Published in Prism & Pen·PinnedMemories Spent and Memories LostMelancholy of a rainy day — The river has a soul. In the summer it cuts through the land like a torrent of grief. Sometimes, sometimes, I think it holds its breath seeking a land of fish and stars — Small Towns and the River by Mamang Dai If I stand in the balcony of our…Fiction3 min readFiction3 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Nov 12, 2021Am I Man Enough?The constant doubts of a transgender man — When I first came out to my mother, she took me to a psychologist. He listened quietly, then gave me a sheet of paper to jot down the qualities that make me think I’m a man. He wanted to show me that I was wrong. That I was just unhappy…LGBTQ5 min readLGBTQ5 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Jul 16, 2021What This Indian Trans Man Loves about Being LGBTQPain, anger and queer joy — Every time I remind my psychiatrist I’m a transmasculine person, he wonders why I’m so hell-bent on being transgender. I understand his point. As a cisgender person, he can’t fathom why I would want to risk losing most of my family’s support and job opportunities just to get surgery or…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Apr 3, 2021A Young Indian Queer Man Watches MonteroLil Nas X, hell, and Hinduism — Lil Nas X set the world on fire on 26th March when he released Montero (Call me by your name). I’ve been obsessed with this song since it came out. But it was the video that caught my eye. I’m not the only one affected by it, judging by the…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Feb 6, 2021Why I Call Myself QueerA reflection on my identity — I look into the mirror and grin widely. A small face with sparkling black eyes covered in soapy lather smiles back at me. Dadu, my grandfather, glances at me from his chair. “What are you doing?” “I’m shaaaaaaving,” I sing back. He shakes his head at me, amused. He takes…LGBTQ5 min readLGBTQ5 min read
Published in Musings from a Fallen God·Jan 4, 2021Evaluating 2020: How the year was for India and meLooking back at the past year — Finally, it’s 2021! With the hellish year that was 2020 behind us, everyone is hoping for a better year without Covid restrictions. My social media is full of people rejoicing that 2020 is finally over and counting the good and bad things of the last year. …India4 min readIndia4 min read
Published in Musings from a Fallen God·Jun 16, 2020Injustice: Racism in IndiaA culture fixated on white skin — The killing of George Floyd by a policeman in broad daylight has been the matchstick that set fire to the gunpowder of anger and dissatisfaction already brewing in the hearts of many Americans. Their protests have touched millions across the world as more and more people are speaking up about…Racism4 min readRacism4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·May 17, 2020A Trans Boy, a Girl, a Magical Bonfire, and Realization of LoveThawing hearts on a firelit night. — I saw her one winter morning. Sitting on the floor, leaning against the door, yellow boots muddy from the football practice she’d just come from. She looked at me and smiled. And that one smile on that one winter morning managed to steal my heart. I would sometimes get a…Love2 min readLove2 min read
Published in James Finn - The Blog·Mar 30, 2020Queer in India: HopeGrowing up different — “I never thought you’d turn out this way.” I looked at my mother. Behind her glasses, did her eyes look a bit sad? I had pulled a picture album earlier that day out of a stack of old clothes. …LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in CROSSIN(G)ENRES·Dec 22, 2019Everything Has ChangedChristmastime and lost love — Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh… The children sang in unison and moved their heads to the music as the teacher played the piano. Kora tried to keep her head down and scribbled in her notebook furiously to stop getting caught by Mrs.Chakroborty. The teacher had been…Fiction5 min readFiction5 min read
