Subcategorization of Caste, Begumpura and Religion (TAARIF)

This following is a reflexive article written by a cohort of CSGS’s TAARIF (The Transformative Arts and Research Initiatives Fellowship). The first cohort of TAARIF brought together two individuals, for a period of four months (April 1 to July 31, 2023). The fellowship serves as platform for emerging trans* scholars from the subcontinent to bring […]

Decoding Desire and Dining in India: A Hidden History of Food Hierarchy

“Food in India is closely tied to the moral and social status of individuals and groups. Food taboos and prescriptions divide men from women, gods from humans, upper from lower castes, one sect from another” (Appadurai, “How to make a National Cuisine”, 8). Introduction  The more we delve into the intricacies of any aspect of […]

Sexual Desires: Buddha, Butler and Bodies

This is a conversation on the histories of desire in the Indian subcontinent, a conversation that is centuries old. We began thinking about subcontinental desires while reading aloud the poems by the therīs¹.  We were drawn in by theri  Siha’s poem who said that she had “…had no peace of mind” because she was tormented […]

Friendship Sans Symmetry- The Unlawfulness of Feminine Intimacy

When one begins to think of how to think about friendship, it is Aristotle (384–322 BC), the towering and omnipresent Greek philosopher, who comes to our mind. For Aristotle, friendship was one of reciprocity and utility that formed the cornerstone of citizenship. Shared between men, whether based on pleasure, utilitarianism, or virtue, Aristotelian friendship required […]

The Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality (CSGS) is the first Centre of its kind in India to study the broader spectrum of questions relating to both gender and sexuality.

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