IIT-B students help queer community transcend language barriers

Saathi Connect is trying to reach out to the LGBT students, to develop a multimedia anthology for LGBTQ youth hailing from Hindi and Marathi-medium backgrounds, between the age of 18 to 30. Saathi Connect is a campaign that was kick-started in the IIT Bombay campus, by the research group 'Saathi', to introduce more LGBT-themed content in vernacular languages.

Aditya Shankar, 21, member of Saathi Connect group talking to iamin said that most people feel that there is no scope for regional queer literature. Especially when it comes to vernacular languages, there is hardly any content people are aware of. So, we want to introduce more LGBT-themed content in vernacular languages.

The team members began the Saathi Connect campaign on January 24, this year. The campaign is funded by Fondation Rainbow Solidarite, and also supported by Humsafar Trust, Mumbai.

"We have approached students belonging to the queer community, from different colleges to share their experiences through write-ups, videos or both, so that we can develop more content in regional languages. They can share their relationship experiences, the problems they encounter when they discuss their sexual orientation,” said Shankar, who is pursuing a degree in electric engineering in IIT Bombay.

The group will accept entries till the end of April. Shankar added, “Till the month of June we will shoot the videos and then compile the content to make an eBook after which we will begin the distribution process.”

You can contact the Saathi Connect team through their facebook page here.

For the longer version of the report, click here