“People should get a chance
to look into the mirror
and see all different kinds of possibilities
they deserve.”
We believe in the above lines as much as we believe in endless life prospects and in the power of Art.
We did it for the second year!
We at THE UNCOMMON BOX hosted a campaign in collaboration with Manjari Nandy and Vaibhav Jain for Pride Month in June 2020 on our Instagram page. The activity was intended to enable and to let rise to supportive voices through creativity irrespective of Art forms. It was open for photographers, artists, writers, poets, or anyone who wanted to be the part of it. This year as we all know the world is going through so much and is in bad shape but the vivid colors of Pride soared up high and brought empowerment, cheers, respect, and lots of Love. The entries were wonderfully uplifting and beautiful. It was truly gratifying to see people expressing their views in a creative way through our platform. We received photographs, artworks, illustrations along with short write-ups. Selecting a few out of so many hearts touching submissions was a tough job!
There were certain ground rules that were laid for submissions, screening, and selection. An exclusive hashtag was created for the contest #TUBPRIDEMONTH2020 which was to be used along with our original #theuncommonbox. Since we appreciate and encourage the originality of art, no plagiarism was to be tolerated. As a token of appreciation, we are giving out e-certificates to the selected entries.
To all the creators of selected entries, Hearty Congratulations! We look forward to your participation in our future activities and contests. To the ones who did not make it to this list, we are more eager for your participation…never give up!
For summing up, we would like to grab this chance to mention:
1. Dhaval Bavaliya @dhavu9496
2. Kritik Agrawal @_kiephotography
He captioned, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”.
3. Swarita @scorched.wings
Dedicated their artwork to Rituparno Ghosh and had to say that,| “Rituparno Ghosh || This talented director-actor had a very assertive attitude towards his own sexual identity and has become an icon for the LBGTQ community. Not only was he very much vocal about his sexuality, but he was also courageous enough to make several films on the third gender and alternate sexuality opening the door for the next generation.”
4. Ritika Bera @ritika2_moni
She says, ? ????? ???? ??? “?????” ?????????
Be proud of who you are….
And, Love surely knows no bounds…
.
So , Let’s Break The Taboo and ???? ?????
L ~ Lesbian
G ~ Gay
B ~ Bisexual
T ~ Transgender
Q ~ Queer
I ~ Intersex
A ~ Asexual”
5. Ekta Solanki @themessy_palette
She has shared in her caption which she collaborated with her friend.
क्यों देखा जाता है इन्हें अलग नज़रो से
वो चश्मे कहाँ मिलते है जो इन्हें बराबर कर दे।
Caption by @insta_raahi
6. Jayasmita Dutta @saree_nari
@Saree_nari, our friend since long stood with us in this activity as a very vocal ally and has done every bit possible towards educating and spreading awareness about Pride Month. About LGBTIQ+ Pride, she said, “A cause I would fight for because humanity needs to be respected. A cause I am raising awareness for, because many are unaware, as I was before I learned about it.”Jayasmita is a corporate professional and her organization as an inclusive measure has her as a trainer for LGBTQ issues. Regarding sensitization, she says, “It’s not an easy task, first to understand other’s perspective, then deliberate & deliver the same. We started the session by explaining the unconscious bias people have & asking their expectations. We can’t blame people for the biases they have, it happens because of the way information is fed to us from childhood.” All through, Jayasmita has voiced for Diversity and Inclusivity. However, to start with she says that each follow steps towards being an Ally. To start with, she encourages everyone to learn about the diverse spectrum of gender and sexual identities. Then she urges everyone to use the appropriate pronouns that one is comfortable with. Thirdly, she says that one needs to stop making heterosexist assumptions followed by overcoming unconscious bias and turning blind eye to bias towards gender, color, stereotypes, race, caste and status. Finally, she encourages all to choose an accommodative language and not use derogatory terms to address or identify anyone. She ends by quoting Verna Myers, an American activist,
“DIVERSITY is being invited to the party.
INCLUSION is being asked to dance.
BELONGING is being yourself at the party.”
7. Sucharita @27sucharita
She says, “To not be able to love the one you love is to have your life wrenched away.To do this to someone else is to murder their soul” -Vikram Seth
LOVE IS LOVE ?. And also society and authorities should have better things to do, instead of commanding somebody’s love life. “
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8. Aishwarya Burman @__.infi_nity.__
9. Puja Dutta @paint_pitara
10. Subhradipa @subhraadipaa_
11. Mayank @mayanksaxena_13
He has to say, “When you reduce life to black and white you never see rainbow”
12. @happy_titli
13. Ashansita Mukherjee @chitrangada_19
14. @fibber_tales
They say, “My 100th post is dedicated to the #lgbtcommunity as this is #pridemonth and we are all the children of one almighty.”
Also Read : Uncommon Shadow Doodles By Endowed Shadowology Artist – Vincent Bal
15. Amrita Sengupta @Ommriitaa
She titled her work as Azaadi
16. Shrestha Chatterjee @chatterjeeshrestha18
17. Garima Tomar @Gammoartdreams
She has collaborated with one of the writer @deardaringdiary and share her poem based on the Pride month activity.
P. R. I. D. E. “This is my Pride and I won’t Hide”
You can say what you want to,
I won’t mind.
I belong here,
This is my Tribe.
Release your horses’ pal,
I can encounter that tide.
Can’t believe me? Give it a try.
It’s not about someday,
It is about my fuckin’ life.
It’s not about your IG stories,
It is the story of my rise.
The people who stand for us,
I am highly obliged.
The people who criticize,
Wait for it, I’m on my ride.
It is their story
But still our Pride.
Come forward,
Please don’t hide.
It’s not about a day, it’s not about fights.
It’s about their life, It’s about their rights.
It is about their Pride
It is about their Pride.
18. Saloni Jain @mandalabysj
She says, “Posting this on the last day of Happy Pride Month!
In September 2018, LGBT people here in India celebrated after the country’s Supreme Court unanimously struck down a colonial-era ban on gay sex. It was an important moment for LGBT rights that not only reversed a relic of British oppression but also ordered that LGBT Indians be accorded all the protections of their constitution.
. .
“This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.”
People around the world face violence and inequality—and sometimes torture, even execution—because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse.
So here’s my Mandala for Cause on “LGBTQ+” which is an initialism of:
L-Lesbian
G-Gay
B-Bisexual
T-Transgender
Q-Queer or
Questioning
LGBTQ+ community will be seen in almost every field like the famous Ellen DeGeneres and slowly even this word will lose its importance and we will be just humans and that will be the time when humanity will win.”
19. Wreek Kundu @wreek_kundu
As he explains the art, “An interpretation of what “outside of a closet” might seem to a closeted person. “Are people around willing to accept, are friends willing to listen. What is the guarantee of no bad manifestation on the path of truly bringing their true self to the front and embracing it? Instead of quietly fighting in the darkness of the closet”
Made this on International Coming Out Day- October 2019.
I feel the first step towards appreciation is the willingness to hear, learn, and speak which would eventually help in defrosting the icicles that have been hanging over this topic of discussion. A day when there won’t be any inhibitions associated with sexual orientation, won’t that be something?! ??
To the spirit of Pride month.”
20. Wasifa Saiyed @crafty_and_blissful
21. @Oldschoolshenanigans
She says, “Who would give a law to lovers?
Love is unto itself a higher law.”
22. Meghna Raheja @mr_diy_art
Her caption is
“Love
Respect
Freedom
Tolerance
Equality
Pride”
23. @Theprocrartist
24. Apurva Kamat @Toouniquemind
She writes, “When you try to re create your older clicks the task really becomes hard because in your head you want to do better and try hard and extra. •
For Today’s RAW SNAP “Colorful meets Colorsplash” theme a different but similar picture and yeah I love my pencil colours a lot ?????❤️”
25. Ankita Mukherjee @the_avid_painter
She says that, “This post is to elevate all those who are in love irrespective of gender….beyond all bias and rules… I stand with all you guys”
26. Vanshika Bhargava @Bhargavavanshika
Filling colours in each other’s life!!
27. Shubhashree Kundu @last_streak_of_moonlight
28. Asmita Sahu @asmita_doodler
29. Pavan Kumar @pavan_writes
He says, “/WE LOVE DIVERSITY. WE EMBARK YOUR PRIDE WITH OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT// .
30. Shambhavi @Fallaciesandfantasies
she dedicated this to, queer kids of narcissistic, toxic and abusive parents.
Labels can mean a lot or nothing at all; one may associate or one may not. Pride has never just been about labels. Rather, it is to mark the unseen struggles that we all endure.
The ones with labels, the ones without, to everyone in between, and to everyone evolving, be proud of who you are.
This exactly is what we are looking forward to. Till such time, we stand in solidarity as allies, hand in hand!
The article is written by Manjari Nandy. Her Instagram id is @n.manjari
Final review and rewritten by Alisha Srivastava. Her Instagram id is @yeam_me_alisha
The article is curated by Vaibhav. His Instagram id is @frameshade
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