Activism

‘Justice is Not Spectator Sports’ – Reflections on One Billion Rising for Justice
A picture of activist Irom Sharmila, with an oxygen pipe stuck to her nose.
‘Justice is Not Spectator Sports’ – Reflections on One Billion Rising for Justice

Irom Sharmila, a civil rights activist from Manipur began a hunger strike in November, 2000 which is still going on….
By Rupsa Mallik
March 1, 2014
‘Justice is Not Spectator Sports’ – Reflections on One Billion Rising for Justice
A Guide To Affordable Mental Health Care For The Queer Community
On a blue background, an illustration of a person sitting cross-legged, in lighter blue, with 6 arms outstretched over the other. From each arm emanates a light blue line and shapes. Different objects circle the person such as a yellow-orange open book, a black mobile phone, a yellow sun with rays, a glass of water in light blue, a pink pen, a pink cup, a sheet of white paper outlined in pink with the lettering YOU'RE ENOUGH, a black watch. On the top right, in capital yellow letters: PERSONAL TOOL KIT. On the bottom right, in roman black letters: Instructional guide / Health and hygiene / Personal diary / Visual reminders / Phone apps. Under it, in yellow roman font: (Find detailed instructions on the website)
A Guide To Affordable Mental Health Care For The Queer Community

In a country like India where both mental health and non-binary identities are topics that are neglected despite being essential parts of an individual’s identity, it can be quite challenging to navigate through issues regarding the same. Accessibility to affordable and quality mental health services is a serious difficulty that the queer Indian population faces.
By Curated Content
July 19, 2021
A Guide To Affordable Mental Health Care For The Queer Community
A pandemic, self-care, and collective care: Experiences from TARSHI
On a light pink background, typography: at the top of the page in black bold and capital letters: HERE IS HOW TEAM SELF-CARE AT VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS LOOKS LIKE. Below it in roman black font: “We pause and take break from the online world” / “We consciously decide to take days off to relax, and also put a safe space in practice where we have individual and collective well-being check-ins regularly!” / “Closing work at 4pm sharp every day. No emails/calls on Saturdays and Sundays. All social activities optional. A week’s break every 6-8 weeks.” / “No Meetings Friday (try to adhere to it as much. On the left side, in letters one under the other, in capitals: SELF CARE MATTERS. On the right down corner, a triangle coloured orange with pale yellow lines across, and on the top left corner, a green leafy pattern.
A pandemic, self-care, and collective care: Experiences from TARSHI

The pandemic has put us through interesting times, to say the least – of reflecting, learning, realigning, thinking about what really matters, a time to pause and care for ourselves with kindness. At TARSHI, we’re just delighted to have been able to do the same – while also sharing something of what we’ve learnt with you.
By Vani Viswanathan
July 19, 2021
A pandemic, self-care, and collective care: Experiences from TARSHI
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care
A green-bue gradient photograph of a field of grass and white flowers.
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care

But self-care is not a clean and happy procedure, it is not definitively achievable when systematically explored. To understand the scope of self-care we need to see the ‘dark side’ of the landscape, and destroy the versions of self-care that denounce our plurality. In this fight, the only outcome can be a recognition of experiences beyond the wellness narrative structured around the neoliberal agenda. This article is an attempt at foregrounding some aspects of self-care that decentralise the prevalent commodification of it.
By Rukmini Banerjee
July 5, 2021
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care
A green-bue gradient photograph of a field of grass and white flowers.
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care

But self-care is not a clean and happy procedure, it is not definitively achievable when systematically explored. To understand the scope of self-care we need to see the ‘dark side’ of the landscape, and destroy the versions of self-care that denounce our plurality. In this fight, the only outcome can be a recognition of experiences beyond the wellness narrative structured around the neoliberal agenda. This article is an attempt at foregrounding some aspects of self-care that decentralise the prevalent commodification of it.
By Rukmini Banerjee
January 11, 2024
A ‘Peoples Self-Care’ In-the-Making: Perspectives on the Multiple Possibilities of Existence and Care
Abortion ‘Vacations’ and Other Complications – I
A diagram of the female reproductive organs against a blue backdrop
Abortion ‘Vacations’ and Other Complications – I

If I had a dollar every time I heard an opponent of abortion rights say something like “If you remove the option for abortions, women will stop getting them,” it’s safe to say I would go up a tax bracket or two. In many places today, Global South or North, I would need all of those dollars in order to travel a considerable distance for an abortion that may neither be legal nor safe.
By Kristin Francoeur
March 1, 2016
Abortion ‘Vacations’ and Other Complications – I
An Artist Demands Civility on the Street With Grit and Buckets of Paste
Artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh stands infront of a wall that has a mural painted on it. She has short hair and is wearing a simple top with trousers. There is also a poster behind her that says "stop telling women to smile"
An Artist Demands Civility on the Street With Grit and Buckets of Paste

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Takes Her Public Art Project to Georgia By FELICIA R. LEE APRIL 9, 2014 Tatyana Fazlalizadeh pasted her self-portrait Friday…
By Curated Content
July 15, 2014
An Artist Demands Civility on the Street With Grit and Buckets of Paste
Art & Activism
Photo of performance artist and theatre personality Maya Krishna Rao. She is wearing black and her left hand raised in a dramatic pose. She has long white hair and there is a red bindi on her forehead.
Art & Activism

Some propositions:  Nothing ‘activates’ like art. (I’ll speak here of theatre). It can touch, stir the senses, the head, the…
By Maya Krishan Rao
July 1, 2014
Art & Activism
Art and Activism: Strange bedfellows?
Art and Activism: Strange bedfellows?
July 15, 2014
Art and Activism: Strange bedfellows?
Autonomy, agency, choice: Yes these are for us
6 people are sitting on a stage. Behind them is a purple poster with the text "Purple Fest" followed by "Celebrating Diversity". The rest of the text is partially hidden. A woman, who is sitting at the centre wearing a pink salwar-kameez, is giving a speech on a mic. The other panellists are looking at her. A man sitting in the far left is translating the speech into sign language.
Autonomy, agency, choice: Yes these are for us

The linkages between access, health, violence, the law, workplaces, gender and sexuality are really high and that’s why we all today—whether we are working on street accessibility, education, disability and employment—need to bring and build our collective understanding around gender and sexuality, keeping it at the core of our work with people, youth, and women with disabilities.
By Nidhi Goyal and Srinidhi Raghavan
February 16, 2023
Autonomy, agency, choice: Yes these are for us
Being of Queer Age
A photograph of an old tree, its roots spread out on the surface, entwined.
Being of Queer Age

The conversion of the noun (adult) into the verb form (adulting) implies that ‘adulting’ is more performance than inevitability. Which is to say, there is no intrinsic understanding of ‘adulting’; it is something that can be learnt over time.
By Roshan Roy
March 15, 2021
Being of Queer Age
Beyond the Hashtags: How Online Activism Led to Women Reclaiming the Street
online activism: Women and men gathered for a protest in Bengaluru(Photo courtesy: Night in my Shining Armour)
Beyond the Hashtags: How Online Activism Led to Women Reclaiming the Street

Essentially, the ‘reclaim the night’ or ‘take back the night’ movement fights for a woman’s right to be out and about post sunset.

By Curated Content
April 15, 2019
Beyond the Hashtags: How Online Activism Led to Women Reclaiming the Street
Brushstrokes: Ageing and Sexuality
A photograph by Sujata Setia. A couple stands under a blue umbrella, holding each other, in a field.
Brushstrokes: Ageing and Sexuality

Capturing moments of tenderness between these couples as they shine with affection, comfort, and laughter, Sujata’s photo-series reminds us that we don’t simply fall in love, but with time, nurture and strengthen intimacy.
By Curated Content
March 15, 2021
Brushstrokes: Ageing and Sexuality
Brushstrokes: Cartoons For Activism
A cartoon showing a scene at a bus stop, where a man seated on a bench ogles a woman that is passing by, and the woman's genitals seem to show him the middle finger.
Brushstrokes: Cartoons For Activism

[slideshow_deploy id=’3075′] I’ve always had a ridiculous cartoon view of the world. It’s natural that most of my life I…
By Liz Hilton
July 1, 2014
Brushstrokes: Cartoons For Activism
Brushstrokes: Privilege
excerpt from webcomic on privilege
Brushstrokes: Privilege

Often, we take certain things for granted, forgetting that there are certain privileges and power dynamics which we benefit from even if we don’t realise it. Though, sometimes, there are other benefits that aren’t available to us, social or cultural factors that do hinder us in some ways, we may still have areas in which we’re more advantaged than others
By Curated Content
June 1, 2019
Brushstrokes: Privilege
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