Last evening, at Lok Kala Manch, I revisited a younger version of myself. The play was “EK MADHAV BAUG”, written by the late Chetan Datar and organised by the Delhi-based queer collective “QConnect”. On stage stood Mona Ambegaonkar – alone, luminous, carrying an entire universe in her pauses. Eleven years ago, I watched the same…
Tag: queer writer
Why Pride, When We Are “Free”?
Yesterday, Delhi walked again. From Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, ending at Jantar Mantar – streets I’ve walked on for years, sometimes freely, sometimes carefully. Delhi wore rainbows, slogans, and glitter. I saw familiar faces. Older activists. Survivors. People who have marched even when marching felt dangerous. But this time, the roads belonged largely to Gen…
Seven-Year Itch
Seven years – that’s 2,555 days of love, arguments, laughter, silence, shared meals, cancelled trips, long hugs, and the eternal “what should we watch tonight?” question. They say the seven-year itch makes couples restless, but honestly, if that’s true, we’ve been scratching that itch since year one – sometimes gently, sometimes like two cats tangled…
Maybe You Just Need to Smile
I am living my life one day at a time. Some days are heavy, some days are lighter, but most days feel like I am just trying to survive. I wake up with the weight of thoughts I can’t always explain. I feel lost most of the time, searching for a path that seems invisible….
Reset
How often can you reset your life? While growing up, we’re all told to live a certain way. We were told that life had a linear path. Follow the rules. Do what everyone else has been doing for years – study hard, get a job, marry (the opposite sex), have kids, retire and die. Repeat….
I Am a Hugger
Hugs are so underrated. Not the polite, half-hearted ones. I’m talking about those tight, real hugs- where your arms wrap around someone, and for a few seconds, both of you forget everything else. The noise fades. The chaos pauses. And all that remains is warmth. Yes, I am a hugger. Always have been. Even when…
कभी फिर मिलेंगे
चलो, कभी फिर मिलेंगे।किसी और ज़िंदगी,किसी और दुनिया में। जहाँ मेरी गुस्ताखियाँ कम हों,जहाँ मेरी नादानियाँ कम हों। जहाँ शायद मैं हो पाऊं थोड़ा और ज़िम्मेदार,जहाँ शायद मैं ले पाऊं इन कंधों पे और थोड़ी भार। जहाँ दोस्ती में कोई शर्त न रखी जाए,जहाँ सच्चा प्यार मिल पाए। जहाँ दिल में थोड़ी कम हो खटास,जहाँ…
Window Shopping
Through virtual windows, I peer and swipe,A catalogue of men, each prototype.No vows, no bonds, no legal decree,Just endless aisles of “What could be.” Migrating birds, they flit and roam,No nesting hearts, no solid home.Loyalty? A fleeting disguise,Lost in the glare of pixelated skies. Grindr’s ping, a digital bell,Announces sales of lust to sell.Swipe left,…
I’m toxic. Period!
The past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. It’s been a year of deep reflection, painful realizations, and, surprisingly, growth. As I write this, I want to make one thing clear: this is my side of the story. Not the absolute truth, but my truth – a story of love, labels, and letting…
The Year it Was: 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, I sit quietly with a cup of coffee. I reflect on the months gone by. If I had to summarize this year, it would be difficult to express everything openly. There’s a whirlwind of emotions, and my thoughts feel tangled, like fairy lights after a long year in storage….
ANKUR MONDAL 