Stories That Stir: Queer Rights, Urban Nature and Artistic Icons

Stories That Stir: Queer Rights, Urban Nature and Artistic Icons

June has arrived like a monsoon prelude heavy with anticipation, stirring both celebration and concern.

We’ve entered this month riding on the adrenaline of the IPL finals and been reminded with whispers of another COVID wave that normalcy is always fragile. It’s a month of contrasts: joy and vigilance, excitement and uncertainty.

But amid this swirl, I’ve found moments of anchoring, conversations that offer clarity, context, and courage. And I’m thrilled to share that you’ll get to listen to them this June on the podcast.

These aren’t just interviews, they’re windows into movements, memories and maps for a more inclusive world.

My upcoming conversation with Sonal Giani is one such window. A pioneering voice in LGBTQIA+ activism, Sonal brings nuance to a complex and shifting landscape. We talk about the global DEI backlash, the cancellation of Punjab Pride, and the politics of queer visibility in India. She opens up about internalized shame, intersectionality, and the evolving face of queer activism, one that’s facing new threats, but also finding deeper, more resilient roots.

Then comes Sharif D Rangnekar, who reminds us that resistance isn’t always loud. It often lies in the quiet courage of documentation. In 2024, he filed a petition challenging the outdated ban on blood donation by LGBTQ+ people in India, a rule steeped in stigma, not science. We dive deep into what it means to keep fighting systems that refuse to evolve and how empathy and data can be powerful tools of activism.

From activism, we move into the natural world with Anuradha Kumar Jain’s Delhi: A Nature Journal, a lyrical love letter to city’s seasons and quiet beauty. With birdsong, blooming gulmohars, and the scent of jasmine, she reminds us to pause and notice. It is a reminder that even in the chaos of concrete, nature hums if we care to listen.

And finally, I take you into the life of a legend. In Sanghamitra Chakraborty’s Soumitra Chatterjee and His World, we explore the man beyond the myth. His soul-deep bond with Ray, his heartbreaks, his poetic rebirth in theatre. It’s a conversation about artistry, ageing, legacy and the beauty of reinvention, even in your final act.

These episodes are coming your way this June and I hope they move you, as they moved me.

Thank you for being part of this growing community. The Mohua Show crossed 4.4 million downloads in May!

It’s your listening, sharing, and belief in the power of stories that makes this journey worthwhile.

If you know someone with a story that can spark thought, challenge norms, or uplift a community—I’d love to hear from them.

📩 Reach me at mohua@themohuashow.com or business@themohuashow.com.

With warmth and stories,
Mohua Chinappa