This podcast hosts writers, readers, artists, and activists who listen to, read, or document &#34;queer&#34; 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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I had interviewed Adnan Shaikh in October 2025 to discuss their approaches to storytelling and representation. Adnan&#39;s writing has appeared on many platforms, including Kazim Ali&#39;s edited anthology, On the Brink of Belief. In this podcast episode, they discuss the importance of writing from specific regional and religious positionalities. Additionally, they also share an expansive understanding of queer Muslim futures and their current project, The Ummah of Elsewhere.

Episode 41 with writer Adnan Shaikh

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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 long-term, reciprocal relationships with activists—without whom their research questions, archives, and subjects would not exist. Roy highlights the value of engaging seriously with critique and draws connections between SIR and Palestine to articulate a broader vision of social justice. She shares her desire to teach Marx in academia and aspires for a more livable future.

Episode 40 with veteran activist Raina Roy

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In this episode, Aamir reflects on his experiences of belonging and unbelonging in both India and Taiwan. He highlights Taiwan&#39;s apolitical approach to higher education and queer rights despite being the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Aamir also discusses the nuances of being racialized and desired (or not) in both countries. He suggests that we should care and listen, without trying to score points on social media. In that context, Aamir practices self-care through crochet and knitting. Finally, we examine the detrimental impact of SIR on vulnerable communities in Bihar, shedding light on how people are being disenfranchised in India.

Episode 39 with student activist Mohammad Aamir Khan

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In this episode, Nishant Upadhyay discusses their book, <a href="https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p088216" rel="nofollow">Indians on Indian Lands: Intersections of Race, Caste, and Indigeneity.</a> They explain the use of the term &#34;Indian&#34; in the title and the complicity of Indian migrants in settler colonialism in Canada/Turtle Island. Upadhyay also offers a detailed account of their interdisciplinary methodology and the challenges of doing fieldwork.

Episode 38 with academic Nishant Upadhyay

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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 influences teaching in both public and private educational institutions. Banerjea also explains how she approached the question of livability in her co-authored book, Liveable Lives: Living and Surviving LGBTQ Equalities in India and the UK.

Episode 37 with academic activist Niharika Banerjea

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Snehashish Das offers a critique of Western universalism and asks &#34;us&#34; to consider why we want to fit Indian icons like Bhimrao Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule into Western categories. They discuss the role of poetry by Kabir as well as interlocutors in their &#34;field&#34; to rethink ideas of gender, queerness, desire and subversion. They makes a case for hope by referring to how Begumpura exists in the present, and shares their thoughts on appropriation.

Episode 36 with scholar and writer, Snehashish Das

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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 Bangladesh. We talk about her investment in queer and trans storytelling in particular. Das also reiterates the reasons why she decided to unpublish Saiba Verma&#39;s book. She makes a case for ethical research and writing, sharing her insights into the proliferation of writing programs and workshops in Indian universities.

Episode 35 with publisher, editor and writer, Arpita Das

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In this interview which was recorded in January 2024, the author of Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir discusses the concept of &#34;coming out,&#34; its genealogies and expectations. We revisit the controversy around Made in Heaven Season 2, and Dutt&#39;s vicious trolling on social media. Dutt reminds the listeners that being oppressed does not make one inherently moral or right but regardless, it makes them worthy of dignity and equality.

Episode 34 with writer and journalist Yashica Dutt

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In this interview, Dr Chatterjee shares why he decided to translate Krishnogopal Mallick&#39;s work. The book, Entering the Maze: Queer Fiction of Krishnagopal Mallick opens us to questions about age, desire, and masculinity. Chatterjee also reflects on the need to give more visibility to Bengali literature that addresses queer issues. Additionally, he shares his experiences of being a professor at Kalyani University and collaborating with Sappho for Equality.Note: This interview was specifically requested by the publisher, Niyogi Books.এই সাক্ষাত্কারে, নীলাদ্রি আর চ্যাটার্জি শেয়ার করেছেন কেন তিনি কৃষ্ণগোপাল মল্লিকের কাজ অনুবাদ করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছিলেন। বইটি, এন্টারিং দ্য মেজ: কৃষ্ণগোপাল মল্লিকের কুইর ফিকশন আমাদের বয়স, আকাঙ্ক্ষা এবং পুরুষত্ব সম্পর্কে প্রশ্ন উন্মুক্ত করে। চ্যাটার্জি বাংলা সাহিত্যকে আরও দৃশ্যমানতা দেওয়ার প্রয়োজনীয়তার প্রতিও প্রতিফলিত করেছেন যা বিচিত্র বিষয়গুলিকে সম্বোধন করে। উপরন্তু, তিনি কল্যাণী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধ্যাপক হওয়ার এবং সাফো ফর ইকুয়ালিটির সাথে সহযোগিতা করার অভিজ্ঞতা শেয়ার করেন।দ্রষ্টব্য: এই সাক্ষাৎকারটি বিশেষভাবে প্রকাশক নিয়োগী বুকস দ্বারা অনুরোধ করা হয়েছিল।

Episode 33 with professor of English, Niladri R. Chatterjee

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Episode 32 with activist, organizer and educator সুমি দাস (Summi Dass)

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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 processes that led to the formation of the category of &#34;classical.&#34; She reflects on the composition of the audiences for classical dance performances across different cities while addressing the questions of caste capital and appropriation. She also touches upon the challenges of being a Dean in a public university, and the ways in which she is able to center care in her everyday work as an administrator.

Episode 31 with Associate Professor of Literary Art, Anita E. Cherian

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Episode 30 with activist and organizer অরি রায় চৌধুরী (Ari Roy Chowdhuri)

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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 opposing bodies. Bhatt insists that the demand for horizontal reservation for trans people should get more attention. He also explains his role as a bioethicist and elaborates on the small wins for gender inclusivity on the Supreme Court premises.

Episode 29 with lawyer and bioethicist Rohin Bhatt

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In my first-ever interview with a publisher, Sarma, the founder of Red River gives me an insider&#39;s account of what small-scale and independent publishing looks like in India. He discusses the joys and the risks involved in creating a poetry book. Sarma also reflects on the making of Whistling in the Dark: Twenty-One Queer Interviews which he co-edited with R Raj Rao. Editor: Shubang Gautam

Episode 28 with publisher Dibyajyoti Sarma

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&#34;Candles are my claim, hula hoop, my release&#34;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 belief in anti-caste politics and social and political justice. She also tells me how trauma changed her body&#39;s relationship with dance. This prompted her to seek refuge in the hula hoop. Editor: Shubang Gautam

Episode 27 with artist Jyoti Singh

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Dey shares their standpoint on queer politics and why &#34;queer&#34; as an adjective matters more to them. We speak about poetry, queer pedagogy, intimacy, and identity politics. Dey also reflects on belongingness and exile, about living in Delhi and being brought up in Siliguri. She asks, &#34;Can Bengalis imagine having a Nepali CM?&#34; Editor: Shubang Gautam

Episode 26 with poet and teacher Debolina Dey

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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 the distinctions between &#34;bari&#34; and flat and what it means to be at home. She shares her experiences of collaborating with Anindya Hazra on the Dialogues: Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film and Video Festival. Working across movements and organizations is key to her feminist vision. Malobika di also expresses her disappointment and anger at being excluded from intra-community events and initiatives that were led and dominated by cis-gay men.

Episode 25 with feminist Minakshi Sanyal (Malobika di)

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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 forthcoming anthology and the process of writing and performing for digital platforms. In response to a question, Pradhan also shares some critiques of Kaustav Chakraborty&#39;s book which tries to &#34;queer&#34; tribal folktales. *Audio editor: Shubang Gautam*

Episode 24 with poet and researcher Anil Pradhan

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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 mainland India treats people from the Northeast. A poet and an artist, she wants to be recognized as a writer, rather than a trans writer.

Episode 23 with writer and gender rights activist Santa Khurai

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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 trans sex workers and what are the challenges of archiving the contribution of trans people to the Telangana movement.

Episode 22 with transgender rights activist & digital content creator Rachana Mudraboyina

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.