September Issue 11 2021

WOKAL Issue 11 | September 2021

paralympics

Autumn Special

CARAVAN

Deez Paints by Nandita

In Defence Of The Mainstream PANTONE 613D35

PANTONE B17C59

T H E

season's P A L E T T E

CONTENTS

04

07

The Season's Palette

11

The Caravan: Deez Paints by Nandita Giri

16

ELFEN Watches

Sabyasachi x H&M

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23 Autumn Friendly Skincare Tips

In Defence of the Mainstream

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34 Kashmir

The Exile and Its Consequent Repercussions

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CONTENTS

42

46

Binge But Not Cringe!

Low Budget Travelling in India

56

Home Away From Home - An Interview

Let’s Talk: Ableism and the Paralympics

63

52 59 Para Badminton

Credits

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A colour palette that screams “Fall” like no other would be a palette full of warm tones - taupes, oranges, maroons, teals, sandy and golden browns, deep greys and greens with yellow and pink undertones that give every space a mellow and soothing look is the perfect autumn ambience.

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Autumn in its purest form is warm and subdued.

Its colour palette is rich, warm, and earthy, like a walk through an autumn forest.

Warm hues are linked to strong feelings and passion, as well as joy and fun. Consider the intensity of a deep, rich crimson or the brightness of a brilliant orange. They may be dynamic, making them an excellent choice for lively settings.

C A R A V A N

BY NANDITA GIRI

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HOW IT ALL STARTED The silver lining of the lockdown was that it pushed a lot of people on their feet to find a way to spend their lazy indoor weeks more productively and Nandita was one of them.

"At school, my mind was all over the place (because academics) and I couldn't get my creative juices running except some journaling here and there but with this ample time in lockdown, I knew I had to do something fun and colourful that fuels me everyday. Brownie points if it's long lasting and

eco friendly"

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WHY CLAY AS A MEDIUM? "I believe", Nandita says, "my small business of clay creations is still in its building process but I have enjoyed every second of it. I chose clay as my medium because of how versatile it is. Thanks to a wide range of available colours, shapes and surfaces, the number of possible designs and variations is almost unlimited. Clay as raw material is particularly sustainable and eco friendly with my clay jewellery being long lasting and waterproof once it has dried."

@deez.paints

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AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

Speaking of her experience as a small business owner, she finds running her social media page more tedious than working with clay. Fortunately, her family and friends are very supportive of Deez Paints and they seem more excited than her so a helping hand is always available.

Apart from social media conducting her own experiments to understand

how clay works better is crucial to finding her still and figuring out how to use clay and make the jewellery last. She is still in the process of experimenting with the material and trying different things.

There are several steps to good, long lasting clay jewellery which consume a lot of her time.

"THIS

BUSINESS

TAUGHT PATIENCE SO

ME

BUT

HAS A

THE

WORTH

CLEARLY

LOT

OF

OUTPUT IT!"

IS

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A

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SUSTAINABLE CHOICE

A subtle act for a stylish, efficient and environmentally safe lifestyle

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NEFLE FO HTRIB

A few days ago, I was at a convenience store buying necessities. As a citizen concerned over the degradation and the excessive exploitation of the environment, I was trying to filter plastic free and renewable products but it seemed hopeless, as almost every single commodity was either plastic or perishable metal.

Though, it’s desirous to

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lead a sustainable life but it’s hard to do so in reality where options scarce . The problem is that Indian markets provide very little choices for people willing to buy domestic sustainable items. We either import and sell it at an expensive rate since excise duties are also included. The lack of such choice is why ELFEN was born.

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INDIA'S FIRST AND ONLY WOODEN WATCHES, A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT YOU CAN WEAR DAILY.

MOTIVE

wood, namely Mahogany, Ebony Pine, Oak, Zebra, Walnut wood and Sandal wood.

ELFEN provides beautiful watches made from wood for customers who are conscious yet stylish.

ELFEN is India's first brand for premium wooden watches.

Instead of heavy stainless steel ones, these watches are made using 7 different types of natural

The main motive was to create a brand that uses a renewable source to counter necessary needs and eliminate unnecessary consumption by switching to sustainable means. To show that such a belief can be realized without compromising elegance and finesse.

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Elfen's Partnership with Tree Nation

ELFEN aims to give people unique experiences by introducing something as unique as a wooden watch. The majority of products are handmade, with an emphasis on quality at affordable prices.

As a responsible and sustainable brand, their motto is to give more to mother nature than we take away from her. Keeping up with their core principles, for every purchase you make, a tree is planted in your name as result of ELFEN’s partnership with Tree Nation whose focus is on reforestation and the reduction of the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

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You will be able to see all the details of the tree like its LIVE Google location, the farmer taking care of it, the crop that it will be a part of the harvest, etc.

They also provide a tree - plantation certificate over e-mail!

As soon as the order is placed and the payment is made, you receive an email from Tree Nation with the details of the tree planted in your name.

ELFEN is a global brand with bright and promising future prospects and a firm sustainable approach that is commendable.

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TAKING YOU THROUGH THE MOST DIVISIVE COLLAB OF 2021

By Vinay Agarwal

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WAS IT OR WAS IT NOT ?

The much delayed Sabyasachi x H&M collaboration was the most divisive collab of the year internationally and in the history of collaborations by H&M. Every single person had an opinion about the collection including yours truly, ranging from an admiration towards Sabyasachi for putting out Indian fashion in the international scene – to biting criticism in terms of pricing the collection to a much higher side – and keeping it beyond the reach of an average buyer.

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SARI WORTH TEN GRAND?

The collection’s sari was specifically called out for its pricing at over ten grand; it was also the first saree to be sold under H&M label. So, the given situation had a positive and a negative shade to it depending on how you looked at it. But one thing was certain that it polarised the Internet like never before. Many of the prints were not new.

Sabyasachi had revisited the prints from his previous collaboration with Asian Paints called Nilaya and reworked them.

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The prints had a vintage glamor to them – and perhaps this is where it struck a chord among the buyers. As it had an old world charm, a hint of nostalgia, buyers held on to it drawing in the familiarity amidst the supposedly new world order. Order over Change. It ticked off all the boxes in the buyer’s psychology. Sabyasachi had struck the gold, and how!

The collection got sold out in less than fifteen minutes flat as soon it went live, causing the carts on H&M’s website to crash. Sabyasachi, days later, himself experienced the glitches and promised its customers to be more mindful in the future. Speaking of marketing, the way this collaboration was marketed was a case study unto itself. Besides influencer marketing, roping in celebrities (Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma) to be "seen" wearing the collection to taking up the mantle of six magazine cover shoots including Femina, GQ, Vogue Digital (all the covers were shot by Sabyasachi’s creative team); it established its hold in the firmament of the consumer’s psyche – consciously and subliminally.

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Collaboration of H&M with Global designers For those who are unaware, H&M has a tradition of coming out with annual collaborations. Every year it collaborates with a global designer and comes up with a collection based on the design identity and language of its collaborator and itself. Some of its previous collaborators include Erdem, Moschino and Kenzo.

Coming back to its collaboration

with Sabyasachi, the label and its collaborator drew insane flak from the artisan community for multiple reasons. Handloom revivalists Jaya Jaitly (Founder: Dastkari Haat Samiti), Laila Tyabji, and a couple of other names and co-operatives wrote an open letter to Sabyasachi expressing their concerns over what this collection means for the artisanal community.

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In their letter, they wrote:

We are deeply pained by the missed opportunity ‘Wanderlust’ (his collab) has been for the artisan livelihoods. The publicity material implies that the range is connected with Indian craft.

However, the range is not made by Indian artisans and with no visible benefit to them.

Apart from the many global stores, stalls and shelves boasting ‘Sold Out’ signs, imagine the sheer potential of this story had it only said, ‘Handmade in India’, supporting millions of jobs, equity, and sustainable growth in communities that need it the most. Even if half the collection had been made by artisans, it would have made such an impact at a time of economic crisis like this pandemic.”

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Sabyasachi responded to the letter by saying: The H&M was part of a different mission, a mission to put Indian design on the international map.

While this is undoubtedly a big win for me and my brand, I also understand this is a big win for India. The artisanal collectives were ‘disappointed’ with his explanation. In the evening, the designer posted stills from his inclusive campaign “Big Love’’ on his official Instagram page. Big Love was conceptualised to showcase his accessories line, prominently jewellery with H&M. The campaign explored shades of love including queer love, self-love, loving your body hair, and more and even featured the designer (Sabyasachi) himself in one of the posts – another first. Coming back to the collaboration, you and I may have multiple points of view on each of the pieces from the collaboration, but one thing we’ll agree on is that it was the most ‘radical’ collaboration India had ever seen in recent years.

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AUTUMN FRIENDLY SKINCARE TIPS

By Hitashi

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Get You Skin Ready For Fall It’s September and fall is here which means a change in season so it’s time to prepare our skin and make a few changes to our skincare routine as well because what worked in the Summer might not work in

AUTUMN So here are a few hacks or tips to make your skin glowy in this gloomy season!

Ditch Your Face Wash

Let’s start with the easiest one first!

Our skin needs some extra hydration in this dry weather so in order to restore that hydration in place avoid using a face wash in the morning when you wake up. By avoiding this you will let your skin bask in last night’s skincare products.

So, the only change you need to make is to rinse your face with water instead of going ahead with a face wash but remember to not skip your face wash before sleeping because you need to clean all the dirt and dust particles that sticks onto your face during the day.

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Get Your Hands on a Toner

Moisturize

If you don’t know what a toner is, it basically helps keep our skin hydrated.

Preferably get a toner with skin healing ingredients like collagen, biotin and amino acids because these ingredients have healing and rebuilding properties which will help your skin stay healthy and glowing in this season.

When it comes to using a toner, putting on some toner on a cotton pad and tapping into your skin after cleaning your face is the way to do it then go ahead with your skincare routine. Use a toner twice a day to get the best results!

Again, I don’t want to stress this enough about how important moisturizing is!

After a warm shower putting on a moisturizer on your face and neck is the best thing to do in order to lock in moisture. Doing this will also help in easy application of the product and will moisturize without the feeling of greasiness.

If you’ve been using a waterbased gel moisturizer in summer I prefer you to shift to a cream base moisturizer because they work well for this kind of dry weather.

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Sunscreen is a Staple

Double cleansing

Don’t make the mistake of skipping your sunscreen just because it’s gloomy outside.

Just like your moisturizer, sunscreen is also a product that should be a part of your skincare routine no matter what the season is outside. UV rays contribute largely to skin damage and cause hyperpigmentation and advanced skin aging, trust me you want none of that.

In fact, I personally wear sunscreen indoors as well because we just can’t escape the sun's UV rays without stepping out and I recommend you all to do the same!

Some people think that double cleansing can be harsh for our skin to handle, especially for people with dry skin but it’s all a myth.

Coming from a dry skin type I can prove that double cleansing helps in deep cleaning and doesn’t strip down our skin.

Begin with using a cleansing balm or an oil if you’re a dry skin type and for people with oily skin a crème based cleanser is just perfect!

Doing this extra step will help you in deep cleaning your skin without leaving it over dried because sometimes using just a foaming cleanser is not enough to remove both makeup and dirt.

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In Defence of the MAINSTREAM

By Hiba

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AT THE MERCY OF THE

reader's gaze Every writer is at the mercy of the reader's gaze. Although each word you're reading was written in the company of Delhi's departing damp summer by me, you will interpret it from a perspective which is uniquely yours and completely alien to me. I'm sending my thoughts out as flying kisses, you might choose to receive them as butterflies.

Just give tenderness to my growth in return.

When I was in 8th grade, I saw a classmate of mine enthusiastically filling out a slam book. This was the time when The One Direction Revolution was very much aflame and from her answers, she was a passionate Directioner. Being a condescending, alternative idealizing, indie obsessed pretentious kid I took one look at her answers and told her to die.

Yes, I literally told her to die. She has been my best friend for about six years since then :)

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LISTENING TO THE COOL KID

Music!

Here's where the tenderness I asked you for comes into play.

Younger, edgier me made sure to dig out the rarest, most underground music from YouTube. I had a cringe emo phase around the same time as well, let's keep this a secret between the two of us (yes, I cut my own bangs, binge watched My Digital Escape and dyed my hair blood red). In my early teens and even pre-teen years, I made sure to buy classic rock band t-shirts and listen to cool kid music exclusively.

The content we consume, whether it's in the form of music, books, movies, or any other media influences us way beyond our comprehension.

It defines character, refines beliefs and develops personality. Whether it's for the better or worse. So, I thought that by listening to what the kids around me were not familiar with, I would somehow become someone exceptional. No matter how much discomfort listening to the entire discography of The Beatles on repeat brought me.

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FEMINITY

Over the years, I naturally grew out of these sentiments. I learned that other girls are beautiful, smart, funny, interesting and the crowd that I was trying to run away from is in fact made up of rare and vibrant people that I would be honoured to learn from and be more like.

During these years, I was also in constant rebellion against my femininity. You know, the pathetically popular "I'm not like other girls" trope. The reason behind all this was obviously childish immaturity but it was mostly for a thirst for individuality, to stand apart from the crowd.

Fifteen year old me would be traumatized if on the threshold of college I said in front of her that Sheila ki Jawani was a cultural reset. Or that the "Katrina Kaif + Shreya Ghoshal item song era" being eternally superior over the prevailing "Nora Fatehi + Neha Kakkar one" is my new definition of an intellectual debate.

IN REBELLION WITH MY

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This massive change in me happened gingerly over the years. As I grew up and life started holding me accountable, my mental space for depth and discovery all the time decreased significantly. The mainstream content is so much easier to consume. Top of the charts songs repeating the same catchy verse about how your ex is trash, the glamorous worlds of chick-flick movies, and rom-com books with hardly different storylines are what I choose to come home to now, in my rapidly fading teenhood.

Although, so much easier to laugh at and cry along with, admittedly, mainstream content is beyond problematic. Themes like sexist jokes, hypersexualisation of female bodies, deepening stereotypes, unrealistic body expectations are not only common but also customarily ignored with the excuse of lighthearted humor.

This is a deep problem ordinarily shunned by saying things like "people get offended at anything these days" when asked for accountability.

I passionately believe that the quality of content which reaches the masses and which is most accessible should certainly be worked upon. This means a complete metamorphosis of the media culture and the art of creation.

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Coming back to the personal rationale of my usual social commentaries, let me confide in you, my dear, tender reader. I've never said this out loud but I am finally getting a gist of learning to live for myself and not the prejudiced perceptions of me that exist in the minds of wellknown strangers.

Reminiscing over the words of a friend who I lost touch with, "You are so yourself that it's easier for other people to be themselves around you".

By making my peace with being a part of the crowd, I learnt how to be touched by the collective, beautiful humanness. I learnt that in order to change the world, you must first acknowledge that you are a part of it. The purpose of life isn't to stand out estranged from other people, it is to delicately impact them.

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K A S H M I R

ISSUE 11 / SEP 2021

PHOTOS BY AMAAN RAIS

PARADISE ON EARTH

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Farsi Couplet:

Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast.

English Translation:

If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this

Amir Khusrau, The Writings Of Amir Khusrau

PHOTOS BY AMAAN RAIS

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PHOTOS BY AMAAN RAIS

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PHOTOS BY AMAAN RAIS

THE EXILE

and it's consequent repercussions

By Aleema Nishat

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WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND OUR

EXTRA EXTRA PANDEMIC PANDEMIC POUNDS? POUNDS?

As the weeks of living in

lockdown took their toll, many of us started raiding the fridge for comfort food.

Whether it was an extra piece of pizza or another slice of cake, we ate a lot during pandemic.

The latest figures by Public Health England suggest that more than 40% of British adults gained an average of 3 kg during the pandemic. The reasons for the rise in body weights seem, at first glance, is obvious. We tended to move less during prolonged periods of lockdown, with emotional eating and gym closures intensifying the trend. Yet a look at the history of dieting and health campaigns should remind us that the realities of weight gain are more complex than “calories in versus calories out”.

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Nutritionist Kim Pearson points out that humans need routine, especially when it comes to eating well and, if necessary, losing weight. “Most of us have had our normal routines turned upside down," she says. "Before the lockdown, we would have had breakfast at a certain time, perhaps so we could leave for work or school, then lunch to fit into the daily routine, and our evening meal when we came home. That need for a fixed time has disappeared.”

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There’s more to weight loss than just trying to reduce your calories, and that we have to consider the wider picture of what’s going on with people’s lives. During the first lockdown we shopped locally, consumed home-cooked meals and reported eating healthier. And yet on average, many people still gained weight. The reality is that the extra time granted by the ability to work at home during lockdown also meant more trips to the kitchen and the refrigerator.

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UNINVITED UNINVITED DISTRACTIONS Bars, festive seasons, facebook notifications are among the external distractions that happen to come along uninvited and when they arrive, show no sign of leaving. Our self-motivation and preparedness begin to weaken and then sway dangerously.

Internal cravings in the face of temptation ensure that we stay on the fence.

Well, I’ve blown my diet already, so I might as well have another piece,” Often, we think it is not a big deal to fail twice after we have failed once. That is when the “whatthe-hell effect” strikes and before we know it, we are speeding down the ravine.

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Getting rid of a bad habit requires an exertion of will power. The best of planning and preparedness encounter obstacles constantly during implementation.

That is considering if this habit will stay forever. With things going back to normal and lockdowns lifting all over the country, life is returning to its usual pace and so are our habits. One recent scientific study concludes that lone fruit flies quarantined in test tubes sleep too little and eat too much after only about one week of social isolation. We, the humans, endured months of isolation. So, what the hell, if eating got us through all those anxious and uncertain times then it’s okay we ate.

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BINGE BUT NO T CRINGE !

By Me hak Pa sricha

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BINGE WATCHING

the practice of watching multiple episodes of a television programme in rapid succession.

Binge culture or Binge watching has definitely skyrocketed in the past few years. It truly reached its peak during the lockdown when one was glued to their screen 24x7! However, one practice that really took the forefront during the lockdown was ‘Binge and Cringe’ which essentially meant binge watching even the most cringeworthy shows. (Not so) Sadly, I was also a (proud) recipient of this phenomenon.

We saw an influx of shows coming in during this period; some that made sense, and some which didn’t.

Even now there’s a stock of cringe worthy shows available on all OTT platforms but hidden amongst them are a number of shows that are actually really good for a relaxed watch after a hard day at work or college, but have been overshadowed by these ‘cringey’ shows, which secretly, somewhere deep down, all of us love!

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WORTH WATCHING!

Here’s a roundup of some of the most relaxing and easygoing shows you need to watch if you haven’t already!

Bake Squad One of the friendliest shows of all times. The desserts would definitely make you drool and wish that it were you for who’s birthday the Bake Squad was baking! The genuine happiness and fun these guys have baking up a storm of desserts for someone’s birthday, wedding etc and the ideas and concepts they come up with truly leave one in awe!

Dream Home Makeover "Hello, home decor/remodeling inspiration” - the only line that comes to my mind after seeing this show. The way they totally revamp a space or/and build new homes from scratch definitely leaves one dumbstruck. A must watch for all budding interior designers and everyone thinking of getting their home or even a room redone. Pinterest inspiration in a show!

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Don't miss outNext In Fashion Definitely the show for every fashion enthusiast. Next in Fashion has some hidden gems and some of the top fashion designers from all over the world come together and compete for a prize! With new designs and challenges, the show definitely keeps one on the edge of their seat.

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Low Budget Travelling in India

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01

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Darjeeling, West Bengal

Popularly known as the 'Queen of the Hills', Darjeeling is a favoured tourist destination, noted for its scenic beauty, ancient forests, quaint houses, friendly people and the mountain panorama that it provides. Set amid the emerald-green tea plantations and snow capped Himalayan Peaks, Darjeeling was founded back in the 19th century by the British and now has a Tibetan influence in their craft, culture and cuisine. Kanchenjunga peak is clearly visible from here. Best time to visit is from June September.

02

Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India, known as ‘the Rose Garden of Rajasthan’, the essence of the famous Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. The tranquil city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world.

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03

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

The 'Queen of Hill Stations' one of the most popular hill stations of India, it has Nilgiris, the 'Blue Mountains', in its background. One of the most well-known hill stations in the Southern part of South India, is visited by a large number of tourists. The best time to visit Ooty is from October to June.

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Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - Known as the ‘Land of Dawn-Lit Mountains’ is well known for its scenic beauty, heritage and buddhist culture. A wide variety of fauna including tigers, barking deer, sambars and panthers and the not-tobe-missed state bird, hornbill, are also found here in large numbers. Jaykar Sinyik is one of the most beautiful and popular lakes of Itanagar.

05

Gokarna, Karnataka

Gokarna, Karnataka Gokarna, a small pilgrimage town in Karnataka has grown into a tourist destination over the years, due to its stretch of beautiful sandy beaches. Owing to its growing popularity, several hotels and restaurants have come up in Gokarna. The temple town is now an emerging beach destination that offers something to different types of tourists with its natural beauty and its history steeped in mythology.

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Mcleodganj, Himachal Pradesh

Famously known as Little Lhasa, Mcleodganj is a beautiful blend of Tibetan culture with some British influence. It is famous for being home to the worldrenowned Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama. Attracts thousands of international visitors each year to take courses in Buddhism, meditation or yoga, trek in the Dhauladhar mountains, shop for Tibetan crafts or just seek peace and take in the spiritual vibe.

07

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

Referred to as the 'Princess of Hills', Kodaikanal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India.

Kodaikanal's popularity as a tourist destination is widely known and it's an ideal escape for tired souls looking for some serenity and peace. Being a hill station, Kodaikanal enjoys a cool and pleasant climate round the year. However, the best time to visit happens from March to early June when the weather is at its best.

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Alleppey, Kerala

Also called ‘Venice of the East’ by travellers, this popular tourist destination offers cruises on picturesque backwaters that stretch to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Ayurvedic spas and wellness centres abound in this region and are ideal for easing tired mind and body. The experiences it offers to travellers leave them with a yearning to visit Alleppey, a splendid nature’s paradise, again and again.

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HOME AWAY FROM HOME Interview by Vanshika Seth and Megha Diwan

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As India entered complete lockdown last year, several industries hit rock bottom as everything came to a standstill. We spoke with Devaansh and Anupreksha, owners of The Farm House, Homestay, Manali- a small getaway abode in Jagatsukh- former capital of Manali. Read on to find out how the idea of renting out cottages was born and their struggle amidst Covid to revive their venture.

Q1. How did you start this journey? What exactly made you think of having a cottage?

Could you also elaborate on the city a bit?

Devaansh and I worked in Travel Triangle, a leading travel company. We then planned on starting our own company and did.

Our specialisation was in Europe as a destination, and we did fairly well. Our company’s name is Infinity & Beyond Travels.

Once the Corona Pandemic started, we were hit the hardest in terms of business.

Since we were from the Tourism Sector and Devaansh had a good experience as a hotelier, we came up with the idea of leasing out cottages and running this business. The reason to choose a hill station like Manali was to have a better quality of life and peace. We live in a village called Jagatsukh which is 7 km from Manali.

Q2. How has your experience been?

What do travelers want the most from the place?

Our experience living in Jagatsukh has been more than great. We are living very close to nature, with AQI levels always below 25. By moving here, our diet, exercise, and daily routine are only making us stronger and happier each day. Our guests expect an out-of-the-box experience where they get a homestay experience. Since we are away from the hustle and bustle of the city and town life, they find a lot of peace staying here.

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Q3. As travel was booming all these years, suddenly due to C-19 it got disrupted. How did it affect your business, and how did you overcome it?

Q4. Were there any strategies you used to revive the inflow of tourists? Such as commitments, etc.

COVID-19 hit the tourism industry really hard. Our sales came down to zero and the entire business was to be put on hold. With no source of income, things became really hard for us both. We had to put in everything we had to start something new. It is not that we are doing bad, but currently, the industry has not picked up its pace. We still have hope and believe that we will bounce back once things get better.

We started our homestay business by offering budget stays to travelers. Our key focus was to promote Work Away From Home. Our business totally depends on the kind of service we are able to offer our guests.

By ensuring that everyone feels at home and has great food, we are able to increase our potential guests by word of mouth. Airbnb has played a big role in helping us grow.

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Q5. Lastly, how do you think the tourism industry will evolve in the next 5 years?

The possibilities are limitless. One of the most drastic changes that can be expected is automation. AI is going to play a large role in moving the industry forward. These two years have limited people to the confines of their homes, and the will to travel is only growing. Soon we can expect to see a great number of people wanting to travel the world once the economy gets moving.

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LET'S TALK : ABLEISM AND THE PARALYMPICS

By Mitula Sai Subramanian

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Paralympics, in simple words, is a major international sports competition for athletes with disabilities. The Paralympic Games are held every four years, following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Ableism refers to discrimination in favour of able-bodied people. Now one might wonder how an inclusive event like the Paralympics might be even remotely ableist.

This is most definitely possible when the event organizers indulge in performative inclusion and activism. Becca Meyers, an American swimmer, had to withdraw from the 2021 Paralympics held in Tokyo after being denied a personal care assistant (PCA) during her event. The three-time gold medallist is visually challenged and hearing impaired. She was repeatedly told by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) that she didn’t need her PCA as “There will be a single PCA on staff that is available to assist me and 33 other Paralympic swimmers, 9 of whom are also visually impaired.”

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The rapport between a disabled person and their PCA can never be replicated; if they’re not allowed, a proper replacement with adequate training is imperative. However, in Meyers’s case, there was only one PCA for 34 Paralympians, and they did not specialize in helping her disability (she is visually challenged and hearing impaired). While the USOPC replied by stating that they had to comply with Japan’s strict COVID-19 regulations, the wider question of proper understanding of disabilities arises. A personal care assistant is not an extra reporter, staff, or supporter. They exist to provide assistance to disabled people.

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To deny Meyers’s request is essentially asking her to participate without the required support. While the International Paralympics Committee’s initiatives like WeThe15- which “aims to end discrimination towards persons with disabilities and act as a global movement publicly campaigning for disability visibility, accessibility, and inclusion,” are revolutionary and necessary, their response to Paralympic athletes makes one wonder if these initiatives are just for show.

We hope the Paralympics change their outlook as there’s no point for these events to exist if they do not cater to the people they promise to uplift.

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PARA BADMINTON

By Jigisha

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In the first Tokyo Paralympics badminton world tournament, India received a gold in the men’s singles in the classification of SH6 on 5th September, 2021.

Krishna Nagar brought Gold to the country and created a legacy.

For the badminton sport that is usually centric to east asian players, it were novel circumstances that India, a south Asian country bagged a total of 4 medals in different classifications.

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Pramod Bhagat wins gold

Manoj Sarkar wins bronze

Another Paralympic badminton player known as Pramod Bhagat brought gold to the country in the SL3 men’s singles match earlier on September 4th, 2021, and Manoj Sarkar secured the bronze medal for the SL3 class match at Tokyo, Japan’s Paralympics. The SL3 category is for players

who have minor lower limb impairments, and SH6 for players with a short stature. For the SL4 event in the men’s singles category, India bagged a silver by the badminton player Suhas Yathiraj, SL4 that is classified for the severe impairment of lower limb badminton players.

BRINGING PRIDE

To India The players brought great pride to eminent society members of India, the highest of them being the president, evidently when the president congratulated Krishna Nagar for securing a Gold for the country.

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Being a part of badminton or any sport in the Paralympics accounts for one to strive for reaching for one’s best potential irrespective of impairments. The Paralympics is no new concept however to cite precisely, it likely dates back to World War 2, for it was introduced to and for the war veterans to help the physically impaired rehabilitate.

The great victories in the sport however go beyond the competitiveness or the physical and mental disadvantages and portray simpler ideas for Indians and generations to follow that is to pursue sports or specific sports.

The world’s first Paralympic tournament in Tokyo, Japan facilitates prospective players of badminton the opportunity to compete and win medals for their country, and for young players to get prompted to participate in the upcoming Paralympics in 2028.

C R E D I T S WOKAL

Editor in Chief: Alina Ahmed Editor: Aabiyah Zehra Layouts & Design: Krishika Choudhary, Aabiyah Zehra Cover Photos by Aabiyah Zehra Cover Design by Aabiyah Zehra

Section Heads Director of Photography : Aabiyah Zehra Makeup: Hitashi Arts and Creativity : Sameeksha Jayaram Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Reji Pet Care: Dakshita Mitra Travel: Vanshika Seth Culture: Jigisha Sharma & Vinay Agrawal Entertainment: Mehak Pasricha Columnists: Hiba & Dakshita Mitra Social Media and PR: Kashish Chopra, Simran Vani

Special thanks to our interns Harshita Singhal, Khushi, Sameeksha Jayaram, Megha Diwan, Varsha, Aleema Nishat, Mitula Sai Subramanian, Bilal Ahmad, Krishika Choudhary

Featuring ELFEN Watches (@elfenwatches)

Interview Courtesy Devaansh and Anupreksha

Caravan Nandita Giri's Deez Paints (@deez.paints) S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 • I S S U E 1 1

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ISSUE 11| SEPTEMBER

ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2021

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