In memory of Famila.

So, the Programme in Memory of Famila is happening on the 6th, this Sunday, at 5 pm. Famila was a woman who did crucial work for queer women - trans, lesbian, bi - in Bangalore. I'm making it a part of the WHaQ! Sunday meeting agenda.

The programme is the official agenda of the WHaQ! meeting. I'll open the office at 4, and stay there till 4:45 - anyone who wants to come but doesn't know the way to 1 Shanti road can come to the office and we'll go together. Others can meet us directly there.

We can do dinner after, for those who don't want to come to Famila's programme but want to meet the WHaQ! group in any case.

Here's the original invite, from the CSMR list:

Dear Friends,

We invite you for this program.

Organised by

Friends of Famila

A PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF FAMILA

Organized by friends of Famila

Famila, a radical feminist, very active in queer politics, a Hijra who questioned all forms of hierarchy and feudalist patriarchal systems within and outside the community, a beautiful person who brought in new visions and aspects to queer politics died in the year 2004 when she was 24 years.

Famila identified herself as a Hijra, sex worker, bisexual and a feminist. She was a board member of Sangama, an organization working for the human rights of sexual minorities, an active member in Vividha, an autonomous collective of marginalized sexualities and genders. She was also working in Sangama as a project coordinator for Hijras and transgenders.  Her everyday life itself was a challenge to the hetero-normative patriarchal society. Many people during her time boasted about communal living but never succeeded. She was a real example for communal living, as there were many people who lived in her house. It was a house of marginalized sexualities and genders. This shows that she not only identified herself as Hijra but also respected and accepted different sexual and gender identities in its real meaning.

Famila was born on 6^th November 1980. She was the first person to go against her own community to accommodate all queer identities, especially the female born sexual minorities, in her house providing shelter.

Famila was well known for her clear, straightforward and radical articulation of the struggle of marginalized sexualities and genders in many conferences and programs. She took a lead role in organizing the 2^nd Hijra Habba in Bangalore through the autonomous collective Vividha, mobilizing more than 2000 people for the program and collecting funds from public to fight for the rights of marginalized sexualities and genders.

Unfortunately, she passed away in 2004 July, at the age of 24. There has been a huge loss to the work that she planned to do and also that kind of radical politics. For friends of Famila she is not dead and is very much alive for many of us in our memories. A few friends of Famila from last year have started celebrating her birthday in her memory to keep her radical politics alive.

We are organizing a program in memory of Famila on 6^th November 2011 at the 1, Shanti Road, Shantinagar, where her friends will share their experiences with her and some footage will be shown about her. People who would like to share their experiences about the interactions with her are most welcome to do so.  

Speakers – A.Revathi, Shakun Mohini and Chandini

Venue – 1, Shanti Road, Shanti Nagar, Bangalore - 560027

Date and Timings – Sunday, 6^th November 2011, from 5 PM to 7 PM

Susan Hawthorne: feminist, lesbian, activist, poet

Some of us from WHaQ had the good fortune of attending Susan Hawthorne's lecture on biodiversity and feminism yesterday. It opened up alot of new ideas in my mind, I've been positively buzzing (and no, gurls, it wasn't just the beer I had) ever since, and spinning all kinds of web like thoughts around in my head ever since.

I want more out of life, gurls. More living, more enthusiasm, more action. It was really beautiful to see another woman, older and definitely wiser, who's gotten to have just that through her work and writings.

Check her out :)

The Word Shall Set You Free

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Rudyard Kipling

Words, be it spoken or written, have the power to transform our world and the world of those who come in contact with it. Words are the most powerful weapon that we have. Some of us take pride in the fact that we know many languages. But, language is at its best only when used to inspire others to find the best in themselves.

All positive emotions like love, laughter, heroism, friendship, and every emotion we feel as human beings can be inspired by words. Negative emotions like fear, anger, and hatred can also be invoked by words.

One verse in the bible that has inspired me a lot is John 1.1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Actually what the apostle (John) meant to say was that all the verses in the Bible are from God and it should be obeyed without question. For a rationalist like me, the verse shows the power of words.

We all know that more blood has been shed in the name of religion than for any other cause. What provoked the bloodshed? The words in the religious books whose meaning was transferred wrongly or the words of the author taken as from God and believed and followed blindly.

So dear friends we have the most powerful weapon with us let us go forth and conquer the world.
Here is the link to my favourite song, Words from Boyzone