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The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Queer Fiesta 2025 brings pride, performance and community together
Rohan Dutta Colour, music, and self-expression filled Phoenix Arena on Sunday as the sixth edition of Queer Fiesta unfolded, drawing more than 800 people from Hyderabad and nearby cities. Organised by Mobbera Foundation in collaboration with Pride Fund, the event stood out as one of the city's biggest Pride Month gatherings this year. Queer Fiesta has become an annual celebration of queer creativity, entrepreneurship and visibility. This year carried extra significance as Mobbera Foundation marked its tenth anniversary of activism and community building. Reflecting on this journey, Mobbera president Anil said the city had witnessed remarkable change in the past decade. From the fear of Section 377 to trans-persons facing police harassment, the community has seen struggle and discrimination. 'Today the same Hyderabad police is recruiting transpersons. This is real change and this year we are celebrating that transformation,' they said. Anil added that Queer Fiesta symbolises unity that cuts across religion, caste, gender and politics, a gathering where the LGBTQIA+ community could freely eat, shop, perform and assert its presence. 'We are not a minuscule minority that you can ignore anymore,' he said. 'Every June, we bring together queer artists and entrepreneurs to create this space. It is more than celebration, it is about visibility, belonging and pride,' said Sandy, former president of Mobbera Foundation. The festival featured 22 stalls offering art, pottery, fashion and accessories, alongside 16 stage performances that spanned drag, classical and tribal dance, poetry and music. Hyderabad's celebrated drag performer and classical dancer Patruni Sastry headlined the show, blending tradition with drag to loud cheers from the crowd. Other performers - Harsha Maheshwari, Chandu, Khemaya, Ayna, Lucky Naini, Satya and Sridhar - added to the vibrant lineup. For many stall owners, the event was not just a marketplace but a space for connection and visibility. 'It is not just selling, it is connecting with the community,' said Nitin of Soma Pottery, who showcased handcrafted ceramics. The open-air arena was lively with stalls on all sides and a central stage where classical dancers and poets performed. Queer attendees and allies mingled freely, enjoying the inclusive atmosphere. 'This is my fifth year at Queer Fiesta. I keep coming back because here I can truly be myself,' said one regular visitor. Another added, 'It is clearly bigger this year, a lot more people, like hundreds more. It is my second visit here and the difference is amazing.' As the sun set on Phoenix Arena, Queer Fiesta 2025 stood out as a space of joy, freedom and unity, a growing symbol of Hyderabad's thriving queer culture. (The writer is an intern at The Hindu)
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Think Tank challenging India's national security playbook
By Rohan Dutta Far from Delhi's power corridors, in a modest office at Hyderabad's Dr. MCR HRD Institute in Jubilee Hills, a bold experiment is quietly rewriting India's national security playbook. The Centre for Human Security Studies (CHSS), led by Ramesh Kanneganti, is bringing national security discussions to regions often left out of the conversation. Unlike Delhi's top-down approach, this Hyderabad-based think tank champions a bottom-up model, arguing that true national security must begin with food, water, health and education, not just military strength. 'CHSS is the first think tank from South India to influence national security strategy, pushing to decentralise policymaking and bring regional perspectives into focus,' says With key defence, IT, biotech and industrial sectors, as well as cultural diversity, the city serves as a natural hub for security thought leadership. CHSS advocates conflict prevention through dialogue, education and opportunity. Its model addresses poverty, unemployment and exclusion that fuel unrest. CHSS' work spans four areas: research, capacity building, internships and blending academic insight with field practice. The think tank has conducted AI-Smart Policing workshops for senior IPS, IAS and State police officers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Its Mission E3 (Educate, Empower, Employ) internship initiative has trained over 15,000 students in the last decade, helping more young women pursue education and careers over early marriage. This grassroots focus also guides its deradicalisation and youth outreach efforts, especially in vulnerable regions. The aim is to widen young people's sense of belonging in India's strategic future rather than limit them to short-term jobs or schemes. One of its major projects, Mission Panchamukhi, conducted India's largest coastal security review across nine States and four Union Territories. CHSS worked with fishermen, port authorities and security agencies to create AI and IoT-driven port security solutions tailored to local needs. CHSS created a seaport security syllabus for the Indian Maritime University and contributed to Telangana's upcoming BA Honours course in Defence and Security Studies. Nationally, is also part of a UGC-approved National Security MOOC on the Swayam platform. Globally, Stanford University and the Australian War College have engaged with CHSS's human-first model. But notes Indian universities are still under-involved in shaping security policy. (The writer is interning with The Hindu-Hyderabad)
