in 2021 is how we can expand safe, inclusive sexuality-affirming spaces.

THIS ISSUE:

March 2021
Ageing and Sexuality, I Issue – March 1, 2021
Juxtaposed against the broad category of youth, older adulthood is often considered as a period of decline instead of a stage as complex and full as any other in our life. Socio-cultural negativity around sexuality and ageing make the physical, psychological, and psychosexual changes that come as we grow older, unnecessarily difficult to deal with. As older adults we may be made to feel that our desires are superfluous and undignified, and our sexual performance is diminishing or compromised, as is our desirability. When we are older, our relationships, especially those which are romantic, are often portrayed as devoid of sexual passion and instead, as hingeing on companionship and caregiving, which is fine if that indeed be the case. However, sexuality may be as intrinsic to our relationship with ourselves and the world as we grow older, and with the confidence that comes with life experience and self-awareness, may be even more authentically expressed and enjoyed. In the March 2021 issue of In Plainspeak, we examine the place sexuality occupies in our life as we grow older, how it relates to our self-expression, relationships, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and how notions of sexual wellbeing in older adulthood may be expanded.

April 2021
Vulnerability and Sexuality, I Issue – April 1, 2021
Vulnerability is often associated with the threat of emotional or physical hurt, disease (amplified now in a COVID-19 affected world) and violence. Where, with whom, and in what circumstances we feel safe, affects not only our interpersonal relationships and the spaces and services we access but also our relationship with ourselves. However, is the goal of identifying vulnerability simply safety? And, does the search for safety limit or free us in living fully and authentically? While exploring ourselves and the world, we open ourselves up to new and different experiences, places, and people. On the one hand, we may find ourselves rendered vulnerable while engaging with someone sexually and/or romantically, moving cities, travelling alone, or even while dealing with personal adversity. On the other, intentionally allowing ourselves to be vulnerable may be an act of asserting agency in the choices we make and the boundaries we establish or consciously yield around our self-expression, sexuality, bodily integrity, and relationships. The April issue of In Plainspeak attempts to explore vulnerability and sexuality and its interaction with age, caste, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic location.

For future issue themes, click here.

Would you like to contribute? Send an email to blogeditor@tarshi.net with your idea. Do take a look at our submission guidelines!

Author: Dr Swarupa N Kshirsagar

दो पैसे की धूप, चार आने की बारिश – आदर्शवादी संबंधों की दास्तान

Most Read

Voices: Interview With Rudrani Chettri

‘हामी भरने’ या ‘मना करने’ का मेरा अधिकार

Why We Still Need Campaigns Like The 16 Days of Activism

What Do Sexual Rights Mean To You?