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About This Podcast
This podcast hosts writers, readers, artists, and activists who listen to, read, or document "queer" stories and their afterlives. This space hopes to hold conversations that question what queerness in India feels, looks, and sounds like. It may push Indian writers and publishers, especially upper-caste Hindus to check their cultural and social capital and interrogate the Indian dominance in South Asia and studies on South Asia. It is an attempt to share joy or discomfort, suspicion, or solidarity, or just gossip and flirt. Though this podcast is an extension of my research interests, it is neither funded by my current institution nor meant to be an academic engagement as such. As a curator who is upper-caste, I hope to work harder to not replicate Savarna ways of producing knowledge. I also recognize the labor of sharing stories and intend to compensate some guests, either with honoraria or by other means, depending on what they may desire.
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Recent Episodes
Episode 41 with writer Adnan Shaikh
I had interviewed Adnan Shaikh in October 2025 to discuss their approaches to storytelling and representation. Adnan's writing has appeared on many platforms, including Kazim Ali's edited…
Episode 40 with veteran activist Raina Roy
In this episode, Raina Roy reflects on the genealogy of queer/trans activism in Kolkata, tracing back to kothi gatherings at Rabindra Sarobar Lake. She emphasises that academics must cultivate…
Episode 39 with student activist Mohammad Aamir Khan
In this episode, Aamir reflects on his experiences of belonging and unbelonging in both India and Taiwan. He highlights Taiwan's apolitical approach to higher education and queer rights despite being…
Episode 38 with academic Nishant Upadhyay
In this episode, Nishant Upadhyay discusses their book, Indians on Indian Lands: Intersections of Race, Caste, and Indigeneity. They explain the use of the term "Indian" in the title and the…
Episode 37 with academic activist Niharika Banerjea
In this interview, recorded in August 2024, Niharika Banerjea, Professor at OP Jindal Law School, discusses how she navigates collaborations with activists and academics. We discuss how bureaucracy…
Episode 36 with scholar and writer, Snehashish Das
Snehashish Das offers a critique of Western universalism and asks "us" to consider why we want to fit Indian icons like Bhimrao Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule into Western categories. They discuss the…
Episode 35 with publisher, editor and writer, Arpita Das
Arpita Das, the founder of Yoda Press shares what it means to start and sustain an independent publishing house in India. She discusses her collaborations with fellow publishers in Pakistan and…
S2E1 Episode 34 with writer and journalist Yashica Dutt
In this interview which was recorded in January 2024, the author of Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir discusses the concept of "coming out," its genealogies and expectations. We revisit the controversy…
S1E33 Episode 33 with professor of English, Niladri R. Chatterjee
In this interview, Dr Chatterjee shares why he decided to translate Krishnogopal Mallick's work. The book, Entering the Maze: Queer Fiction of Krishnagopal Mallick opens us to questions about age,…
Episode 32 with activist, organizer and educator সুমি দাস (Summi Dass)
In this episode, activist, educator, and organizer Summi Dass shared how she started the Moitrisanjog Society, Cooch Behar, and collaborated with donors and academics. We also discussed the…
Episode 31 with Associate Professor of Literary Art, Anita E. Cherian
Performance Studies scholar, Dr Cherian discusses the limits of subversion in Indian classical dance. She revisits her article on Narthaki Nataraj and Kalakrishna, and explains the political…
Episode 30 with activist and organizer অরি রায় চৌধুরী (Ari Roy Chowdhuri)
In this episode, Ari explains why she wants to make a documentary on the trans and queer community in the Nadia district which is located at the India-Bangladesh border. The link to the fundraiser…
Episode 29 with lawyer and bioethicist Rohin Bhatt
Queer rights activist Rohin Bhatt has been at the forefront of the struggle for marriage equality in the Supreme Court of India. We discuss the legality of the matter and the arguments from the…
Episode 28 with publisher Dibyajyoti Sarma
In my first-ever interview with a publisher, Sarma, the founder of Red River gives me an insider's account of what small-scale and independent publishing looks like in India. He discusses the joys…
Episode 27 with artist Jyoti Singh
"Candles are my claim, hula hoop, my release"Known for her handmade aromatic candles, Jyoti Singh shares what it means to tell a story with wax and dry flowers. This story is also informed by her…
Episode 26 with poet and teacher Debolina Dey
Dey shares their standpoint on queer politics and why "queer" as an adjective matters more to them. We speak about poetry, queer pedagogy, intimacy, and identity politics. Dey also reflects on…
S1 Episode 25 with feminist Minakshi Sanyal (Malobika di)
I spoke to Minakshi Sanyal aka Malobikadi about her co-edited anthology, Monologue: Lesbian Narrative of Bangladesh and West Bengal, and her journey in relation to Sappho for Equality. We reflect on…
Episode 24 with poet and researcher Anil Pradhan
In his interview which was conducted in October 2022, Pradhan shares how he negotiates different places of belonging and what that means for his queerness in a globalized world. We discuss his…
Episode 23 with writer and gender rights activist Santa Khurai
Santa Khurai who is a Manipuri indigenous Nupi Maanbi shares her insights on the challenges of doing activism in the region. She takes a strong stand against racism and colonialism which impacts how…
Episode 22 with transgender rights activist & digital content creator Rachana Mudraboyina
Mudraboyina, the co-founder of Telangana Hijra Transgender Intersex Samiti and TransVision discusses how religion can be a site of negotiation for trans people. She explains what respect means for…
Frequently Asked Questions
Queerness and Storytelling in India has published 42 episodes since March 2022, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Queerness and Storytelling in India is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 53m.
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