The Queer Chronicle - October 2010

TQC

THE QUEER CHRONICLE 2010

OCT

Issue 2 . Volume 2 . Pune

(GAYSI): WE ARE FAMILY

TQC EXCLUSIVE: HOMOPHOBIA - A STUDY

HEALTH: ASK DOCTOR TUSHAR

PAGE 1

PAGE 4

PAGE 11

In this issue

Editorial

(Gaysi): We are family

01

Open Space

02

Page 3

03

TQC Exclusive: Homophobia ‐ A study

04

Book review: ‘Hostel room 131’

06

Money: The Pink Rupee

08

Readers’ Corner

09

Leisure: Santé & Bon Appétit

10

Health: Ask Doctor Tushar

11

Travel: Weekend getaway ‐ Karnala

12

Reflections

13

Movie Report: ‘Wild Reeds (Les Roseaux Sauvages)’

14

each month.

Deepak Kashyap, a prominent LGBT

Leisure: Life & Tarot

15

activist also presented a summary of his thesis at Open Space, titled ‘Sexual

Art & Soul: Artists ‐ Waswo X. Waswo & Murali Raman

16

Pune got really ‘HOT’ in September, and it was not the mercury rising.

Events galore pepped up the queer mood, despite the sultry weather.

Open Space organized its first ‘Queering Saturdays’ with the screening of the popular queer movie Mambo Italiano.

Open Space would be hosting ‘Queering Saturdays’ on the 2nd and 4th Saturday,

identity and behavior among urban Indian men’, which was followed by a very animated discussion.

And how can I not mention the totally awesome party organized by ‘Birds of a Feather.’ Sagar and Apphia, outdo themselves with each successive event!

Apphia, co‐founder of Birds of a Feather and prominent Bi‐activist was also invited to ‘BiCon 2010 & 10 ICB’ that was recently held in UK. I am sure we will

TQC. Issue 2. Volume 2. Pune.

Cover artwork: “The Peepul Gatherer” is a work by Waswo X. Waswo from his well‐known series ‘A Studio in Rajasthan’. This 16”x 24” image is a hand‐colored digital photograph on archival Hahnemuhle fine art paper. This image has already appeared in exhibitions in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Pondicherry and Italy. Copyright Waswo X. Waswo. Used with permission of the artist.

Editor & publisher: Keith | Contributors: Ahana Banerjie, Amey Kolhe, Ankit Chawla, ‘Enigma’, Imran Ali Khan, Jaideep Bhide, Kedar Champhekar, ‘Broom’, Murali Raman, Ranjeet Kulkarni,

hear more from her on the conference, once her jet lag wears off :)

Subodh Bodke, ‘Seahorse of the Night’, Tushar Tayal, Waswo X. Waswo | Layout concept, design &

Overall an exciting month and much more is in the pipeline for October too.

TQC (The Queer Chronicle) is a monthly e‐magazine published for and by the queer community in

So join the respective groups on

distribution. Views expressed are solely the opinions of the individual authors and do not

Facebook to keep abreast with what’s happening right here, right now.

this e‐zine may not be suitable for all audiences.

Be a part of the change!

The Editor

production: Keith Pune. This e‐zine is a non‐commercial publication, is not for sale and is exclusively for private necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial team of TQC, nor its affiliates. The content of www.facebook.com/tqc.india, www.planetromeo.com/tqc_india, TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com

Please print this ezine only if you have to. Help save our planet.

(GAYSI): We Are Family

BY BROOM

TQC - Oct 2010

Photo credit: Milinda Rajapaksha It was a cold February afternoon when I

my fear of coming out. Of course it also

And now with Writers Bloc – my cup

first met The Girl. Three months later, my then husband & I decided to end

helped that I had a very very very patient partner who tolerated my self‐

runneth over.

Gaysi Family is now a blog with a life of

what was left of our very unhappy

loathing homophobic attitude.

it’s own. We have several authors,

marriage.

Those three months and several months

And when I was past the worst phase of fear and confusion and had come out

many supporters and many more readers. I like to believe that MJ & I

that followed were the months that showed me what I was made of. I had

on the other side, I rued the lack of a space & community where I could read

could disappear, but the community we started will live on.

several choices – I could stay unhappily

about others who had the same

In all this chest thumping, I would be

married while secretly having a relationship with The Girl. I could get

struggles as I had. Others with conservative South Asian parents who

leaving out a big fat detail if I didn’t mention how much MJ means to me &

divorced but choose not to pursue my relationship with The Girl. I could get

just could not fathom the meaning of their child being gay.

to this blog. She is the burning force that comes up with ideas and

divorced, have a relationship with The

And so Gaysi Family was born. MJ (who

implements them. She’s the one who

Girl but never tell a soul, especially not my parents.

I met through a friend) and I both agreed about wanting to set up a space

nags me to get things done. She’s the one who sends me to‐do lists and then

In the end, I chose to get divorced, I chose to let true love into my life, I

that we so craved.

I cannot even remember how many

checks on whether I’ve done any of it and then patiently resends them when

chose to live my life with pride and

times I’ve read posts here by different

I haven’t done them. She’s the one who

dignity by coming out to my parents.

I did not make these choices easily.

people and have held back tears because I’ve felt the same pain or

gets T‐shirts printed, seeks out authors to interview, schedules posts to be

Most of them I made because I knew that any other choice would mean a life

nodded vigorously in agreement because I’ve lived the same scenario.

published. All of this while doing her day job & being a total gaysi casanova.

not worth living. But what really helped

What’s amazing is that while we started

me through these times was a community of friends. Friends who

this blog to help others find a community – I have found a community

supported me, my grief at the divorce (unhappy as my marriage was, I had

here that has enriched and enlightened me more than I could have ever

Family. Gaysi Family was started in 2008 to provide a voice and a safe space to ‘desis’ w h o i d e n t i f y a s L G B T .

known & loved my ex for many years),

imagined.

www.gaysifamily.com

‘Broom’ & ‘MJ’ are co‐founders of Gaysi

1

Open Space

2 4

The other day a few Tibetan students

Watching the film it suddenly became

the Other. The identity of the self is

came to Open Space to watch a film and talk about the work they wanted to do

painfully apparent to me that there were more hearts in the space that

created by evaluation and elimination.

Understanding what it was to be gay

with us for the Human Rights week in

stood broken, than one imagined.

when I understood it (a very, very long

December.

I sat through the film on Tibet, at first

I was in an exile that I did not voluntarily opt for. But this idea took on

time ago), was a process of elimination.

I preferred one to another, I understood

with an aesthetic detachment to the subject, and only later with a feeling of

a new meaning while I watched the film. This was not about a nation, it was

one better than the other, and so began what was to become an exile in itself. I

complete disappointment with the

not about the people in the room, but it

remained alien to much of the socio‐

world at large. (Of course it is always refreshing to know that the angst of 16

was about the spaces we share together. Each of us exiled in some way

cultural head‐banging of the straight world, but assumed a cultural stance,

hasn’t left you, and you may still be very much in fashion.)

to quarters of the larger milieu and as I write this I realize even more than ever

one that involved playing my cello, understanding what Auden meant

An entire nation in exile, deprived of a

that I am a minority in almost every

when he wrote “Lay your sleeping head,

cultural identity rooted in a heritage spanning generations, is bound to pull

sense of the word. As you read this, you will then understand the significance of

my love,/Human on my faithless arm..” and understanding that aubergine was

at the appropriate heart strings.

A group, when in exile, assumes a

something larger than yourself. We have access to the language it is written

not just a vegetable but a color as well ( I a m ste re o t y p i n g , b u t I wa s

purpose that is quite different to their

in, access to the means it uses to

eliminating).

lives if they weren’t in exile. There is an identity to forge, a cultural landscape to

communicate in and we have access to express it. The idea is to use the spaces

But I have a language now by which I understand myself and I have a space to

melt into and a community to create.

Routine cultural moorings that would

we have, to recognize the spaces that stand outside them. And standing

share that language by which I speak. I suppose the idea is to decode the

otherwise have gone unnoticed.

outside, to understand the nature of

language into form, (art or alcohol) and

For the Tibetans, as it is for any nation in exile, the freedom they wait for

what these spaces we inhabit are.

The identity of a community is based on

understand not just the differences that separate us, but that also connect us.

always seems very close at hand, although it never is.

its relevance to the time it shares by comparison to something other than

There is no salvation in difference, but there is moksh in understanding that

itself. The nature of which is formed by

difference. (www.openspaceindia.org)

TQC - Aug Oct 2010 2010

PAGE 3 Q‐Party VIII September 25, 2010. Pune Organized by ‘Birds of a Feather’

TQC Exclusive: Homophobia - A Study

BY AHANA BANERJIE

4

First came the Universe. Then came

objected to her. Great Roman generals

who said these, and they would have

nature with its soil, plants and trees,

like Caesar or Octavian are often

replied that their ‘Gods’ asked them to

and water. Then were the dinosaurs in

suspected of indulging in sexual

do so.

the Jurassic period, followed by apes

activities with men in harem, even

Gods... Where are the Gods? Why do

and human beings thousands of years

ambitious Emperors like Alexander or

they always appear in ancient times

after their disappearance from the

Xerxes. Why did people not object

and not now? What are they afraid of,

planet.

then, when they knew that these

media, pollution or terrorism? Why

But I wonder when did the Gods come,

generals were involved in such

don’t they show themselves to us?

or did they ever exist on this planet?

activities? They were powerful, is that

Does it mean that they do not exist in

Whatever! Since the very beginning of

what they would say?

fact, and that they are a simple

our different civilizations around the

Historians believed that homophobia

perception of these so called classes of

globe, in school we learnt what we did

came from conservative societies.

people out in the streets to hate and

then, how we survived and what kind of

Many religious societies were scared

marginalize people a bit hatke from

things we used or the dresses we wore.

about their statuses in the public and

their perception of normalcy?

Did any teacher tell us whom we slept

the respect that common men

To my knowledge, this is what the

with, or was there any social division

showered on them. These cultures

hardcore truth is!

based on the behaviors of the

emphasized that love can exist only

H e t e r o n o r m a t i v e s a r e m o s t l y

individuals? I don’t remember and

between a man and a woman, and

homophobic. They are the ones who

neither you nor I do believe, because

sexual activities were only for

are afraid to mingle with people who

people then hardly cared about those

producing children. They had set laws

share their love with their own kind, or

things.

for what to eat, whom to work for,

tend to go against the normal codes for

Lesbos was a famous Greek poetess who

what to wear and when to sleep;

dressing or apt to alter their body of

wrote poems depicting women as the

dividing the common class into many

their choice, in short the homosexuals

protagonists involved in heroics

social races and creating endless

or the queers.

especially meant for men. But nobody

dogmas for their own benefit. Ask them

TQC - Oct 2010

Harassed. Oppressed. Marginalized.

An example can be drawn from the

education. It is only through proper

O st ra c i ze d . Pa ra l y ze d . H a b i t u a l

media or the entertainment world,

education and learning that one would

Obstinate Barbaric Incalculable Acts or

which despite mocking the lifestyle of

be able to understand the basic

HOMOPHOBIA is a kind of infection that

the queers, have most of the time come

requirements needed to co‐exists in

the so‐called ‘normal’ people of the

out in support of their legal existence in

society, rather than involving in this

civilized societies of the world suffer

society. There are designers, reporters,

obnoxious behavior with each other

from whenever they come in contact or

editors, actors, directors, musicians, and

on grounds of unjustified issues of

are in the vicinity of people different

many other people from different strata

sexuality or caste.

from them.

of society who are from the LGBT

Homosexuals are very much part of

The term ‘homo’ is an anti‐gay slur

community.

this civilized world, who don’t indulge

meaning the ‘homosexual’. Homophobia

To understand what is the desire of the

in harming people through any means

is considered a serious offense for

other person, whether that person is a

but are often subjected to atrocities

heterosexuals against homosexuals. This

male or female doesn’t depend on the

without any proper reason.

behavior is mostly regarded as an

principles of society. Society doesn’t

I agree it is not possible to change the

outcaste, or semi‐abnormal by the

have any control on the powers of

scenario overnight, although a proper

modern learned crowd in today’s world.

nature.

effort to comprehend the LGBT

Semi‐abnormal did I say? Sorry, but I fail

Heteronormatives should know that

community can help in overcoming

to agree with this. Humans suffering

what we are today is not what we chose

this dangerous syndrome which not

from homophobia should be made to

to be, but are born with it. According to

only destroys the complete peace of a

understand about feelings and emotions

medical theories, a child starts taking a

family, but also a healthy environment

of other beings, before indulging in any

form of either gender in the fifth month

necessary for progress.

kind of hate‐crimes purported by the

of a woman’s pregnancy. Prior forming

Queers should always remember that

religious institutions or government

the gender, the child develops a female

being original, proud of their sexuality

agencies. What irks my mind is when

brain in the womb. It is in the fifth

and helping their own kind in times of

learned medical practitioners in India

month, that the brain of the child

crisis gives a positive vibe about the

mislead the common man against the

decides which gender to go for

community to the heteronormatives

community of sexual minorities by

depending on the power of the

who then understand that our actions

terming them as inefficient beings,

chromosomes of their parents. In

are natural and there is nothing

those who are incapable of earning a

certain cases, the brain retains itself

artificial about our state of affairs.

proper livelihood and can be ‘cured’

female whereas the body takes the form

through medicines or other modes of

of a male or vice versa. These babies

treatment, in the greed to add some

when they grow end up being feminine

wealth to their established coffers.

in nature or effeminate and express

Large corporate houses, to tiny business

their desire to become a member of

establishments in the present scenario

their opposite sex, to come in terms

think that by employing people from the

with their brain.

queer community would encourage

A normal person should also remember

others in their office and could begin a

that a gay, lesbian or transgender

drag race. Or worse, they would be

person is born from a straight couple

sleeping around the office premises!

and in that context they should not hate

However, some have opened their heart

us, rather should hate their own kind

to employ us because they have come

w h o a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s u c h

to realize the talents that exists in every

occurrence!

human being irrespective of their caste,

The most important way to eliminate

creed, religion or sexuality.

this disease that is still persistent in the dark corners of the country is through 5

‘Hostel Room 131’ AN HONEST REVIEW BY ‘ENIGMA’

Photograph by Ankit Chawla

The Bollywood songs translated to

hijra community and her life, which

attempt at a love story which has English as part of the English tutoring, periodic inserts of the author’s thoughts while trying to highlight the absent gay and random ideas which do not fit in subtext was tiring and tacky. The

again had nothing to do with the original story and seemed to be snippets

with the conceived theme of the book. progression of the “story line” was After the two lovers meet the typical discontinuous and suddenly reaches a Bollywood style scorn from the families phase when the only way the couple ensues albeit in the homosexual feels it can be together is by Sudhir

author planned to write and did not finish. Another such impertinent

context.

going in for sex‐reassignment and

agent working for the American

The book begins with a scene in a police stat i o n w i t h s o m e u n n e c e s s a r y

moving out of the country with the love of his life.

Intelligence to inject the enemy with a serum which turns them gay, so that

descriptions of filth, grime, odors served The flavors of revenge which come with with a side of saliva and mucous which the gay group coming together and raping the homophobes who intern rape made my stomach turn.

they fall in love with the soldiers from the US army and surrender to them.

The protagonist Siddharth, a metro‐ t h e m b a c k e v e n t u a l l y h a s n o based literature professor falls in love significance in the story and had no with Sudhir a demure lad from a small impact on me. Whether the author t o w n . T h e s e x b e g i n s a l m o s t wanted these sequences to be erotic or

me think of this book as extremely silly but also made me think of the very

immediately and progresses through the disturbing is unclear. book and evolves into ‘watersport’ and The language of the book which ranges some more disturbing stuff ‐ all of this from English from Oxford, to phrases

author thinks of homosexuality as a

without the mention of condoms or any like “Chuk chuk gaadi” describing sex mention of HIV or AIDS, which can be confused me while reading, as I was explained by the fact that the book is unsure if I should peg this book as the

lot that the gay movement stands for.

set in the late seventies and the early roadside lewd kinds or the up market ones with a little sprinkle of trash to set eighties.

However, as one of the very few works the context. By the time I finished I went of Indian gay literature available today, with the former opinion.

R. Raj Rao is a professor in the Department of English, University of

‘Hostel Room 131’ is an unsuccessful

6

this book has a responsibility to

So while the love story takes place,

emphasize the importance of safe sex.

there was mention of a member of the

added from another book which the

digression came with Sudhir’s Iraqi room‐mate suddenly turning into an

This kind of a write‐up not only made

disturbed mind it has originated from.

This also points to the fact that the phenomenon that can be induced with an injection, which just goes against a

About the author

Pune. He is a pioneering Indian academic who runs a course on queer literature in his department.

TQC - Oct 2010

The Pink Rupee

BY RANJEET KULKARNI

82

Let us start where we left off in our

mutual fund is no different than this.

last installment of The Pink Rupee.

Let’s see how it is done.

How do I go about investing in

Identify funds that match your

mutual funds?

investment objectives

If you check out the gay dating

In India there are around 38 Asset

scenario over the web, there are

Management Companies (Companies

some 5 known gay dating websites.

that float mutual funds ‐ eg: HDFC,

Each website has all the continents,

UTI, SBI, Franklin Templeton etc.).

countries within the continents, states

There are about 21 types of mutual

within the countries and cities within

funds according to structure, nature,

the states listed. Each city has some

t y p e s o f r e t u r n s , i n v e s t m e n t

‘N’ number of profiles updated on

objectives etc. There are a ballpark

them. These profiles themselves can

200+ schemes within these 21 types

be sorted by heights, weights, skin

of mutual funds. So one would think

color, length of hair, hobbies, pics and

its quite a task to choose from

certain other criteria that would be

amongst these mutual funds. Well,

politically incorrect to state here.

yes but if you know your financial

Say you want to go on a date through

goals and risk tolerance levels (refer

a particular website. What do you do?

The Pink Rupee in TQC’s July 2010

You decide on an objective first. Do

issue), the process would become

you want to go on a “date”‐ like, just

much simpler. We would actually go

dinner; or do you want a “dinner and

on to discuss the type of mutual funds

more” or do you want “more and

and schemes in the next write up.

more”? Having decided on an

So typical investment objectives

objective, you start browsing through

would include fixed income or long

profiles and start short listing guys

term appreciation, short term liquidity

w h o s e p r o f i l e s m a t c h y o u r

etc.

expectations. You further filter those

Evaluate Past performance

profiles who are “referenced”‐ so

Although past performance is no

basically, you look at who their friends

assurance of the future, it is a useful

are; if you have any common people

way of assessing how well or badly a

you know, etc. Once you have found

fund has performed in the past

THE guy that you want to be with,

through various market trends in

what do you do? You don’t stop! You

comparison to its stated objectives

browse through some more profiles

and peer group. A good way to do this

and “ping” a couple of more guys just

is to pick up a fund and compare its

to, you know, “diversify”. (Who says

performance over various periods, say

dating ain’t a risk?). You finally

6 months, 1 years, 3 years, 5 years. So

message all the guys you have liked

if the fund is a consistent performer in

and “save” them for future expected

each of these time horizons, you have

“benefits”. The process of selecting a

got yourselves a winner!

Diversify Avoid the risk of being overtly dependent on one fund house; or one type or once scheme. Say, if you want to invest in an equity diversified scheme, allocate your money across the top two‐three fund houses within that category and spread your investment.

Readers’ Corner Here is what we heard from you on TQC’s September 2010 issue.

that positive change. Thank you, I have passed your site on to many lonely gay friends in India. They feel some sense of community from your magazine. Peace & Love.” ‐ Mr E, United Kingdom “I enjoyed reading the excerpt from the book "you are not alone" by Arun

Consider fund costs

Mirchandani. Yet another great issue!

The cost of investing though a mutual

Thanks TQC” ‐ Suraj, Australia

fund is not trivial. It deserves due

“Happy Birthday TQC! Ankur has

consideration, especially in the case of

beautifully summed up our feelings

fixed income funds. Management

for TQC since it's inception. The issues

fees, annual expenses of the fund, exit

turned out so beautiful and they

loads can take away a significant

continue to be so spectacular one

portion of your returns. So be careful

after another. So a big KUDOS to you.”

there.

‐ Ranjeet, Pune

Invest, monitor and review Having made an investment in a

“The cover page just gets better.” ‐

mutual fund, one should monitor it to

Jinnah, Pune

see whether its performance is in tandem with the stated objectives and

“I adore this cover.” ‐ Syed Ali Arif,

also whether it leads or lags

Mumbai

expectations. A review should be carried out with the objective of selling /holding a mutual fund; although it is advisable to stick for a longer term with your fund (also since mutual funds hardly fluctuate as dramatically in a shorter period as stocks do). Normally, a review once a quarter is sufficient.

So now that we know what are the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a mutual fund and the way to go about it, we will actually go through some of the types of mutual funds/schemes risks with some case

TQC - Oct 2010

studies.

“Absolutely great work you have put up on TQC. I read all of the issues over

“ Wa r m R e g a r d s . . . o n t h e f i r s t

the last weekend and today, and I

a n n i ve rs a r y. . . .f i rst o n e i n t h e

must say, everything is so professional.

many...read and enjoyed each copy” ‐

Kudos to you and your team for

Sumit, Mumbai

bringing something that defies all notions of a queer magazine general people would have in their minds.

Intelligent, reflective and far away from the cheap pornographic stuff widely available online, TQC is

“Congratulations to you and your team on completing one year. As expected and as always a well produced issue. Keep up the good work.” ‐ Pratap, Pune

different and I am sure it will make all

“I’m a very regular reader of this

the difference in changing everyone's

magazine. I love this. Thanks for this

perceptions about the issues the

awesome magazine.” ‐ Aaryan, Pune

magazine brings to the fore. Well done!” ‐ ‘XamginE’, Pune

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ TQC’s editorial desk is now open for

But all that, in the articles to come. So

“I am delighted to see your magazine.

article contributions to be published

stay glued and happy investing!

It’s heart warming and inspiring. I am

in the November 2010 issue. Please

British, but I have many Indian friends,

send your articles to us via email at

especially gay friends. It’s so hard in

TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com by

India right now, things will change but

October 15, 2010.

Disclaimer: The financial content in ‘The Pink Rupee’ is provided for your personal information only, is not intended for trading purposes, and cannot substitute for professional financial advice. Always seek advice of a competent financial advisor with any questions you may have regarding a financial matter.

it takes time. Your efforts are part of

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 15 9

Santé

And Bon Appétit

BY CHEF SUBODH BODKE

Although not a part of our regular cocktail series, this traditional drink‐ dessert is to die for.

A festive selection of palate tickling delectables for the time-pressed gourmet home entertainer.

FALOODA Falooda is an adaptation of the Persian dessert Faloodeh and was brought to the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal period.

Ingredients 2 cups milk 1 packet falooda sev 3 tsp rose water 1/4 table spoon soaked tukmuri seeds/ sabja (basil seeds) Method Boil the sev in water for 15 minutes.

Now boil it in milk for another 15 minutes. Cool the sev. Put the sev in glasses and add rose water and the

M ut to n B ir ya ni Ingredients 2 cups rice 1 kg mutton 10 gms cardamom, cinnamon and cummin seed 40 gms Ginger, garlic, salt and chillies as per taste 2 lemons Curd and ghee.

Method Wash the mutton well. Grind the ginger garlic, chillies, and other spices and add it to the mutton. Add curd to this mixture.

Boil 6-8 cups of water in a ves sel and then add rice to it.

Place the mutton mixture in a pressure cooker. When the rice is ready, spread it over the mutton mixture.

Let it cook for 30 minutes on a

low flame.

tukmuri seeds. Add the milk to it. You may also add vanilla ice cream to your falooda if you wish to. Forget about the calories and indulge!

H a le e m Ingredients 250 gms mutton 1 cup wheat dal (split gram) 1/4th cup channa ) dal (green gram 1/4th cup moong r dal (red lentils) 1/4th cup masoo wder and chilli Salt, coriander po ste powder as per ta ste.

Ginger garlic pa

Method

keep it eat overnight and

Soak the wh ed. pounded and husk r 40 and moong dal fo Soak the channa minutes.

and water in a vessel Put eight cups of r d the wheat, ginge bring it to boil. Ad

10

chilly nder powder and garlic paste, coria powder and salt. to the pieces and add it Mash the mutton mixture. ium Cook over a med is tender.

n flame till the mutto

Ask Doctor Tushar “Although I lead a fairly healthy life of 15‐30 ml with meals. Taken post and have healthy eating habits I often meals they act for 2‐3 hours, but if suffer from unbearable bouts of taken on empty stomach, the duration acidity. Could you please suggest how I of action is merely 1 hour. Although should deal with this?” – Dhruv

Digene and Gelusil are are available in

Dr Tushar: Time and again, or should I tablet form, their syrups are proven to say, every day when I’m sitting in the be more effective.

OPD, the commonest complaint that Then come PPI’s . These are extremely each and every tobacco chewing, efficacious and help stop acid secretion toothless granny elaborates upon is her completely for a few days. The ACIDITY.

disadvantage being, they are extremely

And in my attempt to dissuade them habit forming, primarily because the from making a habit out of those ‘Pitta relief is tremendous. I’ll list down a few ki Goli’, I have always wondered that and you can try them and decide which whether their complaint is really one works best for you: Cap Omez genuine, or if it has more to do with the 20mg ; Cap Nexpro / Cap Raciper :20mg variation in their body metabolism (longer acting than Omez); tab Pan / depending on whether or not they’ve Pantocid 40mg and tab Razo 10 mg fought with their daughter‐ in‐law on (fastest acting). that particular day.

Take one tablet / capsule on an empty

Turns out, both are true. And its not stomach, preferably in the morning and just these rural grannies who suffer you would remain, should I say, acid from the pangs of excess acid secretion, free for the next few days. even our young, restless and urbane If you are having really severe gastritis, crowd is falling prey to the same. And repeat one tablet in the evening, trust me, the pain can be excruciating.

continue the same regimen for 5 days

The key words here are STRESS and and then give it a break for the next 5 TOBACCO, both precipitating acidity. days at least.

Add to it irregular food timings, and If your symptoms are still not relieved you’re in a soup.

by any of the above mentioned drugs, I

So instead of dwelling upon the holistic strongly advise a visit to a physician or approach, which at times can be a little a surgeon to rule out ulcers or bacterial impractical, we’ll focus of the medical (H. Pylori) infection of the stomach. management.

You could also try chewing Saunf /

Starting with antacids, our fizzy ENO fennel seeds after meals. Last but not sachets can be taken in S.O.S. the least, have chilled buttermilk. It situations, but the disadvantage is its always works for me. short duration of action.

TQC - Oct 2010

Next in line are Digene / Gelusil / If you have a health‐related query for Mucaine syrups, each with a difference Doctor Tushar, please email us at in content, but similar mechanism of TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com action. They are to be taken in a dosage 11

Weekend Getaway: Karnala

BY KEDAR CHAMPHEKAR

Photograph by Kedar Champhekar

My first trip to this mysterious looking highway begins. If travelling by bike you The Fort has a strange looking pinnacle fort was about 4 years ago. It is very will have to travel on the old Pune‐ at the top, which looks like a thumb. accessible from Pune and Mumbai and Mumbai highway, which will directly Though most of the Fort is in ruins, the connected with excellent quality roads. arrive at the Goa highway junction. wall, which runs along its boundary, is A friend and I had chosen a lovely day Once on the Goa highway, after still intact and so are the large to take my motorcycle out on a long travelling for about 7‐8 km the road doorways in the wall. Behind the ride and we couldn’t think of a better starts to wind and you encounter lush, pinnacle, there are a few more thick vegetation on both sides. On your doorways, which still retain their old destination!

Karnala is an old fort near Panvel and it left you will find a board indicating carvings. Look out for the large water is surrounded by a lush forest. The Fort Karnala Bird Sanctuary (written in cisterns carved in the rock at the base dates back to the 12th century and was Marathi). There is a small check post at of the pinnacle. Some of these retain in the control of various rulers including the entrance and a parking space for cool, clear water all year round. the Nizam, Shivaji, the Moghuls, the cars. A nominal fee has to be paid to The view from the top is breathtaking.

Marathas and finally the British. The the forest department and for parking.

Towards the East you can see ranges of

pinnacle of the Fort was the main As you enter the sanctuary from the the Western ghats and several other location of a hit Marathi movie that highway, you will see a few small forts. Towards the West, you can see featured Smita Patil ‐ “Jait re Jait”. The st r u c t u re s i n w h i c h t h e fo re st Mumbai and the Elephanta islands (on surrounding forest has been declared as department guards live. From behind a clear weather day). one of the ‘houses’ a simple trail goes There are numerous eateries all along As you travel along the Pune‐Mumbai up to the Fort. (Please ask directions the road where you can stop for Expressway, look to the left after from the guards, as there are numerous breakfast or lunch. “Sri Datta Snacks” in crossing the Khopoli Toll Station, while trails in the forest and one can get lost). Panvel is famous for its wada and chai going towards Mumbai. You will be able Most of the path goes through thick and is definitely a welcome stop while a protected bird sanctuary.

to see a tall thumb‐shaped rock jutting forest, which offers great shelter from on the way back! The best time to visit out against the sky. This is Karnala Fort. the sun, and finally emerges near the is just after the monsoon. So what are After taking the first exit to Panvel, in a pinnacle. If you do not want to climb, you waiting for? Get your cars out, stuff few minutes you will reach the junction there are many lovely paths winding your friends in and spend your Sunday in an awesome way! where to the left the Mumbai‐Goa through the forest.

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Reflections A BETTER CHANGE By ‘Seahorse of the night’ Oh life is so much sunnier now It is everything and more that we wanted We mowed the grass of the backyard Pulled the weeds out the house that was haunted We also renovated the ruins And now the field looks pretty Dust has settled out of the attic The kitchen door looks more witty Desires have spread and blossomed Have taken over the whole of lobby They have carpeted the floor and the driveway Fuming enchanting dizzy smokes out of the chimney Our steps are loud and we a thing of beauty Intelligence we have ready and in open we flaunt it We think our times are well spent and our rooms well lit Our happiness is now permanent and our lives sorted

Wild Reeds (Les Roseaux Sauvages) MOVIE REPORT BY AMEY KOLHE

Three boys on the verge of manhood (with the French‐Algerian conflict smoldering in the background) are in residence at a boarding school in the south of France in 1962. One is gay, the second is bi‐sexual and the third is straight. Through their interactions we (and they) discover their sexuality.

The slightly loose and episodic feel of this charming coming‐of‐ager doesn't matter because the characters and the conflicts are so well presented that we are enthralled throughout.

Francois Forestier, played attractively by Gael Morel, is gay as he discovers one night when Serge Bartolo (Stephane Rideau), an athletic schoolmate with a natural style, awakens his sexuality by seducing him. For Serge it is just a school age sexual adventure; for Francois it is love so intense he is transformed. The third boy, Henri Mariana, who is from Algeria, is a little older and a little more cynical. He finds heterosexual love with his enemy, Maité Alverez, who is a hated communist.

The scenes in the classroom are bright, solar, reminding the purity of childhood; and alternate with the scenes taken 14

place at night, that are incredibly sensual. François is also portrayed as an intellectual that reads Jean‐Arthur‐ Nicolas Rimbaud, a homosexual writer revolted against the world, that leaves everything to live with the also writer Paul Verlaine, while he was still a teenager. That is what François wants to be.

Maïte, on her side, is a communist that, after knowing about François passion for Serge, is jealous, but finally realizes the true platonic nature of her relationship with him. After a while, she falls in love with Henri, a pied‐noir (French born Algerian) teenager revolted against the situation in his native country. He is also in love with her, although ideologically they are rivals.

And this is why love, in this film, is taken as a superior and dominant statement: it surpasses all human ideologies, even the most complex and rooted ones; it surpasses intellectuals who read Rimbaud and even the most practical persons.

The soundtrack confirms the excellence of this film, with Chubby Checker giving

a sixties atmosphere, and the Adagio for string by Samuel Barber yielding the dramatic dimension that the film deserves, like in the highly stylized scene where Henri his sleeping by the river, or when François travels on the motorcycle hugging Serge.

In the end, François meets a shoe salesman that everyone knows his a homosexual, in a scene that represents the almost desperate search for a way t o d e s t r o y t h e l o w l i n e s s , incomprehension, and lack of role models that are destined by his sexual orientation. Although he doesn't find the answer for his problems, because there isn't one, François remains optimistic.

What makes this film superior is the warm and truthful way in which the sexual awakenings are realized. The kids seem absolutely real and the dialogue is sharp and authentic. Morel is very winning. This is a film about young p e o p l e fo r o p e n ‐ m i n d ed a d u l t s attractively done. For many it will strike a strong cord of recognition.

Release: 1994 Duration: 1 hr. 50 min.

TQC - Oct 2010

Life & Tarot

BY JAIDEEP BHIDE “I feel stuck in my job. My rating this year was poor, so there is no hope of any bonus or pay hike. I have financial responsibilities that now seem difficult to fulfill. No one told me at my job what was expected of me, and this led to my poor performance. I am thinking of quitting, maybe starting something with a couple of friends. But I don’t know what to do. Please advise?”

Mr A, Date of birth: May 13th JB: Dear Mr A, first off, I think I need to address the issue of “No one told me at my job what was expected of me“ – it seems to me that you probably didn’t get as involved in your job as you should have been. From the cards, I can see that your Boss is a King of Swords – driven, a very tough task‐master and hard‐as‐nails. He’s also not much of a mentor.

You, on the other hand are quite the opposite. You’re a dreamer. This seems to have intimidated you and made you feel a bit isolated from the team. Also, your organization is the kind of place where Hierarchy is everything! And you’re used to having easy access to people, provided those people are sweet and easily approachable.

It’s a classic case of a square peg in a round hole – you’re a misfit and this has hampered performance. Try and get more involved in discussions with your colleagues, ask questions, don’t feel shy to approach people with your problems.

While you are ambitious, you need to learn to direct that ambition into actual deeds. Set goals, work on them, get more involved – see where it goes.

Not a good idea to get into business with friends at this juncture.

First, sort out your finances. Do not even THINK of accumulating more debt!

“I have recently taken diksha from a Kundalini Yoga Master. Of all the things I have done so far, this form of Sadhana is by far the most effective.

But I have recently started getting into minor mishaps, almost on a daily basis. Why is this happening? Is this a result of my sadhana? Please advice.”

Mr B, Date of birth: September 1st JB: Dear Mr B, while the current form of meditation/sadhana is appropriate and will benefit you in the long term, there is also a danger of moving too fast with this type of energy work.

The cards too indicate that this is exactly what has happened – the Kundalini has started moving but not in a balanced manner. The Three of Swords is the foundation card and a clear pointer that on a physical, emotional and energy level, there is still a lot of integration that needs to happen.

Tread with caution, take things slowly.

This is not advice that you should stop the Sadhana totally (8 of Pentacles as the base card tells me that this is a course of study that has the potential to benefit you) but only that you take the necessary precautions while you ex p l o re t h e s u b t l e r re a l m s o f consciousness.

Talk to your teacher/Guru, sit with him and maybe, ask him to review your own practice to see if you are doing the meditation properly. Learn techniques for protecting your Chakras when you sit down for meditation, I’m sure your guru can guide you in these matters. A simple method is to imagine a Ring of Fire and you at the center, protected in it’s fiery loop.

The card for final outcome is The Empress – the destination is a wonderful place. Just ensure that the journey does not burn you too much.

All the best!

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Art & Soul COMPILED BY KEITH

TQC is committed to encouraging and promoting the creativity of queer & queerfriendly talent.

Waswo X. Waswo and Murali Raman, the featured artists, have pledged that 15% of the proceeds on sale of this artwork through TQC, would be donated to ‘Voices Against 377’, a coalition of NGOs and progressive groups working together as a united voice to fight against Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code. www.voicesagainst377.org

THE PEEPUL GATHERER Waswo X Waswo MALE NUDE 4 Murali Raman

“The Peepul Gatherer” by Waswo X. Waswo is from his well-known series ‘A Studio in Rajasthan’. This 16”x 24” image is a hand-colored digital photograph on archival Hahnemuhle fine art paper. Waswo X. Waswo has signed the front of this photograph as well as embossed his initials "W.X.W." in the lower right margin. The reverse has been signed and numbered in pencil. The hand colorist, Rajesh Soni, has also signed. Price: Rs 65,000 (Unframed) , Rs 75,000 (Framed).

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“Male Nude 4” by Murali Raman is a 11.5”x 11” oil painting on wooden board. It is part of a series of seven male nude figuratives. Three of these are larger in size, with full-length figures. For a private review of t h e f u ll s e r i e s, p le a s e co ntact T h e Q u e e r Chronicle. Price: Rs 5,000 (unframed).

If you would like to purchase these works of art and would like to connect with the artists, email us at TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com

23rd & 24th October From Opera to Capoeira, Street Underground to Fashion, fine art spun with electro music, shopping with dance, music with a sensory experience.

The trendiest venues at Bandra in Mumbai are going to be invaded with art… Thereʼs a mix between techniques and cultures as well as installations, live art, performances and more.

BE A PART OF THE CONSPIRACY ....

Open Space is an independent creative public space that allows you to interact, debate and initate change.

Open Space is hosting its next screening of the queer film ‘Bubbles’ on October 9, 2010 at 4.00 pm.

For more information visit www.openspaceindia.org or visit us at 301, Kanchanjung Building, Kanchan Lane (Near Krishna Dining Hall) Off Law College Road, Pune.

Phone: +91.20.25457371.

TQC - Sep 2010

Homemade Chocolates

Plain (Dark Milk), Raisins, Cashew, Crackle, Marzipan, Hazel Kalyani Nagar,or Pune.

11White, am to 7Rum pm .&By appointment only.

Contact Mickey atAlmonds, +91.9604578477. nuts, Coconut centre, Fruit & Nuts, Plain truffle, Coffee truffle and Mint truffle.

Contact: Vivek / Mathew at +91.9960345904 / +91.9665031982