Pawan Dhall
Pawan Dhall is an Indian queer activist, archivist, researcher, and writer based in Kolkata, West Bengal. He has been involved in LGBTQ movements in India since the early 1990s.[1]
Early activism and professional career
[edit]Dhall was a founding member of Counsel Club, Kolkata (1993–2002), one of India's earliest queer support groups. He served as the editor for its house journal, Pravartak, which was first published in 1991. In 1995, following a dispute over the name with a traditional charitable organization, the publication was renamed Naya Pravartak and continued under that title until its final issue in 2000.[2]
From 2002 to 2014, Dhall worked with SAATHII, a non-profit organization focused on healthcare and social justice for marginalized communities, including gender and sexual minorities.[3]
Friendship Walk (1999)
[edit]Dhall was among the organizers of India's first pride march, the Friendship Walk, held in Kolkata on 2 July 1999. In total, fifteen people participated in the event.[4]
Research
[edit]Dhall co-authored a study on digital media and sexual health interventions among gay men, MSM, and trans women in West Bengal. The research was conducted in collaboration with Loughborough University and the University of Sussex, funded by the Wellcome Trust.[5]
Archive
[edit]Dhall has built a personal archive documenting the early LGBTQ+ movement in India since the late 1980s. The archive includes letters, typewritten notes, emails, and physical copies of Pravartak.[1]
Publications
[edit]Dhall has written or edited several books about queer issues in India.
- Queer Potli: Memories, Imaginations and Re-imaginations of Urban Queer Spaces in India (editor, Queer Ink, 2019) ISBN 978-8193318911 – An anthology exploring queer experiences and personal histories across urban spaces in India.[6]
- Social Media, Sexuality and Sexual Health Advocacy in Kolkata, India (co-author with Rohit K. Dasgupta and Paul Boyce, Bloomsbury India, 2017) – A study analyzing the opportunities and limitations of utilizing digital platforms for sexual health interventions.[5]
- Out of Line and Offline: Queer Mobilizations in '90s Eastern India (Seagull Books, 2020) – A monograph documenting the initial mobilization of queer collectives and support networks in eastern India prior to widespread internet access.[7]
- Unfinished Equality: Discrimination, Resistance and Hope in Queer India (Seagull Books, 2026) – A volume analyzing the systemic exclusions and ongoing legal battles faced by the Indian queer community following the decriminalization of homosexuality.[8]
Varta Trust
[edit]Dhall is a founding trustee of Varta Trust, a Kolkata-based non-profit focused on gender and sexuality publishing, research, and advocacy.[1]
Recognition
[edit]In 2018, Dhall received the KASHISH Rainbow Warrior Award for his contributions to LGBTQ+ visibility and empowerment in India.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Das, Soumitra (4 April 2024). "Chronicling the early years of LGBTQIA+ movement in India". Frontline (The Hindu). Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Digitized copies of Pravartak". Varta Trust. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Pawan Dhall". Seagull Books. Archived from the original on 9 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ Roy, Sandip (24 July 2023). "LGBTQ+: India's first Pride march which made history". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ a b Dasgupta, Rohit K.; Dhall, Pawan (31 July 2017). "The potential (and limitations) of digital media for sexual health interventions in India". South Asia @ LSE. London School of Economics.
- ^ "World of Books". Varta Trust. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "The Pride List: Out of Line and Offline". University of Chicago Press. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Unfinished Equality by Pawan Dhall". Seagull Books. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Pioneering LGBTQ activist Pawan Dhall is Kashish 2018 Rainbow Warrior". KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Pawan Dhall on X