IIT Bombay gets ready for its first queer festival

According to the organisers, the festival will include sessions and talks on diversity and inclusivity along with panel discussions and interactions with LGBTQ activists. It will also have an LGBTQ quiz and a queer ramp walk. While movies will be screened, students will be provided a platform to showcase their talents.

The IIT Bombay administration is sponsoring the first-ever session of Rangavali, which the club hopes to make an annual inter-collegiate event on the lines of ‘Mood Indigo’ and ‘Techfest’, its annual cultural and technology festivals, respectively. This year, colleges from across Mumbai have been invited along with a few IITs.

Prof Abhijit Mujumdar, faculty advisor for Saathi, said, “Inclusion and diversity is a goal for any modern institute. IIT Bombay values it too. It has already been a pioneer as it was one of the first IITs to set up a resource group for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Mujumdar added that the gender cell at IIT too is collaborating with Saathi to provide a broader perspective of inclusivity and diversity.

Vishvanath Falegaonkar, a a PhD research scholar from IIT, who is also one of the coordinators of Saathi Club, said: “The idea is also to remove stigma. So many students struggle with their identity. It is very difficult for them to express their feelings and they start distancing themselves. Sometimes they are subjected to bullying or harassment on campus.”

The festival will conclude with a Pride March on campus. “We also plan to urge the IIT administration to create a post of dean for diversity and inclusivity to ensure more efforts at creating a safe atmosphere for all diversities,” he said.