Youth Ki Awaaz has turned 12 today, and yes, this is a meaningful moment for all of us. As we face a strange situation amid this period of lockdown, I thought we should celebrate this important day together by sharing some powerful stories from YKA’s writers. I hope we connect more—despite the social distancing, and I hope we find ways to support meaningful human connections in these trying times.
Whether you are in quarantine, working from home or just being cautious, we hope you enjoy reading these powerful stories:
1. Every single time I feel like I’m losing hope, I remind myself of this story I came across. The story of Narendra Singh Yadav, a cancer patient whose dream is to bring back the disappearing sparrows into the urban landscape, and is he doing it! Here’s his story written by YKA user Prabhat Misra:
Meet Narendra Singh Yadav: Officer, Cancer Patient, Sparrow Saver
2. When was the last time you read something that moved you deeply? For me, it was this story from Devina Sikdar. She wrote her heart out! Check out her love letter to herself here:
A Love Letter To Myself: “I Am Done Living Life With An Instagram Filter.”
3. In recent times of political unrest, some of us felt like our constitutional values were slipping. So did YKA user Dr Aqsa Shaikh. Sharing her concerns, she penned down this powerful piece on the eve of India’s 71st Republic Day:
This Republic Day, Let Us Reclaim The Indian Constitution
4. A story about a tribal Goddess transcending religious boundaries and blessing Hindus and Muslims alike? Why not! Here you go:
Meet Bonbibi: The Forest Goddess Worshipped By Hindus And Muslims Alike
5. When’s not a good time to read about one of the most celebrated Urdu writer, Sadat Hassan Manto? His stories are as meaningful today as they were during his lifetime. Here’s a tribute to Manto from YKA user Ashraf Lone:
Manto’s “Khol Do” And “Mozel” Are More Than Relevant Today Amid Delhi Riots
6. Students across the globe demanded their rights to a cleaner planet last year. One such student, YKA user Lakshay, shared his story telling us why he skipped class to strike every Friday. Here’s what he wrote:
Why I Walk Out Of Class And Go On Strike, Every Single Friday
7. “We know that beauty is only skin deep, but the misogyny surrounding it and self-hate it creates can cut us right down to our bones,” writes AgentsOfIshq, a publisher on Youth Ki Awaaz. This. This. This! Read the full story here:
How Misguided Cultural Ideas Impact A Woman’s Idea Of Sexuality
8. Abha Kheterapal, a wheelchair user, recently shared her concerns about surviving a pandemic with a disability. Her concerns are shared with every person in a similar situation. She asks the right questions and brings an important perspective to our country’s approach towards fighting this crisis. Here’s her article:
Viruses Don’t Discriminate: Are India’s Covid-19 Measures Disabled-Friendly?
9. As Nirbhaya case convicts were hanged recently, it seemed our collective consciences were finally at peace. But Pinjra Tod, in this powerful piece, asks: is it enough? Does this solve the age-old problem of gender-based violence in Indian society? They answer these and several other question in this read:
Justice?: Why Death Penalty Is A Weak Response To Structural Violence
10. Decoding the ‘men’ bit in menstruation, YKA user Sauvik Dutta writes about men’s role in doing away with taboos associated with menstruation in our society. Here’s what he thinks:
A Male Perspective On How Men Can Break The Taboo Around Menstruation
11. Why is mental health still a hush-hush topic for most of us? Why do we raise our brows when someone wants to access help, access therapy? This situation gets even worse for the Queer community. YKA user Sonal Prasad sums it up perfectly in this piece:
We Don’t Shame People For Seeing Doctors So Why The Stigma About Therapy?
12. The tribals? Unlike the popular belief, were progressive from the very beginning! How about we break this stereotyping aspect of tribal life? Allow YKA user Pragya Uike do just that:
Tribal Communities Are Way More Progressive Than The Rest Of Indian Society. Here’s Why
So, here’s all from me. Do share some powerful YKA stories you read recently. Better yet, write one of your own!
Until next time!