A vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture and empowerment

Mah-e-Garv, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ communitys’ culture recently took place in the city. The event aimed to share the struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and explore ways to overcome them and affirm their identities in society. Ritwik Das moderated and facilitated the sessions, highlighting how the words ‘gay’ and ‘queer’ can give a false impression that everything is fine, while many fail to grasp the numerous challenges faced by queer individuals. He recalled inspiring moments when Saleem Kidwai, a pioneer in India’s queer movement, encouraged young people to bring about change in their homeland and embrace the queer history of their culture.

Alisha Asif read excerpts from a book on same sex love including a chapter about Amir Khusrou, a literary giant who expressed his love for Nizamuddin through poetry. Apurva Shah, an educator and filmmaker, read stories emphasizing the importance of creating literature that normalizes love beyond gender.

The highlight of the event was Aryan (Aeina), who demonstrated a Kathak performance, while Neil Biswas shared their personal story, highlighting the significance and empowerment of sharing lived experiences.
------ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui