By YKA Staff:
This year was quite eventful for team Youth Ki Awaaz. Not only did we expand in terms of the number of people we reached, but we were also able to add many more to our community of writers.
The past year, we were able bring to you some stories that touched a wide number of people and either inspired change, or triggered an important conversation. Other stories brought out some startling revelations, experiences and narratives which often remain untold.
With 2015 packing up its bag and the new year ringing the doorbell, here’s a look back at 37 Youth Ki Awaaz stories that you found most powerful.
1. Of Curvy Women And Rugged Men: The Endless Search For ‘Ideal’ And ‘Desirable’ Bodies
As part of our #TalkSexuality campaign with TARSHI, we explored how the pressure to look a certain way and how the media and popular culture reinforce these notions.
Of Curvy Women And Rugged Men: The Endless Search For ‘Ideal’ And ‘Desirable’ Bodies
2. Worshipping The Murderer Of The ‘Father Of The Nation’
This story discussing the demand of a certain section of Hindu extremists to build a temple to honour Nathuram Godse sparked an active conversation. Worshipping The Murderer Of The ‘Father Of The Nation’
3. Covering The #Hokkolorob Movement
One of the biggest student movements the country has seen in recent times, Jadavpur University rose up and how against the apathy of the administration and state. The protest marked the beginning of what was a momentous year for student movements across the country.
#Hokkolorob Protests – Youth Ki Awaaz
4. ‘My Kali Kills. My Draupadi Strips…’: Meena Kandasamy, Uninterrupted
Activist, translator and poet Meera Kandasamy talked about her work, her strong feminist ideas and her anti caste view in this interview with team YKA.
‘My Kali Kills. My Draupadi Strips…’: Meena Kandasamy, Uninterrupted
5. ‘I Am A Woman, And I Masturbate. Stop Demonising Me For It’
Taking forward the conversation on the stigma women face while claiming a right over their own bodies, this account highlighted how being a ‘proper’ woman has, for years, forced women to deny themselves the right to claim their own sexuality. ‘I Am A Woman, And I Masturbate. Stop Demonising Me For It’
6. In Iran, One Woman Is Leading The Battle Against Compulsory Hijab, Through Facebook
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian writer and journalist made a bold statement through her page ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ on Facebook, “giving a voice to the voiceless and stirring the conscience of humanity to support the struggle of Iranian women for basic human rights, freedom and equality.”
In Iran, One Woman Is Leading The Battle Against Compulsory Hijab, Through Facebook
7. When Cake Is Better Than Sex: Growing Up Asexual In A Straight World
Breaking the silence on the taboos of sexuality in India, our features writer Shambhavi Saxena shared her experience of understanding asexuality and what it meant for her to be asexual in a society that only acknowledges heterosexuality. When Cake Is Better Than Sex: Growing Up Asexual In A Straight World
8. Instagram Removes Photo Of Fully-Clothed Menstruating Woman, Here’s What She Has To Say
Rupi Kaur created a massive wave on social media, breaking many taboos in one go when she uploaded photos on Instagram that showed a sleeping woman with a stain from menstruation. After her photos were taken down, this is how she responded to shut down the haters.
Instagram Removes Photo Of Fully-Clothed Menstruating Woman, Here’s What She Has To Say
9. Molested 12 Meters Below Sea Level By My Diving Instructor, All I Could Do Was Signal ‘OK’
This chilling personal story left anyone who read it shocked. One of our most powerful stories this year, Kavya’s story was later picked up by mainstream media and started a conversation on women’s safety in the country. Molested 12 Meters Below Sea Level By My Diving Instructor, All I Could Do Was Signal ‘OK’
10. You Have A Problem With My Face? Buck Off!
That’s what this brave contributor had to say to anyone who wanted her to conform to society’s idea of ‘beautiful’! You Have A Problem With My Face? Buck Off!
11. “What Went Wrong With Her? Is She Adopted?” My Struggle With The ‘Kali-Kalooti’ Complex
Inspired with the previous story, another contributor found the courage to stand up against yet another taboo, and proudly claimed her beauty. “What Went Wrong With Her? Is She Adopted?” My Struggle With The ‘Kali-Kalooti’ Complex
12. “Call Me Whore, Call Me Slut, Call Me Hijra, Call Me Eunuch, I Don’t Care”
This strong personal narrative brought to light the discrimination and stigma that our LGBT+ community faces, just for choosing to be themselves. Divyaroop gave just the right answer to all the haters!
“Call Me Whore, Call Me Slut, Call Me Hijra, Call Me Eunuch, I Don’t Care”
13. After 2 Years Of Sexual Harassment At The NGO I Worked For, An Apology E-mail Is All I Got
Another story that caught the media’s attention after it was published on YKA, Sonam’s story finally got the NGO’s administration to take stricter action.
After 2 Years Of Sexual Harassment At The NGO I Worked For, An Apology E-mail Is All I Got
In 2009, I joined as a volunteer for a well-respected environmental NGO, bright-eyed, idealistic, and ready for change. But in 2012, two years after I joined as an employee, my view of this place was completely and utterly undone, when an older male employee repeatedly sexually harassed me, and the senior management didn’t even blink.
14. “I Am Too Queer For Muslims, And Too Muslim For Other Queers”: Conversations With A Queer Muslim
Ramzan With Zehra, our exclusive coverage on this year’s festivities explored some different aspects of Islam. This article, one from the series talked about how religion impacted a Muslim who identified as Queer. “I Am Too Queer For Muslims, And Too Muslim For Other Queers”: Conversations With A Queer Muslim
15. Give A Shit
Raising awareness on India’s sanitation crisis, we brought to you our very first web series that highlighted just how serious the problem of open defecation in the country is. #GiveAShit | The Swacch Web Series | Youth Ki Awaaz
16. The Remarkable Story Of The Man Who Wore A Sanitary Napkin To Help Women Across The Country
In conversation with Arunachalam Muruganantham, we found out about the incredible work he has been doing to break menstrual taboos and stigma as well as making hygienic menstrual products an achievable reality for many rural women in India.
The Remarkable Story Of The Man Who Wore A Sanitary Napkin To Help Women Across The Country
17. Inside Atali: With No Muslims Left, Communal Violence Has Torn Apart Yet Another Village
We uncovered some hard hitting stories when YKA’s Abhishek Jha visited Atali to report how the riot that took place in May had impacted life in the village. Inside Atali: With No Muslims Left, Communal Violence Has Torn Apart Yet Another Village
18. “I Never Knew I Was In An Abusive Relationship Until I Read An Article On Your Site”
Starting a conversation on Intimate Partner Violence with our campaign #BearNoMore with Love Matters, we ran a blogathon inviting stories. As a response to it, a user shared her personal story of living with an abusive partner.
“I Never Knew I Was In An Abusive Relationship Until I Read An Article On Your Site”
19. No One’s Decision But Mine
This year was all about smashing stereotypes, and another important topic we raised was abortion stigma along with CREA. This illustration with Maitri Dore created sparked a massive conversation and has had a reach of 5 million to this date. No One’s Decision But Mine
20. 7 Survivors Break Their Silence On The Trauma Of Sexual Abuse They Faced As Children
More than 53% children in India have faced sexual abuse, and that is why we brought to you these heart-wrenching personal narratives where survivors of child sexual abuse shared their experiences.
7 Survivors Break Their Silence On The Trauma Of Sexual Abuse They Faced As Children
21. Which Way Will The Women Vote In This Bihar Election
With the ‘mother of all elections’ that took place in Bihar this year, the political game saw a change in play. A special coverage ‘Bihar Elections With Ojha’ brought out some important on-ground reporting from our columnist. Which Way Will The Women Vote In This Bihar Election
22. Bihar Ki Baat
To bring to you stories from the grass roots of Bihar, Manira from team YKA travelled to several villages in the state to teach young citizens how to report stories that mattered to them. This video series brought out some very pressing issues.
#BiharKiBaat – A Youth Ki Awaaz Video Series
23. ‘A Young Bleeding Woman’ Pens An Open Letter To The Keepers Of Sabrimala Temple
When 20-year-old Nikita Azad was disturbed by a statement made by the keepers of the 5000-year-old Sabrimala Temple, she decided to raise her voice through this open letter. The letter spiralled into a nationwide campaign called #HappyToBleed within 3 days and started conversations on menstruation taboos in India. Mainstream media too picked this story up and hundreds across the country contributed to smash age-old notions steeped in patriarchy. ‘A Young Bleeding Woman’ Pens An Open Letter To The Keepers Of Sabrimala Temple
Impact:
Nikita Azad On How Her Letter On Youth Ki Awaaz Started The National Campaign #HappyToBleed
24. YKA Investigation: 2 Years Later, This Is How The Muzaffarnagar Riot Survivors Are Living
Abhishek Jha from Youth Ki Awaaz visited Muzaffarnagar 2 years after the riots that took the lives of 50 people. This exclusive ground report is a hard-hitting reality check and details the concerns and conditions of the people living there today. YKA Investigation: 2 Years Later, This Is How The Muzaffarnagar Riot Survivors Are Living
25. YKA Exclusive: What Does The President Of The Cow Protection Army Do? We Met Him To Find Out
Amidst the beef ban and raging intolerance debate in India, Abhimanyu Singh from Youth Ki Awaaz spent a day with Ashoo Mongia, President of the National Cow Protection Army, to find out what they really do. Here’s an exclusive interview with Mongia where he talks about how Hindus contribute to cow slaughter, the ‘Hindu hriday samrat’ Narendra Modi, and more.
What Does The President Of The Cow Protection Army Do? We Met Him To Find Out
26. YKA Investigation: The Promise Of Toilets In Every School Stinks!
In this Youth Ki Awaaz investigation, Abhimanyu Singh visited a few government schools on the outskirts of Delhi to see whether the promise of building toilets (as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission) has been fulfilled or not. YKA Investigation: The Promise Of Toilets In Every School Stinks!
27. ‘He Grabbed My Breast In A Metro Full Of People, And All He Said Was, ‘What Did I Do?’
A woman boldly shared her story of being molested in a packed Delhi metro. This story highlights the need for equal right and safe access to public spaces for people across all genders and when it was published, a few others came out with similar stories on social media.
‘He Grabbed My Breast In A Metro Full Of People, And All He Said Was, ‘What Did I Do?’
28. The Hypocrisy Behind The ‘Swachh Delhi’ App That No One Is Talking About
Abhishek Jha from Youth Ki Awaaz set out to find whether the benefits of Swachh Bharat Mission are really reaching the ones who are most affected. He writes about the reality of manual scavenging in India and shares unheard stories of a few individuals and the deplorable circumstances they are forced to work in each day.
The Hypocrisy Behind The ‘Swachh Delhi’ App That No One Is Talking About
29. India’s ‘Unofficial Blockade’ Of Nepal Is Leading To Its Biggest Humanitarian Crisis Yet
Journalist Deepak Adhikari’s report about the crisis in Nepal at the time of India’s blockade, that India had officially denied. He writes about how Nepal plans to deal with the situation as well as what the repercussions on India could be in the long run. How India’s ‘Unofficial’ Blockade Of Nepal Is Leading To Its Biggest Humanitarian Crisis Yet
30. RTI Reveals Medical Negligence And Faulty Appointments At NIT Durgapur
After the death of Prosenjit Sarkar due to medical negligence by the staff of NIT Durgapur, an RTI investigation uncovers the various other faults with the college’s administration. These are the complete findings.
RTI Reveals Medical Negligence And Faulty Appointments At NIT Durgapur
31. This Is What The Govt. Has Done With The ₹3000 Crore Of The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ Since 2013
After the horrific gangrape of a woman in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012, the government had sanctioned a fund of Rs 1000 crore per year to improve women’s safety across the country. Abhishek Jha from Youth Ki Awaaz found out where the money has been used (or not used). This Is What The Govt. Has Done With The ₹3000 Crore Of The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ Since 2013
32. “We Struggled For Justice For 3 Years And What’s The Result? A Convict In The Case Is Being Released On The Anniversary Of My Daughter’s Death”
Asha Devi, mother of Jyoti Singh, speaks to Abhimanyu Singh from Youth Ki Awaaz about their struggle for justice, the release of the juvenile convict and more. “My Only Reason To Live Is To Seek Justice For Her”: Jyoti’s Mother Asha Devi Tells YKA
33. Gang-Raped By 4 Men, Told By A Minister To Not ‘Seek Publicity’: This Is Kashish’s Story
A survivor of rape shares the painful ordeal of fighting for justice amidst police and political apathy.
Gang-Raped By 4 Men, Told By A Minister To Not ‘Seek Publicity’: This Is Kashish’s Story
34. How The Murder Of A Homeless Person Went Unreported In Delhi: The Case Of Anil Paswan
What is the extent of the apathy and class bias that leads to no one caring about Delhi’s homeless? Abhimanyu Singh reports on the pathetic conditions they survive in as he follows up on a murder of a homeless person regarding which not a single complaint was filed.
How The Murder Of A Homeless Person Went Unreported In Delhi: The Case Of Anil Paswan
35. Dear Parineeti, Your Campaign Isn’t Empowering But Body-Shaming Women Who Aren’t Thin
After actor Parineeti Chopra shared photos of her fitter self on social media through a campaign called ‘Built That Way’, Rohini Banerjee from Youth Ki Awaaz wrote an open letter to her about the problematic message of her campaign. This letter led to widespread debate and discussion on social media. Dear Parineeti, Your Campaign Isn’t Empowering But Body-Shaming Women Who Aren’t Thin
36. Are Sons Still Preferred Over Daughters? Watch To Find Out What People In Delhi Said
As part of our campaign with Girls Count, members from team Youth Ki Awaaz asked a series of carefully worded questions to people in Delhi. Their answers portray the stark reality of how differently Indian society treats women as compared to men.
Are Sons Still Preferred Over Daughters? Watch To Find Out What People In Delhi Said
37. This IAS Officer In Bihar Shut Down Discrimination And Superstition With One Simple Move
Abhishek Jha from team Youth Ki Awaaz spoke to Rahul Kumar, the District Magistrate of Gopalganj in Bihar, who set an inspiring example for the entire district. This IAS Officer In Bihar Shut Down Discrimination And Superstition With One Simple Move