W O K A L Each Breath Labelled:
Stereotyping women as India’s highly invested venture
Interview: Ajai Sharma
Budding Chef, author and podcast host
Women of Prey:
In conversation with Dr. Saba Bashir
The Caravan:
While the Rainbow loses its shine: Violence against the LGBTQ Community
Journeys to Share
ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 2020
ISSUE.3 \\ OCT 2020
In This Issue......
Each Breath labelled Interview: Ajai Sharma
The Eves of Revolution Words: The poetry section Binging with Baksi Women of Prey: In conversation with Dr. Saba Bashir Looks to pick this fall season In a click: Photography Slang vocab
ISSUE.3 \\ OCT 2020
What's Inside: Is Cancel Culture a form of Activism? Gearview The City both old and new: Delhi Tea with Sib Asexuality: A misinterpreted Spectrum A Festive Wardrobe
The Caravan: Journeys to share To be Caged or Not to be Caged While the Rainbow loses its colours
C R E D I T S
Editor in Chief Alina Ahmed Layouts and design by Alisha Hussain, Shumaila Masood and Anushree Mishra Editing by Alina Ahmed and Aabiyah Zehra Cover picture by Aayush Jindal Cover Models Sheikh Almaas Islam and Sneha Barua Cover design by Alisha Hussain Section heads Director, Art and Layout : Alisha Hussain & Anushree Mishra Director of Photography : Aabiyah Zehra Fashion : Sneha Barua Makeup : Hitashi Food: Subhomita Baksi Photography : Itu Dutta and Aabiyah Zehra Arts and Creativity : Alisha Hussain and Anushree Mishra Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Reji and Kashish Chopra Pet care: Dakshita Mitra and Sarah Wasim Social Media and PR: Maahin Saeed Article contributor: Hiba
Interview courtesy: Dr. Saba Mahmood Bashir Ajai Sharma (@biteinwithbawarchii) Features: Ayushi Agrawal (Plate It Right Challenge) Sakshi Ghorpade (Plate It Right Challenge) Priya Singh (Plate It Right Challenge) Mariam Shoeb (Wanderlust Challenge) Ruchika Bedi (Wanderlust Challenge) Nivedita Singh (Bewitched Challenge) Hafsa Khan (Bewitched Challenge)
Special Contributors: The Caravan: Jennifer Rao Paul Words: Jasmine Sachdeva and Rebecca Samantha Deena
C R E D I T S
Each Breath Labelled: Stereotyping women as India’s highly invested venture
A TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHOICES
BY ALINA AHMED
Photographed by: AAYUSH JINDAL
WOKAL Oct 2020 Issue 3
Inframe: Sheikh Almaas Islam and Sneha Barua
Stereotyping of certain sections Media plays a significant role in the portrayal of society. In this context, stereotyping of certain sections and traits and prove to be dismantling for generations that look up to these icons on the screen. One such stereotyping that has become the rule of the thumb is the wardrobe choices that female antagonists seem to have. Alina Ahmed writes a relatable piece that talks about individual choices, especially in females.
Wokal mag Oct 2020
OCT 2020
ISSUE 03
WOKAL
Where the mind is without fear is merely a statement "
"
In this country, the phrase, ‘where the mind is without fear’ is only practised by writerswho write Indian television soaps or the patriarchal society that judges every womanthrough the lens of societal standards. They act unafraid and pass unlevelled judgements on how a woman should dress, look, live and even breathe! Character certificates unasked-for are easily handed down to women who wear what they like, making their life open to stereotyping. Here, character assassination is carried out in a well-organised and competent way by tools of patriarchy such as calling out names, connecting academic and social aptitudes to the way a woman decides to dress and yes, the most used one, ‘they are asking for it.’ ALINA AHMED
Moral policing at school.
WOKAL
This stereotyping of women based on their choice of clothing starts from the place thatshould have been a haven but has ultimately turned out to be a place, which an average teenager would kill to avoid. Yes, you guessed it right! School. This moral policing is based on quite a few rules, and let me introduce them to you. The first being no tight uniforms, or the person has mistaken the school premises for a fashion show. The second being plaited hair, don’t care, but if by chance you couldn’t part your hair into three and braid them girl’ should, you’re instantly a hot pick in the staff room where your character basically depends on your hairstyle. Last but not the least, your male friendships instantly upgrade you from the angelic damsel to someone who is labelled ‘bad company’. Teachers, who should act as moral support and guide to students do not shy away from such remarks that leave a deep impact on tender minds. I do not encourage disrespecting school regulations but moral policing cannot be the onlysolution. Come on, miss, you have so much potential! This portrayal and stereotyping have been engraved in all minds through the commonlyconsumed drug which will make you hallucinate about the ‘Adarsh woman’. She is a mythological character who was born with a brain and a tongue but is expected to neveruse either of the two. She has no identity of her own and will only walk on the pathshown by her father, brother or husband. Someone who is only to be found in a highlydistressed state until and unless rescued by someone who is violent and cusses but thesequalities reflect a strong man. I repeat, a strong Man. Not a woman. And if God forbidsshe tries to use her tongue in the matters that concern her life, she would be shownwearing bold make-up and dark clothes. You know, women in power have to bevillainized just because they want to live their lives following their choices. This is how a typical female character with grey shades perceived.
WOKAL
Inframe: Sheikh Almaas Islam and Sneha Barua
Are clothes enough to categorise? From the time a woman takes birth, she has to face society’s moral policing andconditioning for them to accept her as a ‘good woman’. In this view, I would like to bring up how clothes are enough for women to be categorised as good or bad. And I would have taken it too far if I just mention clothes because even the shade of lipstick is enough to label women the most derogatory colloquial reference you can find. The more creative the label is, the more points you get.
Indian media seemed to have confused the physical appearance of a person as theircharacter and the irony is that this wardrobe stereotyping isn’t about men but onlywomen and the queer community that is stereotyped when it comes to how theircharacter is supposed to look like. The message is clear, anyone who uses too muchmake-up and jewellery is dangerous and should be avoided. Maybe this undertone conveys that the antagonist uses a bold wardrobe and a heavily made-up face, and thelatest addition to it - light eyes, to hide their ugly character. If that is to be held up, then Indian media should spend hours in the dressing room.
WOKAL
TO EACH, HER OWN.
One thing that society needs to unlearn is that women in power do not necessarily have a dark character. And neither is having a ‘dark character’ a bad thing. They do not have to be fond of their husband’s money so that they can shop from the same. Women have the right to wear what they want, look the way they want to and even present themselves as they want. Their fondness of materialistic pleasure should not be seen as a negative trait. Anything that is termed as ambition in men should not be judged as selfishness in women. The cause being deep-rooted patriarchy. Choices might not be identical for individuals with similar pursuits, just like for some, a rhyming quatrain was woke enough to know that we have patriarchy to smash, for others, it takes an 800-word article. Just like wardrobes and styles, to each her own.
BITE IN WITH BAWARCHII: The Epic Culinary Journey of Ajai Sharma
BY ALINA & SUBHOMITA
WOKAL
MAG
OCTOBER
2020
ISSUE
3
Some eat to live, while others live to eat. Usually, the second category of people regard food as a religion and for them, a kitchen is a holy place where the fire not only cooks their food but also meticulously builds their skills. Ajai Sharma is one such young chef who is in the pursuit of making an exceptional culinary journey. An author, podcast host, and budding chef, Ajai is a WGSHA, Manipal alumnus and currently enrolled at Culinary Institute of America, New York. He has a book, The Culinary Epic of Jeddah, to his name and has recently started his Podcast, Bite in Bawarchii. Alina Ahmed and Subhomita Baksi got
into a candid conversation with the budding chef. Excerpts:
Some eat to live, while others live to eat. Ajai
sharma
wrote
a
book
named:
THE
CULINARY
-ALINA
AND
EPIC
SUBHOMITA
OF
JEDDAH
Our chef was strongly inspired by Master Chef India!
Alina:
When did you first realize that you’re inclined towards culinary arts? Was it always on the plate?
Ajai: Iniitially, I wanted to become a cardio surgeon but over some time my grades went down, and as you know, the tender age of teenage when you have so many things changing in your head, that you want to be this or I want to be that, but eventually my inclination grew as I was always with my mom so I started helping my mom at the age of Ten as a helping hand, and my family are really into food and are great at hospitality, they love feeding people, so you can say that its a genetic thing. Professionally I started to incline towards cooking back in 2010 when the first season of MasterChef India aired on TV. I had been following Chef Sanjeev Kapoor even before MasterChef and I was always fond of cooking but I never thought of taking it up as a profession, because in my time there was no hype about being a chef. And I think that MasterChef India hit me hard and the fondness of that white Chef’s coat!
Why Jeddah? read ahead.
Ajai: My dad inspired me to write this book. So basically I had to submit my dissertation after the final year at graduation. So I always wanted to write a culinary book about Amritsar’s culinary scene, since it’s my grandmother’s birthplace but it wasn’t
Subhomita:
feasible because in that case, I would have
What inspired you to write your book, The Culinary Epic of Jeddah?
missed my training, which was certainly more important. So I was really confused about which city I should choose for the book, and that’s when my dad suggested that I should write about the city Jeddah, where I have lived for around twelve years of my life. And I liked the idea and started working on it. I would say that my father was the major driving force behind this book because if he had not pushed my ego about it, I wouldn’t have done this so well.
The book quotes The Holy Quran!
Alina:
During my research about your book, I came to know that your book quotes the Holy Quran. How did a religious text show up in a book about food?
Ajai: So growing up in an Islamic country, I have immense respect for Muslims. I knew that the Holy Quran is one such reference that cannot go wrong anywhere and it is completely authentic. My main idea about mentioning the Surah and even the Aayat from where I had taken up the reference so that people can relate to it. I mentioned 29 ingredients that are even mentioned in the Quran, providing the authenticity that my book needed. I sat with an Imam to translate the references and even get it checked twice to save myself and the book from any kind of Blasphemy. I thought if I have God with me, I can never go wrong.
WOKAL Oct 2020 issue 3
Alina: How would you define your podcast, Bite in with Bawarchii, for the people who are yet to come across it?
Ajai: It is the latest version of ‘Coffee with Karan’, featuring culinary experts! (laughs!) I interview culinary experts that have not been heard before. So basically the whole idea behind ‘Bite in with Bawarchii’, was formulated during the lockdown since all of us were in quarantine and could not go out or talk to anyone, a lot of people were frustrated and needed someone to talk to. Initially, when the Mental Health issue came up, I felt that every person has a story to tell. I wanted to become the voice of these unheard professionals from the hospitality industry.At first, I made a five-minute episode with my mom and thought that okay if this thing worked, I would do it on a bigger scale. And honestly, at that time I didn’t that it would turn out to be on such platforms as Google, and Amazon Music, even Jio Saavn. In the starting, it was on Spotify and I was satisfied with that, but now I really can’t seem to believe that it’s on so many platforms.
Subhomita: Where do you want to see yourself as a part of the food industry in the upcoming years?
Ajai: I can’t make any predictions. I had a plan about opening a place but due to the pandemic, that seems a far-fetched idea. After completing my degree, I plan to work as a chef at a restaurant for a couple of years. I need to brush up my skills and add some years of experience, so definitely working as a chef for the next few years, And writing is a hobby so let’s see where it takes me.
Subhomita: How was this experience at CIA different from what you had at WGSHA, Manipal?
Ajai: When I went to the CIA, it was my first visit to America. It was intermediating especially in a city like New York. I was excited to go to America but at the same time, it was scary because they were very strict with immigration and all. I was in a split situation – excited/nervous. Once I cleared the immigration, I went to the campus and I was starstruck. CIA was my dream college since many renowned Chefs Like Grant Achatz, Maneet Chauhan (WGSHA’10 Course) are the alumni of CIA. Initially, I was slightly perplexed being in a new place, getting used to the city, the people, and the living. I was thrilled to meet new Chefs, my colleagues at the academy, and experience it all.
Since I was the only Indian in my batch, I felt extremely proud to represent my country. Though there were high expectations that the Chefs had from me since the Indians from the previous batches performed exceptionally well. I had new experiences, learned many things being an Indian, like a different culture, lifestyle, etc. It took me time to settle in America and by the time I did, it was time to head back to India. My initial plan was to go to the CIA but god had some other plans and WGSHA happened first. WGSHA happened all of sudden and I will never regret it since the place has such a welcoming atmosphere and it holds various memories. During my course, I always visited the Krishna temple in Udupi, before and after every semester as I am a great believer in Lord Krishna. I will forever be grateful to my alma matter for making me who I am today.
WOKAL ISSUE 03
Alina: How has your cooking evolved over the years, from being in school to getting into the CIA?
AJAI: I am extremely passionate, serious, and involved in the work I do. It is as if I am wedded to my profession and work. Over the years, I have seen myself progress a lot in terms of patience, maturity, and being organized. My cooking no doubt evolved but, I believe that one is evolving every day and till the very last day of life. From not knowing how to plate a dish to now trying out new and new ways of plating every time I have to present a dish, it has been a tough and long journey, yet not perfect is what I feel.
WOKAL
Subhomita: What would you like to pass on to aspiring youth who want to build a career in culinary arts?
“Anyone can cook but only the fearless can be in a great” - Ratatouille
From my personal experience in the initial days of being in the kitchen, I would say - Be fearless while cooking. You are learning every day. Initially, bow your head and say ‘yes chef’ and accept whatever you are assigned. Be it peeling potatoes and onions or clearing the garbage or for that matter even washing the dishes. No work is minimal in a kitchen and it doesn’t denote your status. Always be a learner for life never be a teacher. Not all days will be happy and good and you may not be appreciated, there will be days when you will feel demotivated/disheartened since you put in your best but more was required. Don’t stop and never give up! Reaching great heights is certainly a great feeling but jumping straight isn’t correct. Take each step slowly and smartly, master one, and then climb the next. It will take time, but in the end, you will have great knowledge and experience.Last but not the least, having the right attitude is necessary to access/handle the problems. Succeed till the very end not till you are tired.
!
Impr Imprompt omptu u
A dish that describes your personality the best. Aloo Parantha! (Alina: Okay, so you are a common favourite!) If you were a type of coffee, which one would you be? White Mocha with Hazelnut and Caramel on top! Any good local restaurant or eatery that you discovered recently? There's this restaurant in Chelsea Market in New York that sells the best Cactus Tacos in town, it's called Los Tacos. One talent or quality that you would like to steal from your favourite chef. How to be a good storyteller while you're cooking from Ranveer Brar; from Vikas Khanna, his smile; from Sanjeev Kapoor how to be the best marketing person ever at selling your food. If you could eat, only one cuisine your entire life, what would it be? Mediterranean or Moroccan. The book you last read. The Travelling Belly: Eating Through India's By-Lanes by Kalyan Karmakar A culinary series that you would like to suggest to food enthusiasts. /Chef's Table on Netflix; SALT FAT ACID HEAT by Samin Nosrat, but I would rather suggest reading the book instead of watching the series; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and Ugly Delicious, both by David Chang on Netflix; many other movies like Ratatouille, The Hundred-Foot Journey, Burnt, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory..
ISSUE 3
WOKAL
OCT 2020
WORDS.
JASMINE SACHDEVA REBECCA SAMANTHA DEENA
WOKAL OCT 2020
#BLACK LIVES MATTER
When @adamroa said The blackout is just another way to keep the blacks I felt it. I don't mean literally I felt it because my entire feed had turned black Quite visually Darkness had resided Every hue was visible except for the people, who just stood by. Every screen reflected #blacklivesmatter but instead of celebrating the diversity of race, and accepting that inclusion is the way they went on, playing with the same hashtags as I do today, follow the same tribe, because ultimately we just subscribe, right? So where's the inclusion I ask, Is it all framed Even with a mask? The Glamour of the west is such a hype that hardly, for our own people, there's an outcry. When you change your profile to black, show your support to avoid any apolitical attack Think back to when you said, "eww", dreadlocks are hideous" or "their hair is too wild for my vibe" So when @adamroa said, "The blackout is just another way to keep the blacks" I felt it. I feel it. For all the ones who just reel it.
Jasmine Sachdeva
So next time when you use #blacklivesmatter, know who they are, their history, their culture, their struggles. I know it's difficult to understand someon's troubles, but let's burst our own bubble. For our own sisters and brothers, who don't need a pompous show BUT US, TOGETHER, TO GROW.
Lover WORDS BY Rebecca Samantha Deena
I see it in his eyes. A love as deep as it comes. I read it in every word he scribbles. I hear it in every song he sings. And I feel it in every breath he draws.
PHOTO BY Caroline Fuentes
There are times when I can't help myself and look at him in awe and wonder How strong and sincere can a man's love be if it's
My heart swells with pain and jealousy when I think of my husband's love for his lover.
WOKAL // ISSUE.3 // OCT 2020
true.
ISSUE 3
OCT 2020
THE EVES OF REVOLUTION
Women's March in the French Revolution from ThoughtCo
BY HIBA RAISING VOICES AGAINST THE WRONG.
WOKAL MAG
ISSUE 03
OCTOBER 2020
REBEL DAUGHTERS THE VERY EXISTENCE OF A WOMAN IS A FEARLESS REVOLUTIONARY ACT. THE BLOOD OF THOSE WITCHES THEY BURNT, THE QUEENS THEY ASPERSED, THE WAR CRIES THEY STIFLED RUN IN OUR VEINS, WE ARE THE DAUGHTERS OF THOSE BATTLES WON AND LOST. NO MATTER HOW OPPRESSIVE HAVE BEEN THE REGIME OF THE TIMES, WOMEN HAVE ICONICALLY FOUGHT BACK. HISTORY HAS TIME AND AGAIN BEEN THE WITNESS TO THESE HEROINES THAT HAVE MADE THEIR MARK BY RAISING THEIR VOICE AGAINST THE WRONG.HIBA WRITES ABOUT THESE REBEL DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, WIVES, MOTHERS, AND EVEN DADIS WHO HAVE STOOD FEARLESSLY IN THE FACE OF THE DIABOLICAL ENEMY. THIS IS ABOUT WHERE YOU COME FROM AND HOW ALL OF THAT MADE WHO YOU ARE TODAY.
BY HIBA
Suffrage Movement from Superprof.
WOKAL MAG
OCTOBER 2020
WOKAL
ISSUE 3
Photograph from Istock
HIBA EXPLAINS
A HEARTLESS QUEEN Who lives in modern art as an immortal muse.
WWW.WOKAL MAG.COM
It would be appropriate to start subtly with a warrior Queen who has been reduced to only an enchanting, seductive beauty through the centuries, Cleopatra. Some cool facts here, she was Julius Caesar's mistress and had been living in Rome when his assassination took place. Sometime after, she met Mark Antony (Caesar's close friend and the avenger of his blood). Another scandalous Roman love affair, she went on to marry him and gave birth to three children. When the Roman Senate declared war on her, she led several dozen Egyptian warships into the fray. Let's do justice to her legacy by looking past the definitions the various men in her life, and historians thereafter gave her. Not only was she fluent in a dozen languages, but she was also articulate in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, oratory, and astronomy. As a heartless warrior queen, she was bewitching for all the wrong reasons and lives on in modern art as an immortal muse.
WOKAL MAG.
OCTOBER 2020.
ISSUE3
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
FAST FORWARD TO THE LATE 1700S, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. WOMEN IN THIS PERIOD WERE CONSIDERED AS PASSIVE, SECOND CLASS CITIZENS WITH NO POLITICAL RIGHTS. SO THE MAINSTREAM IDEOLOGY OF THE REVOLUTION WAS THAT FRATERNITY, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY SHOULD BE THERE, BUT NOT EQUALLY (EVEN THOUGH THE SYMBOL OF THE REVOLUTION IS LADY LIBERTY, NOT HOMIE LIBERTY). WOMEN WERE PUNISHED FOR OUTRIGHT ACTIVISM. ADVOCACY MEANT PUBLIC DENOUNCEMENT, ARREST, EXECUTION, EXILE, OR LIFELONG HUMILIATION. THE MORE THEY RESTRAINED US, THE MORE OF OUR SISTERS ROSE TO FIGHT BACK. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP WOMEN OUT OF THE REVOLUTION. ANOTHER TRIP IN THE TIME MACHINE TO THE 1800S, THE ERA OF JANE EYRE, BLUE JEANS, COCA-COLA, AND THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT. THIS WAS A DECADES-LONG FIGHT TO WIN THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WOMEN. NEW ZEALAND WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ALLOW WOMEN TO VOTE IN 1893 AND SAUDI ARABIA IS THE LATEST ONE TO DO SO IN 2015. WOMEN STILL AREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE IN VATICAN CITY.
ISSUE 3
BY HIBA
ISSUE 03
OCTOBER 2020
WOKAL
NOT ALL WARS ARE FOUGHT ON BATTLEFIELDS
Now, it's important to remember that not all wars are fought on battlefields. During World War I in the 1910s, women founded many voluntary war organizations where they worked as nurses or by filling in the jobs of men or occasionally joined the military in disguise. In World War II, there were massive upgrades. All the major participating nations enlisted women. Even in India, the Indian National Army (Azaad Hind Fauj) established India's first all-women regiment to fight for Indian independence under the leadership of Subash Chandra Bose. The Indian Independence Movement was a melancholy fight that eventually won us the freedom that truly was ours. It was a movement that would've been hollow without the women whose histories are often erased and identities were stolen. We've all heard about Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, visualized her with a silver sword and shield, and her son strapped to her back as she led an army. The state she ruled as a Queen may have been small in size, but she lives on as a martyr of a vast empire of glory
THE WAR YOU FIGHT TO PRESERVE A LEGACY
Photograph from Jagran Josh
SAVITRI BAI PHULE IS THE MOTHER OF INDIAN FEMINISM. SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE TEACHER IN INDIA WHO ALSO OPENED THE FIRST ALL-GIRLS SCHOOL HERE, AND WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND THE UNTOUCHABLES. FROM RAJPUT PRINCESSES TO MUGHAL QUEENS TO THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF MORE HUMBLE TITLES, INDIA HAS A RICH HISTORY OF WOMEN ON THE BATTLEFRONT. TO THIS NEVER-ENDING QUINTESSENTIAL CHRONICLE, THE LATEST WARRIOR IS THE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING, 84YEAR-OLD BILQUEES, POPULARLY KNOWN AS SHAHEEN BAGH’S DADI. SHE HAS BEEN THE FACE OF A POLITICAL PROTEST THAT LATER BECAME AN ICONIC INDIA STRIFE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THESE WARRIORS, THEIR LEGACIES GAVE BIRTH TO THE RAGING FEMINIST MOVEMENT OF TODAY. IT IS OUR JOB TO SUSTAIN THAT ARDENT INTEGRITY AND SUAVE VICIOUSNESS. THESE SLOGANS ARE EITHER POETRY OR WAR CRIES OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED, I KNOW THE STRUGGLE FEELS HOPELESS SOMETIMES, BUT FIGHT ON JUST A LITTLE LONGER. YOUR NAME IS DESTINED TO BE WRITTEN IN GILDED LETTERS WITH THEIRS IN THE FLAMES OF THE ART OF REVOLUTION.
BY HIBA
ISSUE 03
OCTOBER 2020
h t i w g n i e Bing : i s k a B HOW TO STOP BAKING BAD
Wokal
B Y
S U B H O M I T A
B A K S I
Photograph by Aabiyah Zehra
Our very own baker up with do’s and don’ts Baking is an art, therapy, hobby, comfort, and yet a science. No matter how laid back or therapeutic this art may be, it does involve quite a lot of dos and don’ts. Simple tricks that can take anybody’s baking a notch up. It took me 6 years and counting to learn baking science hacks and so I share them with you.
1. Buy a weighing scale I can’t emphasize this enough because it is so so important that it had to be number 1. The cups system is very messy and goes all against the precision of baking. I still have not found a cup that measures accurately so I trust a weighing scale. You have control over each gram rather than trusting a cup!
OCT
2020
ISSUE
3
Photo from PopSugar
2. Good quality ingredients SUBHOMITA BAKSI
While baking for yourself, your loved one, or a customer- uses good and premium quality ingredients and especially flavoring agents. Things like vanilla or chocolate, if are not premium quality, may taste synthetic and change the overall taste and appearance of the dish you are trying to achieve. WOKAL OCT 2020
3. Room Temperature Its very important that all your ingredients are at room temperature before you start using them. Now room temperature is different everywhere and so for things like butter which practically start melting in cities like Delhi, the correct consistency is when you push your finger, it should make an impression but should take some pressure. For other ingredients like milk, eggs or cream should be out of the refrigerator 20 mins before you start to bake.
WOKAL ISSUE 3
4. Whisking your eggs
Photograph via PopSugar
Always use room temperature eggs for the fluffiest cakes because they whip up better. You should ideally whisk your eggs until pale and double in volume. Also, incorporate 1 egg at a time in your fat and sugar otherwise your mixture may curdle! If you don’t incorporate enough air, the cake won’t rise and ultimately will not be a success
OCTOBER
2020
ISSUE
3
5. Dry ingredients BY
SUBHOMITA
Sift all your dry ingredients at least twice. This incorporates air, reduces lumps, and filters out and unwanted particles. Sifting is much more important in an eggless cake because it helps in making a cake fluffier. Once you add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture, DO NOT over mix because it will lead to a dry and tough cake because all the air incorporated will be lost!
ISSUE
3
WOKAL
MAG
Photograph from We Heart It
6. Dry-Wet-Dry
When a recipe calls for a liquid like milk or coffee then always go by altering dry ingredients and then the liquid. I like to divide my dry mixture into thirds and incorporate
BY
SUBHOMITA
the liquid between them. However,
BAKSI
always finish with the dry ingredient and fold gently without knocking out too much air!
WOKAL
MAG
ISSUE
3
OCT
2020
I S S U E
0 3 •
O C T
2 0 2 0
"JUST PLATE IT RIGHT "
FEATURING! Sakshi Ghorpade
I remeber roaming on the streets of Mumbai eating this amazing "Triple cheese vadapav" you must try this:)
FEATURING!
WOKAL
Priya Singh "Fried chicken" If someone says true love doesn't exist, make them eat crispy "fried chicken piece". I love this dish as a good tempting fried chicken act as happy medicine for me with no side effects
"JUST PLATE IT RIGHT"
WOKAL
OCT 2020
"JUST PLATE IT RIGHT" FEATURING! Aayushi Agarwal (Ultimo Pasto)
Here’s my favorite food memory; especially as during this lockdown, was looking back at all the BTS photos from our cooking sessions, all the fun that we had doing the Mise-En-Place, talking to the guests, and getting their feedback’s. If anything, this lockdown taught me the value of ingredients and making-do from whatever was available at a given point in time. It’s just crazy wonderful how much can be done with so less basic ingredients if you understand your kitchen & stove well. Here’s to all the crazy & bold experiments I did during the lockdown at home with limited ingredients, when I was desperately missing my college kitchen which had every possible ingredient (the kind of availability which we used to take for granted). Here’s to being humble. Cheers.
DR SABA MAHMOOD BASHIR .
Manto s Shikari Aurtein Women of Prey is an anthology of humorous and raunchy short stories that are the renowned Urdu author s interpretation of society in his time and particularly in the matters pertaining to romance and sexualities Dr. Saba Mahmood Bashir, author poet and translator has translated these short stories into English Alina Ahmed gets in a candid conversation with her where she talks about her experiences while translating Manto s work and she takes on questions that come attached to Manto s personality and perspectives ’
(
)
’
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
’
.
WOKAL MAG
Saadat Hasan Manto is a well known name when it comes to Urdu writings and his work is deeply regarded as a realistic image of the society that he observed Manto did not shy away from portraying the raw side of various stories for which he also had to face various legal trials Many literary critics have called Manto a controversial writer but Dr Saba Bashir does not consider him a controversial writer at all and she thinks that Manto is one of the finest writers in Urdu Literature Talking about Shikari Aurtein Women of Prey in particular she was commissioned to translate this collection of short stories by the publishing house The Speaking Tiger And she is glad that it came her way She always felt that the oeuvre of Manto and Chughtai has not been explored properly For instance Manto s works like ‘Toba Tek Singh’ Boo and ‘Thanda Gosht have been repeatedly translated but his other works have not received the recognition that it should have -
.
.
,
.
.
(
),
,
,
.
,
.
.
’
, ‘
,
.
’
’
,
Manto is usually seen as a writer who writes about women, how he perceives their body-image. He is known to write about partition atrocities, rape, and sex workers but his oeuvre expands much beyond that. There are only a few chosen short stories that get translated and re-translated, what she feels is that there’s an asset of Manto’s simple works, dialogues between couples that remains to be hidden from the public eye, and Women of Prey comprises a few such stories. For instance, ‘Hajamat’, a short story from the collection is about hilarious and witty dialogues between a man and his wife. Dr. Bashir would want to bring this side to a larger audience, especially non-Urdu readers. We hope to read some of her translated work soon. Translating a piece of work from a completely different source language that has a rich and varied culture to a target language that is more subtle and minimalistic is a meticulous task.
WOKAL
When asked about how she found appropriate cultural nuances to bring out the true essence of Manto’s work, she shared some of her experiences with us. For her, the most demanding of them was the Urdu idiomatic references used by Manto for which she had to find equivalent English translations. An anecdote that she remembers is how she translated the idiom, ‘pait mai chuhe kudna’ (refers to being extremely ravenous). Along these lines, we also asked Dr. Saba Bashir if while translating the stories she felt that Manto held women with multiple partners in a negative light. According to her, Manto did not mince his words while writing about these women, including courtesans and sex workers, a good thing about Manto is that he accepted them in their grey shades and does not put people black or white. She also describes how Manto recognizes that every woman is not supposed to live her life according to pre-set societal norms. This acceptance of women along with shades of grey is something that makes Manto standout from the rest.
The collection also features quite a few stories that are a little pulpy. Although, the stories were not erotic sexual innuendos and references were not shied away from, Dr. Saba Bashir, while translating these pieces, did not censor any such instance. In fact, she believes that a translator’s loyalty to the author’s original work is very significant. One should maintain the equivalent cultural essence of the piece, without editing, presenting the piece as it is, maintaining the social-cultural nuances. From Manto’s time till today, Dr. Bashir holds the opinion that the Indian society has evolved a lot, as we do not consider talking about sex workers a taboo anymore. In Manto’s time, girls from good families were not even allowed to read his work but as of today, we have it included in college curriculums.
Photo from Creative Yatra
Issue 27 | 234
HITASHI PRESENTS
OCTOBER 2020
LAKOW
level up your make up this fall
LOOKS TO PICK-UP THIS FALL SEASON
OUR IN HOUSE MUA PRESENTS!
While Summers was all about less-is-more makeup, its time to level up your make-up game with this Fall season. This is the perfect season to try these bold dark colors and even experiment with new styles and deep dark tones that you probably won’t wear in summers. It time to bring back the burgundies and browns out of the hibernating shelf, as our in-house MUA, Hitashi has something in store for every make-up enthusiast
WOKAL OCT 2020
PLAY IT SAFE. If you don't feel experimental and want to stick to tried and tested make-up looks, this one is for you. Play it safe and be comfortable about it because no illuminator can outshine good confidence.
CLASSIC BROWN SMOKEY EYES WITH CHOCOLATE LIPS. This makeup look is basically the OG of all makeup looks, it goes well with whatever you’re planning to wear and is perfect for when you are not sure what kind of makeup will look good on you. For this makeup look take any brown eyeshadow that you have and smoke it out all over your lid and to blend out the harsh lines on your crease use a bronzer. If you’re happy with your results then great but if you want to add something more to this look smoke out your lower lash line with some black eyeshadow and kajal and put on some beautiful pair of lashes. Pair it with a brownlipstick to make it look more fall-like or a nude lipstick will look amazing as well. Wearing an ethnic outfit with this makeup is the best thing to do this festive season!
WOKAL OCT 2020
MATCH YOUR LIPS WITH YOUR EYES
This is the easiest and the quickest look to achieve on our list. Its best for the days when you want to look all put together but do not have enough time to do a full face of makeup or a beautiful but timeconsuming Smokey eyes. Now let’s get started! Just take a deep brown liquid eyeliner one of my favorite one is the Kay beauty’s liquid eyeliner in the shade “Grunge Raisin” and make a wing eyeliner, if you’re not perfect at doing a wing liner use some scotch tape to get that perfect sharp wing. Now take a deep brown lipstick that is closest to your eyeliner shade and put it on and you’re good to go. Doing some heatless curls by braiding a Dutch braid looks perfect with this look. Pair this look with a white dress and some rings and Viola! You’re good to go!
WOKAL MAG
GOING ALL WARM AND BOLD If you found yourself on this side of our article, I welcome you because experimenting is how you find your type of looks and who knows if your look will become a trendsetter the next minute!
YELLOW AND BROWN CUT CREASE A cut crease is the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of bold and loud makeup, so why not continue the legacy of cut creases on this list as well! For this look you’ll need your basic brown eyeshadow palette and a yellow eyeshadow. Now let’s start! Blend a medium shade of brown on your crease and deepen it with patting just a bit of dark brown eyeshadow on the outer corner to smoke and blend out any harsh lines again use a bronzer. Now cut a crease using any concealer that you have and just put on some yellow eyeshadow on that area, now highlight your inner corner with your favorite highlighter. Do some heatless curls for this look too if you don’t like heat styling your hair. Pair this makeup with a yellow and black outfit and use a brown lipstick with a hint of orange in it and here you go your perfect warm autumn look is ready! OCTOBER 2020
Burgundy monochrome look
Wokal mag
Try this dark and dusky make-up look for a classy night out with your friends or just a random photo session because this color looks really good on Indian skin tones and brings out one’s facial features beautifully. For the eyes, take a deep burgundy eyeshadow and pat it on your lid, smoke out the harsh burgundy edges using orange eyeshadow on your crease. Once done with that, use a yellow eyeshadow to soften up the orange on your crease. Going without false lashes is perfect for this look! Now further pair this beautiful eyeshadow with a deep maroon lipstick. For this look wear minimal jewelry and a black dress, straightening your hair will be perfect to achieve a very chiclook.
BEWITCHED!
CHALLENGE
F E A T U R I N G H A F S A ISSUE.3
WOKAL
!
K H A N OCT 2020
CHALLENGE
BEWITCHED!
F E A T U R I N G NIVEDITA SINGH ISSUE.3
WOKAL
OCT 2020
!
ISSUE
NO.
3
//
WOKAL
//
OCT
2020
IN A CLICK: THE PHOTOGRAPHY SLANG DICTIONARY
Aabiyah Zehra
IN THE BUSINESS KNOW THE SLANG AABIYAH ZEHRA BRINGS US A COMPILATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY SLANGS THAT HAVE MADE IT EVERYWHERE FROM THE INTERNET TO NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES ?
!
Y H P A R G O T O H P
1. TOG/ PHOTOG: ABBREVIATED TERMS FOR “PHOTOGRAPHER” LAKOW
2. GLASS: CAMERA LENSES 3. BLOWN OUT: OVEREXPOSED IMAGE
Y R A N O I T C I D
.
G N A L S
,
A R H E Z H A Y I B A A
PHOTOGRAPHY SLANG DICTIONARY
4. Uncle Bob: A term used by wedding photographers to describe a relative with a camera who tends to get in the way of the hired photographer 5. Spray and Pray: Shooting a large amount of images rather carelessly, hoping that one will turn out good. 6. Magic/Golden Hour: The hour or so before sunset, and after sunrise, when the angle of the sun produces magnificent, golden light. A fantastic time to take photos outdoors.
ISSUE 3 \\ OCT 2020
OCT 2020
AABIYAH ZEHRA
7. Gobo:
means the blocking of scattered or
When a Photoshop editor file has hundreds of unnamed layers.
Often a reflector (on the black side) can serve a double purpose and act like a gobo.
8. Photobomb:
This is the person who managed to spoil the photo at the last moment. They can jump or fall and the frame automatically becomes corrupted. And this person is called a photo-
10. Machine gunner:
This term is used for a photographer who frequently Sprays and Prays when they need just one good shot. They have many identical photos and always a lot of memory cards.
bomb.
In a Click: The Photography Slang Dictionary
L A K O W
unnecessary light from falling on the object.
9. Digital lasagna:
IS CANCEL CULTURE A FORM OF ACTIVISM?
Oct 2020 Issue 3 Wokal Mag
By Mehar Nagarwalla
ACTIVISM OR JUST ANOTHER PIED PIPER? While online presence for some might completely be an anonymous business which is lost in the huge wild ocean of social media, for others, it might be a means of asserting their identity and even making a niche for themselves. In that case, anything you post online, is registered in the public domain. As with great power comes great responsibility, every action which can be documented on social media, brings along its own set of consequences. Meher Nagarwalla questions if Cancel Culture should be entitled as activism or is it just another pied piper? Photograph from Medium Magazine
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO CANCEL?
FROM THE EYES OF A 16 YEAR OLD When I first heard the term, through social media, of course, I was just a 16-year-old nobody. I was confused about this phrase which was so nebulously explained on Google. However, as I read further and deeper, to my surprise, I became even more confused. This topic was nothing like the terms or acts we hear in every day news; this practice pertained to everyone- from politicians to the red-carpet walkers; from singers to even school professors. If you have any kind of power, this phrase has most likely already affected you in some way. I also pondered over why this term had gained such fame when this practice of erasure of ideas or even people has always been prevalent in our society for generations. 'Cancel Culture,' or as Lisa Nakamura likes to refer to it as 'cultural boycott' is in the general ending, cancelling or even getting void of any type of art or culture only due to a celebrity's misspoken remark. Before I started writing this article, I read and heard other people's views on this phrase. What I understood was the transparency society expects from people with power. They expect the world to be either black or white, nothing in between. People tend to see cancellation as either wholly good — there are new consequences for the bigoted groups of reactionaries — or wholly bad, in that people can lose their reputations and even their jobs, only because a mob has taken undue offence to a clumsy remark. I think it's best viewed not as either positive or negative, but as something else: a development brought about by social media, regulated by power.
WOKAL
Social Media is fascinating. It has the power to shape or destroy our experiences in a way that most people are still trying to comprehend. While I was reading a few articles on Cancel Culture, I realised the conspicuous relatability between the two. I noticed how everyone has a seemingly infinite audience and when this audience is discontent with what one is saying, they gain more power to make things right, and this power can and will bypass traditional media gatekeepers. Undeniably, the BLM movement is the largest one today and its heatwave and power were fuelled by social media users, the youth of today, or as most like to call us, teenagers. Originating as a mere misogynistic joke that was especially popular on Black Twitter, Cancel Culture has long been modified and today is also known as 'Call-out Culture' or 'wokeness,' something the majority of the youth misinterprets. The prevalence of this practice, fuelled by social media, has various effects ricocheted in various forms. Today, we interpret being politically or socially 'woke,' as a manner of being as judgmental as possible; that's not activism. We feel calling out others' 5laws makes us stronger and this makes the world a better place; that's not activism. Activism would mean discussing these '5laws,' understanding people's views and doing something about it.
Photograph from Tablet Magazine
OCT 2020 ISSUE 3
SOCIAL MEDIA IS FASCINATING, ISN'T IT?
HOW DOES CANCEL CULTURE AFFECT SOCIETY? SINCE CANCEL CULTURE HAS SCRAMBLED EFFECTS DEPENDING ON THE POWER IT TARGETS, IT'S ALMOST OBLIVIOUS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
Truth be told, the people who get 'cancelled' are hardly the ones who deserve it. People who do truly great things rise to fame and gain power easily, and this power is targeted almost always. However, even a tiny out-of-context remark or act causes despicable remarks to the celebrities. Yes, they should get called out for what they did wrong, but the way the Internet does it just isn't the right one. We should be raising empathy and not pitchforks. It is not uncommon to compare the Twitter masses to crowds bearing pitchforks as if this new moral compass has reverted us to medieval times.
OCT 2020
1. WHO DESERVES TO BE 'CANCELLED?'
Feelings of righteousness hardly bring a change
Photograph from Teen Vogue
2. No scope for growth Callout or cancel culture can censor people and their art forms by systematically excluding others. This scares away budding artists from voicing and showcasing their ideologies and art. 3. Truth is often a privilege With social media fueling news, it's difficult to distinguish between true and false news. More often than ever, social media users get blinded by the despicability being ricocheted against a creator. "Twitter, do your thing!" Twitter's users are often known for their FBIlike investigative skills — digging up past dirt, old secrets, and discovering people's identities — and are now being utilized in the resurgence of cancel culture. 4. Cancel Culture, capitalist culture; spot the difference. In the aftermath of George Floyd's death and the protests, White Fragility, a book by a white author, for white people telling them to think about what it's like to be white, became a best seller for The New York Times non-5iction section. The only result of the BLM movement was to buy a book about the Whites? This is Synthetic Activism as it makes people feel righteous about reading a mere book and not bringing change. The only people who benefit from this process are the writers and publications who earn easy money.
WOKAL MAG OCT 2020 ISSUE 3
BY MEHAR NAGARWALLA
OCT 2020
It’s easier than you think
Wokal
5. FORMS A FERTILE GROUND FOR CYBERBULLYING AND REPRESSION OF SPEECH
6. GETTING OVER SOMETHING IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK.
A single call out frequently
Great people do great things.
snowballs into a mob attack on an
However, the world is ‘messy,' and
individual. Call-out culture can end
will always be full of ambiguity. It's
up mirroring the prison complex
important to 'get over it,' as former
that teaches us to banish and
US President, Mr. Obama, said.
exclude individuals who do
Getting attached to incidents that
wrong. However, far too often, this
may have hurt someone's feelings
spins out of control and results in
is risky and is a setback. Unless we
disposal of individuals, sometimes
don't get over minor changes, there
even groups
will be no room for forwarding thinking and development.
BY MEHAR NAGARWALLA
Issue 3
oct 2020
WOKAL
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? Not supporting toxic fanbases or even being a part of it can usually do most of the job. Even though Cancel Culture works as a successful justice system, it mostly spins out of control. A long time ago, in 1999, James Charles was born and although no one could predict, he was destined for greatness. The incident came out when Tati Westbrook accused him of being immature and unprofessional behaviour. Millions believed this and unfollowed him; his only dream came crashing down. The news spread like wildfire, sides were taken, and pitchforks were raised. It wasn't just an insignificant internet squabble, but the biggest casestudy for Cancel Culture. After seeing such avoidable and unnecessary cancelling, the three rules to follow are:
ITS TIME TO CANCEL OUT ‘CANCEL CULTURE’ 1. Check for authenticity. It is predominant to be careful while weighing in on political and social issues. 2. Acceptable and sophisticated humour is crucial. 3. Do not rely on mere 'Influencers.' The world is changing and the trading market along with it. With this change, product users are relying on influencers' advertising. It's all sales pitch propaganda. But even the most carefully curated influencer strategy can't protect you if you're not honest about the product. In a nutshell, Cancel Culture may have some good intentions behind it, but if its approach is not chosen wisely, it can have dire effects on both the cancelled celebrity and the society. Even if someone does something problematic, they do not deserve the vice of a billion people. It's time to cancel out 'Cancel Culture!' WOKAL MAG
Issue 03
oct 2020
GEARVIEW : A look at Cameras under â‚š60K
If you have ever wanted to own a DSLR or a mirrorless camera to advance in your pursuit of photography-or otherwise- but never really got down to do the mundane field research, look no further. This article might just be your future reference. After combing through a mishmash of contenders, we narrowed it all down to our top four choices keeping the budget in mind. P.S. Under this budget, you might have to make do with the Kit lens (18-55 mm) which, in retrospect is a good deal for beginners. If you plan to capture images that would require you to zoom in from afar we’d suggest that you invest in a lens of higher focal length.
WOKAL PHOTOGRAPHY
All eyes for a cam? Look no further.
NIKON D5600 39 Autofocus points ISO : 100-25,600 Resolution :24.2 megapixels Sensor : APS-C Shooting speed : 5 fps Video resolution : 1080p at 60/50/30/25/24p Extra : WiFii and Bluetooth compatible
CANON EOS 200D II 9 Autofocus points ISO: 100- 25600 Resolution : 24.1 megapixels Sensor: APS-C CMOS Shooting speed: 5fps Video resolution: 2160p Extra: Eye detection AF and 4K video quality
Wokal
BY ITU DUTTA
Issue 03
Hot four choices! Oct 2020 SONY ALPHA ILCE 6000L MIRRORLESS CAMERA
179 Autofocus points Resolution: 24.3 megapixels Sensor: APS-C
Shooting speed : 11 fps Extra: Eye detection AF and lightweight, might heat up on prolonged use, WiFi compatible
CANON EOS M50 MIRRORLESS CAMERA
143 autofocus points ISO: 100-25600 Resolution: 24.1 megapixels Sensor: APS-C CMOS Extra: Can expand AF while shooting videos, DIGIC 8 processor, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and NFC
WOKAL
The City That is Both Old & New:
OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE 3 WOKAL MAG
DELHI
EXPLORING THE HUB OF HERITAGE With Vanshika Seth
Photograph by Ananya Guhan
CRUMBLED AND REDEVELOPED
Delhi/New Delhi the National Capital of India has seen many avatars under different dynasties over the centuries of its existence. Though ravaged by invasions, wars and even natural catastrophe, Delhi/New Delhi has crumbled and redeveloped and is today the hub of heritage, culture, politics, business, food and mindsets. While Delhites take pride to be one, Vanshika Seth takes us back to our beloved city’s charming streets.
WOKAL MAG
October 2020
JAMA
MASJID
INDIA S LARGEST MOSQUE ’
The great mosque of Old Delhi, built by Shah Jahan in the year 1650. It can hold 25,000 devotees at a time. The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two minarets. Out of the four towers, the southern tower gives a stunning view of the city.
Traveller Tip: • Must visit – Karim’s Hotel to hog into some delicious Mughlai food. • Visit bustling
Chandni Chowk for
delectable street food.
WOKAL
October 2020
AGRASEN KI BAOLI TAKE IN THE BEAUTY Agrasen ki Baoli is a stepwell, built in the 14th century. It is one of the coolest places to visit in Delhi for all photo freaks. It is considered as one of the most haunted places in town. But it became quite a popular place to visit after Aamir Khan’s movie – PK was shot there.
Traveller Tip: •
A
visit to
Connaught Place (CP) to try out
some amazing cafes and confectionery. Personal favourite – Wenger’s •
Clothing, footwear, house accessories and souvenirs - a visit to Janpath Market will fulfil all your penchant for shopping
WOKAL
October 2020
WOKAL
HAUZ KHAS FORT
OCT 2020
TAKE SCENIC SHOTS
Hauz Khas Fort built in the 14th century. The fort complex houses a mosque, a madrasa, Feroz Shah's tomb, and of course Hauz Khas or Royal Tank. Highly recommend catching the sunset from here. The verdant environs and the aesthetic ruins of the fort itself make it an amazing spot to take in the beauty of nature in all its glory. You’ll catch musicians having an impromptu jam session and people silently reading in the corners. Don’t forget to visit the very popular Hauz Khas Village (HKV) with shops, furniture, art and restaurants/café and pubs which serve ‘authentic’ cuisine.
BY VANSHIKA SETH
Traveller Tip:
• Popular for nightlife.
AKSHARDHAM LARGEST HINDU TEMPLE IN THE WORLD A must visit while sightseeing in Delhi, a spiritual organisation, stunning architectural work made of pink stone and white marble. Various exhibitions and events are carried out through the day, if you have time or are there around sunset, the ‘musical fountain’ show is a must-watch. If you are interested to know of ancient discoveries and learn about the same the ‘cultural boat ride’ is a 15 minutes ride which gives you great insight.
Traveller Tip: •Plan your visit around sunset to enjoy the illumination of the complex.
QUTAB MINAR
Majestic Stone Structure Qutab Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world and is also UNESCO World Heritage Site The first three storeys are made of red sandstone the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone It is surrounded by several great historical monuments and all of them together are referred to as Qutab Complex .
;
.
‘
’.
Traveller Tip:
A
•
quick visit to nearby
Chhatarpur temple to offer obeisance.
Issue 27 | 234
INDIA GATE India s Largest War Memorial ’
At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42m high India Gate an Arc de Triomphe like archway in the middle of a crossroad It commemorates the 70 000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I Another memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti the eternal flame was added long after India attained Independence ,
,
‘
-
-
’
.
,
.
, ‘
’,
.
Traveller Tip: • An outing hotspot over weekends and late evenings. • A visit to the National Gallery of Modern Art and The National Museum can be clubbed with the visit to India Gate since they are in close proximity.
Traveller Tip: •
A
visit to admire the
science of Indian astronomy is worthwhile.
JANTAR MANTAR WORLD’S LARGEST SUNDIAL
It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments. It is one of the five built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724. It is an astronomical observatory and is one of the most fascinating places for tourists. Fascinating for the ingenuity, the instruments cannot be used accurately due to a tall building built around.
LOTUS TEMPLE EXPERIENCE THE GOD
The lotus symbolizes four religions namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Islam. This temple belongs to the Bahai faith which signifies that all people and religions are united. It has been awarded various awards for the mesmerizing architecture. There are 9 doors of this temple which allows 2500 visitors at a time. If you want to know of the history, go for a guided tour. Worshippers of all regions are welcome here.
Traveller Tip: A
•
very famous eatery joint
serves all cuisines – Epicuria at a distance of 3 km.
SAFDARJUNG TOMB EXPERIENCE HISTORY
Safdarjung Tomb is a testimony to the city’s grandeur and gives an interesting peekinto Delhi’s glorious past. The Safdarjung Tomb is a garden tomb in New Delhi,made of marble and sandstone which reflects the grandeur of the Mughal era. Themonument has an ambience of spaciousness and an imposing presence with itsdomed and arched red-brown and white coloured structures. It is also referred to as“Safdarjung Ka Maqbara”.This is the last monumental garden tomb depicting Mughalarchitectural style. The tomb remains open to visitors all day from sunrise to sunset.The best time to visit Safdarjung tomb is during the cool, dry season.
Traveller Tip: • If you’re a shopping enthusiast and also a foodie, Khan Market, one of Delhi’s most prominent market is barely 3 km away.
BY VANSHIKA SETH
WOKAL MAG OCTOBER 2020
WOKAL MAG
PURANA QILA INDIA’S OLDEST FORT
The Purana Qila or the old fort is one of the most captivating tourist sites that narratethe history of Delhi in detail. Constructed by the Mughal emperor – Humayun, thePurana Qila is evidence to the glory of the Mughal art. Shaped in a rectangularpattern, the fort is adorned with three arched entrances namely the Bara Darwaza(Big Gate), the Humayun Darwaza (South Gate), and the Talaqi Darwaza (ForbiddenGate).Every evening, Purana Qila comes alive with a fascinating light and sound show.The show is named Ishq-e-Dilli, which means “Romancing Delhi”. This show is aa visual spectacle that enlightens you about the history, heritage, war, politics, andother aspects of Delhi, right from the Mughal period to Modern times.Purana Qila in Delhi is a living piece of heritage that gives you a glimpse into thecity’s rich past.
Traveller Tip: • At outskirts of Qila, you could enjoy boating. • If you are someone who loves history, Purana Qila Museum displays remnants from the First War of Independence and several age-old manuscripts, textiles, pottery, etc.
wanderlust!
featuring! Mariam Shoeb
wokal // oct 2020
Let the waves hit your feet and sand be your seat This place will always have my heart. I never experienced such mesmerizing beautiful beaches before traveling to Salalah. Blue sky with a hint of pink and orange, smooth sand with pink seashells, ample sunshine. Salalah has been blessed with some of the most beautiful places in the world. I am definitely traveling to this place again for sure
WOKAL ISSUE.3 OCT 2020
wanderlust!
Golden Temple, AmritsarThe most positive place i have ever visited provides infinite enegy. The chorus of hymns gives ultimate peace. Blessed to have a glimpse of divine place of worship. Hope this picture sends out the positivity it holds.
featuring! Ruchika A. Bedi
OCT
2020
|
ISSUE
NO.
3
T E A
W I T H
W I T H
D R .
S I B
S I B
H U S K Y
Photograph by Satyabrata from Unsplash
FEATURING JOEL The Rabbit Hey Guys I am back with yet another pet and his problems Sarah and Dakshita have bribed me into talking about another friend of mine Joel the Rabbit ,
!
.
,
!
,
Lol no Just kidding Joel has kindly agreed to share this session so many of our human friends are educated in pet care ,
!!
.
T O D A Y ’ S
G U E S T
I S
A N
J O E Y ,
A L B I N O H E ’ S
R A B B I T .
S U P E R
T I N Y
A N D
A N
E X T R E M E L Y A D O R A B L E B A B Y . S E E H A S
W H A T T O
A B O U T A N D
L E T ’ S H E
S A Y H I M S E L F
H I S
K I N D .
Photograph by Andriyko Podilnyk from Unsplash
1) What makes you stand out from other species of rabbits?
wokal oct 2020
Rabbits with red eyes and white fur have albinism. This genetic mutation causes a dominant gene to block the creation of an enzyme called tyrosinase which is responsible for controlling the production of melanin, or pigment. Due to this, Albino rabbits are sensitive to sunlight, and strong or even normal light might cause their eyes to hurt. Scanning is normal in albino rabbits, it's normal behaviour as the takes in their surroundings and no cause for concern. Apart from this, Albino rabbits are just like other rabbits.
ISSUE 3
WOKAL
2) What are the basic requirements of rabbits? Set up a safe indoor housing not far away from yourself, as rabbits are social animals and need attention. It should be large enough for them to hop around and should be having a variety of toys (Woven grass balls, wood or rope toys) and even a cardboard sandcastle for them to chew on or play with as they get bored easily. If contained, they should be let out of their cage for a few hours a day at least, as exercising is an essential requirement, but don’t leave them unsupervised outside as they will stand out to the predators. You’ll also have to block off certain areas like undersides of beds, hard corners, etc., in order to create a safe space for your rabbit and for the protection of your belongings, or else you can bunny proof these areas. These rabbits should be placed in an area when the lights are not bright, and preferably away from the sunlight. It's advisable that you don't keep your pet alone, they need some companionship, else they'll be lonely. Photograph by Lucy M from Unsplash
OCT 2020
3) How do you instill good litter habits in rabbits? In order to teach your rabbits litter manners, you have to set up a litter box near their food/water bowls and hay feeder. Put a thin layer of rabbit-safe, recycled newspaper/wood pellet litter at the bottom of the litter box and place hay on top over it or next to the litter box. Rabbits like to eat hay and excrete at the same time, so this will encourage good litter box habits. And in the beginning, you can position it so the rabbit must hop into the litter box in order to reach the hay. It’s easiest to develop good litter box habits in rabbits by limiting their space at first. By Dakshita and Sarah
Fotografierende from Unsplash
4) What are the food requirements of rabbits?
PETCARE
The most important and largest part of your rabbit’s diet will be hay, it’s a non-negotiable food item. In addition to hay, an assortment of fresh vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, cauliflower and celery (carrots, broccoli, cabbage, etc. in the limit), etc. are all good choices and herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, etc. will be the second part of your rabbit’s daily diet. And for treats: apple, banana, pineapple pieces, etc. The third component of your rabbit’s diet will be fiber pellets. They also eat their own excrete, which is full of nutrients.
5) What should be done if rabbits are behaving inappropriately? Firstly, while making eye contact with them use their name and say 'NO', firmly and sternly or take your index finger and gently push their nose down toward the floor while saying the same. This helps them to understand that you don't like their behaviour. Make sure that you just slightly raise your voice and not yell at them. If your rabbit nips or bites, give a high-pitched squeal, to let them NOMADIC 24 know that this hurt you and shouldn’t be done again. |
W O K A L
|
I S S U E
3
|
O C T
2 0 2 0
Some extreme ways you should avoid doing, but would work if your bunny won't understand through the above methods, you can shut them away for 10 minutes, separating them from everyone leaves an impact on them (as they are social animals) and helps them understand the consequences of not listening to them. Secondly, spray them using a spray bottle on the mist setting. Only do this directly after he has continued to commit the crime and failed to listen.
By Dakshita and Sarah
wokal
ASEXUALITY: A MISINTERPRETED SPECTRUM
October 2020 / Issue 3
Alfred Kinsey, in one of the Kinsey, reports, "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female" defined asexuals as people who "do not respond erotically to either heterosexual or homosexual stimuli and do not have an overt physical encounter with individuals of either sex in which there is evidence of any response.� On the same notes, Kashish Chopra writes an informative piece where she breaks various misconstructions that are often held as facts. Asexuality, often misinterpreted as a gender identity, is the sexual orientation of a person. An asexual may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, or even bisexual
OCT 2020/ ISSUE 3
WOKAL OCT 2020
Asexuality is a spectrum of sexuality in and of itself, with some experiencing no sexual attraction, some experiencing little sexual attraction, and others experiencing a lot of sexual attraction. With that being said, the fact that asexuals do have sex shouldn’t be ruled out. The reason may vary from person to person; could be to satisfy their sexual desire, to conceive children, to make their partner happy, to experience the physical pleasure of sex, to show and receive affection, or for the sensual pleasure of sex, including touching and cuddling.
OCT 2020/ ISSUE 3
Many people consider asexuality the same as celibacy and abstinence , which it isn’t! If not this, they choose to stick to the notion that something is “wrong” with them. Being asexual doesn’t mean that a person has a fear of intimacy, a loss of sexual desire, sexual repression, sexual aversion, or any sort of sexual dysfunction. Regardless of a person’s sexual orientation, one is likely to suffer from the above-mentioned conditions.
MYTHS ASSOCIATED WITH ASEXUALITY: 1. Asexuality is a mental illness. 2. Asexual people do not experience sexual arousal. 3. Asexuals do not have romantic relationships. 4. Asexuality is a choice. 5. Asexuality is just a phase. 6. Asexuals must be victims of sexual abuse.
WOKAL OCT 2020
ASEXUALITY ISN’T A GENETIC FLAW, REPERCUSSION OF TRAUMA, OR THE RESULT OF AN UNDERLYING ‘CAUSE’ OF ANYTHING AT ALL. WHAT ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, ACKNOWLEDGE, AND ACCEPT ABOUT ASEXUALS IS : 1. Asexuals may engage in sexual intimacy with their partnersasexuals developing a sexual relationship with their partners isn’t driven by sexual attraction, but by sexual desires. One should know that sexual desire and sexual attraction are two different things. Sexual desire is the desire to have sex, whether it’s for pleasure, a personal connection, conception, or something else. Sexual attraction, on the other hand, involves finding someone sexually appealing and wanting to have sex with them.
2.. Asexuals desire and have romantic relationshipsAsexuals may not experience sexual attraction but that doesn’t mean they can’t feel any other kind of attraction towards a person which may include: Romantic attraction(desiring a romantic relationship with someone) Aesthetic attraction(being attracted to someone based on how they look) physical attraction(wanting to touch, hold, or cuddle with someone) Platonic attraction(wanting to be friends with someone), and Emotional attraction(wanting an emotional connection with someone)
● ● ● ● ●
OCT 2020 ISSUE 3
WOKAL OCT 2020
3. Some may prefer nonromantic relationships 4. Some may discover that their capacity for attraction or desire shifts from time to time 5. If one used to but doesn’t feel sexually attracted to anyone anymore or vice versa, their asexual identity is still considered valid.
What we need today is to normalize that, which is real, even if it may be beyond comprehension for a while. People who identify as asexuals struggle to cope with the discoveries and possible dimensions they might fit into in the spectrum. Let’s not make it any harder for them. They're already fed into believing that they don’t belong with everyone else. It’s important to educate ourselves about this topic and not invalidate their experiences and feelings.
A Festive Wardrobe!
SNEHA BARUA PRESENTS Your Guide to a perfect Festive Wardrobe!
ISSUE.3 . WOKAL . OCT 2020
Y O U R
G U I D E
P E R F E C T
F E S T I V E
W A R D R O B E !
This time of year is best known for the various vibrant festivities it brings along with it. Although the festivities will not be as grand as before, one cannot simply let go of the festival spirit and a chance to rock your desi diva side. And let’s face it, we have not given much thought about our festive wardrobe lately, we all know why. But fret not, our in house fashion enthusiast Sneha Barua has brought to you 5 must-have pieces that will give your festive looks and prove to be the best bets. WOKAL
T O
A Words SNEHA BARUA :
"Rock the party with ChikanKari" BY SNEHA BARUA
A Chikankari kurta or palazzo is so versatile that it can be literally paired up with anything and still make you stand out. Pair it up with some silver jewelry or nothing at all and It would still turn heads!! Keeping your wardrobe minimalistic, you can always experiment with your make-up and bold lips. For something out of the box, pair it with long skirts or ripped jeans to create an indo-western look. Most of all, it is very comfortable to carry, so kudos to that!!
WOKAL
//
OCT 2020
"Dhoti pants that light fire" Your Guide to a perfect Festive Wardrobe!
Sometime back, dhotis were usually worn by men in different ways but thanks to fashion icons like Anamika Khanna have made them a women’s fashion trend. It has now evolved with a modern twist to become a widely popular option in the women’s section as well. A pair of dhoti pants or dhoti style saree can light a fire instantly. They are comfortable, breezy and the fact that it works well with all body type makes it a huge hit. Wear it with a short kurta if you’re going for a traditional look, Or wear it with some crop top, heavy oxidized jewelry to give it more of a boho-chic vibe. ISSUE.3
"A heavy blouse to rise your saree quotient"
BY SNEHA BARUA
Who doesn t love wearing a saree in these festive times, but there is a constant struggle of finding a matching blouse to go with it. Save yourself the time and effort and get yourself a dark colored heavy blouse piece that can be paired with literally every saree you own. Heavy blouse, dazzling earrings, a saree of your choice, and Viola! you re good to be the highlight of the festive look book ’
-
’
OCT 2020
Dupattas are every girl’s favorite part of the attire. A designer or embellished dupatta can completely levitate the look of a plain and simple suit or a basic lehenga. Drape it as you like and watch your outfit go from 10 to 100 in a minute. Even if you can’t carry a heavy outfit, these dupattas do the trick and make it look classy yet sassy. Hence having a couple of such heavy designer dupattas is a must-have.
"EMBELLISHED DUPATTAS FOR A SASSY YET CLASSY LOOK"
OCT 2020
WOKAL
"Make a statement with Statement Jewelry" SNEHA BARUA Pieces of jewelry play an important role in every Indian attire, especially during the festivals. A pair of ethnic Jhumkaas can be paired with everything, a suit, a saree, and whatnot. Kundan pieces add more glam, look elegant and take your look to the next level
Your Guide to a perfect Festive Wardrobe!
|
ISSUE NO 3 .
|
WOKAL
FEATURING
OCT 2020
Jennifer Paul Rao
WOKAL | OCT 2020
BUDDING MAKE-UP ENTHUSIAST JENNIFER PAUL RAO SPEAKS ABOUT HER JOURNEY.
As far as I can remember I was introduced to makeup by my mother since it was her responsibility to get me all glammed up for my first ever annual day function at school. Although it wasn’t that blended and I looked more like a clown then Aishwarya Rai (my favourite person back then) I could not stop staring into the mirror. I used to do makeup for the girls in my dance society and I honestly loved doing a wing but it never came to me to start my own page dedicated to just makeup. I’ve been exploring a lot of stuff lately, I’ve been into dancing for 5 years now, I’ve been interning with an educational firm, I’ve been painting a lot (which I think is the reason behind my steady hands) but makeup has been a driving force. Even before starting my page I had watched thousands of videos to know what it takes to start a makeup page, the things I need to invest in, how much time it will take since I have a lot on my plate. I belong to a middle-class family and let’s face it makeup is such an expensive investment leaving the things you need for content production aside. I’ve cribbed so much for the things I don’t have that it blurred my vision to see the things I do have. I’ve had my share of doubts on starting this but I wanted to make myself and others believe that if you’re smart, you can make it right and you got to make use of whatever you have in the best way possible. I hope to be an inspiration for anyone who wants to start their page with the limited resources they have which doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t need to spend money at all but to spend it in the right way. So here I am, shooting stuff with my phone and a ring light with a bed sheet clipped to my wardrobe (for now), hoping that someday I’ll turn this into a big thing.
H E RE ARE S OM E O F H ER L OO K S T HA T SH E H AS C REA TE D
OCT 2020 | ISSUE.3
This look is called Pastel Galaxy, this was the first time I saved and ordered my favourite international brand and the palette collection is called "Team Pastel". To use all of them together in a single look I created this.
WOKAL
This look was my take on the Euphoria challenge which was doing rounds on social media. I've used the theme colours of the HBO original series, purple and blue. This show has some mind-blowing makeup looks, including the glitter tears, which inspired my look.
THE CARAVAN
OCT 2020
WOKAL
I had recently followed @shantanuuu on Instagram and I couldn't resist myself from recreating his Moo reel. I had been planning on a two-toned eyebrow look and then the cow nails just went with it.
ISSUE 3
This look was an entry for a colour block contest which had Blue-RedYellow as one of the options and I could just think of Snow White's dress and how am I supposed to leave an opportunity to become a Disney Princess. WOKAL OCT 2020
Jennifer Paul Rao
0202 TCO |
LAKOW
This look has been the most time-consuming look I've done till now. The butterfly makeup has been extremely popular among the MUA community and I wanted to do a little more than just the eyes. @camartins a Spanish makeup artist was my inspiration for this look.
THE CARAVAN
GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON YOUR FAVE CELEBS
ABOUT THE HOTTEST INSTAGRAM STARS
•
.
3O ON EUSSI
The world is a ruthless desert and everyone has taken on their Caravans to reach the destination of their dreams. The pandemic stirred a lot of us to start a new journey of selfdiscovery and bringing out our latent talents. This column will share and highlight their journeys. In this issue, we have featured Jennifer Rao Paul who has a make-up page on Instagram and dreams of her glam future.
0202 REBOTCO
JOURNEYS TO SHARE
NEW GADGETS ABOUND GET THE 411
!
Photograph by Nick Bondarev from Pexels
ISSUE 3
WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF THE CAGED BIRD SINGS OR CRIES FOR HELP, BUT DAKSHITA AND SARAH HAVE TRIED TO LIST POINTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN AND LEAVING IT FOR YOU TO DECIDE BECAUSE MORALITY DEPENDS ON THE PERSONAL AND SUBJECTIVE THINKING OF HOMO SAPIENS, NOT ON THE FEELINGS OF THE ANIMALS INVOLVED.
TO BE CAGED OR NOT WOKAL OCT 2020 TO BE CAGED?
WOKAL MAG OCT 2020
Trapping a healthy wild bird and putting them into a cage in a zoo or a pet shop (unless the bird has a permanent injury making them unable to survive in the wild) is like taking away their freedom, it jeopardizes their being and the whole population as well. While being captured, they are often force-fed, their wings are clipped and their beaks are taped shut. At times, all of these combined leads them to the point of selfmutilation. They are mostly caught in cruel ways, stuffed into small boxes, and then traded for profit. During this journey, they are wounded, starved, terrified, and in some cases, dead.
Photograph by Ongjan Odobasic from Pixabay
Photograph by Chanan GreenBlatt from Unsplash
TRAPPED? DAKSHITA AND SARAH PRESENT On the other hand, birds that have been bred and raised with/by human beings cannot be expected to live in the wild environment. They can no longer deal with weather changes, and looking for their food might be even a challenge for them due to loss of hunting ability. They lose their survival instincts and could easily become prey for predators. If caged birds are set free suddenly, they wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild. But at times even such birds start feeling trapped inside this captivity and ‘secured homes’ and are required to be set free or need some company.
WOKAL MAG OCT 2020
SECURITY AND LOVE However, in some situations, keeping a pet bird can be beneficial for both the human and the bird. While birds lose their freedom by being kept away from the wild, they gain security and love from the right kind of human companionship. Sometimes birds were taken from the wild end up in the hands of caretakers who are extremely responsive and provide exemplary care, leading to a high quality of life for the birds. Birds in captivity have the comforts that many birds in the wild do not, protection from predators, food security, access to vet care, and access to various suitable mate. (Please note: ‘Some situations’ mentioned before the start of this paragraph)
Photograph by Nathan Dumlao from Unsplash
PAGE 3 • GALLIVANT
DO YOUR RESEARCH! BY DAKSHITA AND SARAH And as we mentioned before, the side of the coin you believe varies individually, so if you decide to get yourself a little friend, remember to research properly and understand the responsibilities and commitment thoroughly. You could try out adoption, or getting a bird from a rescue or sanctuary instead of buying one (to save one more bird getting trapped from the wild for the profit of people) Photograph by Alex Fu from Pexels
GO FOR THE RESCUE! Photograph from Pexels, Pixabay
Nothing is ever completely black or white, it’s grey.
FEW POINTS TO REMEMBER IF YOU PLAN TO GET ONE AFTER ALL
:
1. The cage provided should be large enough for the bird to walk, fly, and spread its wings.
2. Provide different types of toys and check them regularly to avoid damage or hazards
3. Let your bird out of the cage every day, let them fly free around the house, and maybe roam around in the garden
4. Keep the cage clean by spot clean every day and proper cleaning and disinfecting at least once a month or less.
5. Interact with your bird to avoid them getting them to feel lonely, or get a second bird as a companion.
6. Keep an eye on signs of stress or any disease, for example: plucking their feathers or sitting alone in a corner. In any case, consult with an Avarian veteran for the well-being of your pet 7. Provide a clean and sufficient supply of food and water.
WOKAL ISSUE 03
WHILE THE RAINBOW LOSES ITS COLOURS...
BY ELIZABETH REJI
OCTOBER 2020
Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender they need to know (LGBT) people can range from bullying in school to workplace harassment to physical violence. From receiving rape threats to being physically assaulted, it seems that we have failed to provide a safe atmosphere to the queer youth. Due to this rising insensitivity and homophobia, LGBTQIA+ youth and those perceived as LGBTQ are at an increased risk of being bullied. Elizabeth Reji , through this article, sheds light on the same
Photograph by Montreal Gazette
0202 TCO GAM LAKOW
FROM RECEIVING RAPE THREATS TO BEING PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED
0202 TCO LAKOW
ISSUE 03
Photograph by The Daily Beast
VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE BY ELIZABETH REJI
A few months ago, Orinam, an all-volunteer collective of LGBTQIA+ people based in Chennai, celebrated its 15th anniversary. There they had an unexpected speaker 17-year-old who, on an impulse, shared his ordeal of being bullied at school for being “effeminate”. His tormentors weren’t students but teachers too. “If this support group hadn’t helped me, I would have committed suicide. Now, I just want to finish my board exams,” he said. Across the country, students are bullied because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, forcing many to drop out. A study was conducted among 371 people in the 18-22 age group from the LGBTQIA community. Of the respondents, 60% and 50% said that they were mostly victims of physical bullying when they were respectively in middle/high school and higher secondary school, while 43% of respondents said that they were sexually harassed when they were in primary school. However, only 18% of participants reported incidents of sexual orientation and gender identitybased bullying to school authorities; and 53% of those who reported being bullied said that authorities took some action against the persons who bullied them. Bullying puts youth at increased risk for depression, suicidal ideation, misuse of drugs and alcohol, risky sexual behavior, and can affect academics as well. For LGBTQ youth, that risk is even higher.
CYBER BULLYING? Another medium of bullying in online bullying or cyberbullying. Online bullying is an issue for many people who spend time on social media networks and other internet forums. Those who haven’t been a victim of cyberbullying have most likely witnessed it or even participated in it at some point. Members of the LGBTQ community are more likely to be bullied online than their peers. This is a particular concern among LGBTQ youth who may already be facing offline issues, be it at home or school. Spreading false information, distribution of sensitive or embarrassing messages, photos, videos, the revelation of information that is intended to be private, for example, being outed by a peer, online polls designed to cause distress to the subject, groups or pages designed to torment victims, etc. are some of the problems that they may face online. Although online bullying is a major issue, the internet brings about many benefits for LGBTQ youth. They can interact with like-minded individuals who they may not otherwise meet within their local community. Online connections can provide information, advice, and companionship, that might be lacking in their everyday lives. Much of our LGBTQ youth don’t feel supported at home or in school, in which case, the online world may become their place of solace. As such, cutting themselves off from cyberspace as a solution to online bullying is simply not an option. Instead, LGBTQ youth who are being cyberbullied need help to navigate social media and other platforms comfortably and safely. And parents and educators can help them do this.
Photograph from Medium
THERE ARE IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS FOR STRATEGIES TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS BULLYING OF LGBTQ YOUTH. WHILE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR LGBTQ YOUTH, MOST OF THEM, IF ADOPTED BY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, MAKE THE ENVIRONMENTS SAFER FOR ALL STUDENTS.
1. Build strong connections with LGBTQ youth to demonstrate acceptance and keep the lines of communication open. Often, LGBTQ youth feel rejected. It is important for them to know that their families, friends, schools, and communities support them. 2. Accept LBGTQ youth as they are, regardless of how they identify, reveal, or conceal their sexual identity. 3. Protect all youth’s privacy. Be careful not to disclose or discuss sexual identity issues with parents or anyone else, without the young person’s prior permission, unless there is an immediate threat to their safety or wellbeing.
5. Establish a safe environment at school. Schools can send a message that no one should be treated differently because of who they are or are perceived to be. Add sexual orientation and gender identity protection to school anti-discrimination policies.
LAKOW
4. Provide interpersonal support to students by providing a safe place to talk about their sexual identity and navigate decisions about disclosing or concealing it with others.
LGBTQ YOUTH MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO INFORM THEIR PARENTS ABOUT ONLINE BULLYING. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO SUSPECT OR FIND OUT THAT YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED ONLINE, HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM:
1. Offer support and talk to your child 2. Think twice before restricting internet use 3. Discuss ways they can navigate the online world safely 4. Introduce them to support networks 5. Help to educate others
Photograph from Human Rights Watch
YOU CAN HELP. BY ELIZABETH REJI
Ph o tgr aph o fr om Cul tur e Tri p.
Even with the scraping off of section 377, there has not been much change in how the LGBTQIA+ community is treated by others. The bullying and harassment that the members of the community face push them towards degrading mental health or taking a drastic step. What we can do for them is to look out for them, stand up for them, empower them, and always be there for them. WOKAL
INFORM. INSIGHT. INSPIRE. WOKAL MAGAZINE
ISSUE 2| SEPTEMBER 2020
OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE NO 031
WOKAL
#THE FALL ISSUE
OCTOBER ISSUE NO 03
