WOKAL Issue 9 | July 2021
C A R A V A N
Priyanka Joshi's Journey
Queer Ed In Schools
INTERVIEWS Zubia Sajid's Quillin'It Shubhi Jain's Maatiwala
Iconic Photographs Over The Years
Wokal ' s One Year Anni versary
special
CONTENTS ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
06
OVERVIEW: HOW WE CAME SO FAR
13
QUILLIN'IT WITH LOVE: INTERVIEW WITH ZUBIA SAJID
20
INTERVIEW FEATURE: SHUBHI JAIN WHAT'S NEW
32 OCD: AND WHY WE SHOULDN'T GENERALISE IT 37 DISCOURSE ON DISPOSABLES
COVER
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE! Model Sneha Barua being her most authentic individual self.
CARAVAN
40 MUSIC OVER THE YEARS
STORIES TO SHARE Check out the art journey of Illustrator and artist Priyanka Joshi /p25
A DEEP DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF 45 FRAGRANCE 49
EDUCATING THE YOUNG ON QUEER ISSUES
TRENDS 54
CLAIM THE ROADS: SAFEST COUNTRIES TO TRAVEL ALONE
59
EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNET CULTURE
64
THE RETURN OF Y2K FASHION
84
A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF
89
ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN OVER THE YEARS
97
EXPRESSION OF LOVE
MAKE-UP
MONSOON-PROOF LOOKS How to get the perfect face even when it's humid outdoors / p73
PHOTOGRAPHY
DISPOSABLE CAMERAS ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS OVER THE YEARS
WOKAL MAG | ISSUE 09 | JULY 2021
Wokal Issue 09
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. "THERE IS NO GREATER AGONY THAN BEARING AN UNTOLD STORY INSIDE YOU." ~Maya Angelou. I always believed that it is better to know than to wonder, because while the latter might bring in results, the former will only push you back from experiences. And oh! What life would be without experiences. Wokal, too, has been an experience for me but nothing like others. It was in the middle of a pandemic that I could no longer keep within myself this burning desire to write, produce and bring together artists like myself together in a cohesive setting as this. A few phone calls and Zoom meetings later, Aabiyah Zehra and I, definitely saw potential in this project. Next thing we knew we were joined by eleven absolutely talented and hardworking individuals who believed in our vision, which was back then still a dream. Today, as we complete an entire year, I am nothing but grateful to the people who made Wokal what it is today. Our approach has been decent and I am glad that I could live my dream of publishing a digital magazine. Although we have a long way to go, each step that we have taken as a team has been a result of affirming support and encouragement. I shall forever be grateful to all the readers, supporters and critics for helping Wokal to become what it is today. In this issue of the magazine we have tried to bring forward the themes of individuality and inclusivity, along with featuring various local artists and their art.
With best compliments, Alina Ahmed. Editor in Chief.
WOKAL
PAGE 6
ISSUE 9
O V E R V I E W O n e
Y e a r
O f
W o k a l
@wokalmag https://www.linkedin.com/company/wokal thewokalmag@gmail,com Read all our issues at https://linktr.ee/wokalmag
Website wokalmag.com
PAGE 7
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Looking around us, we see so many artists in pursuit to make their art known, to carve out a niche for themselves. Myriads of people put their dreams over the internet, in the quest to make it big. When artists start out, they have their hopes and motivation sky-high, but most often, these artists and their art get lost in a sea of the likes of them. The motive behind starting Wokal was to bring together arts and artists so nobody gets left out, to move souls in a resounding movement that will bring upon us the light of right knowledge and purpose, whilst vocalising the voices of the young and the unafraid.
With this issue being our ninth, we have successfully published eight issues that have performed very well in the past year. We started out with two things - an idea in mind and hope for it to work out. With the help of an amazing team, we’ve reached some great milestones, received attention from various public figures, gained a huge audience and broadened our horizons - learning more and more with every new issue. From talking about delicious recipes, makeup looks, pets, Netflix recommendations, pop culture and fashion trends and history to shedding light on serious issues like domestic violence, homophobia, feminism and intersectionality, mental health, poverty and various stereotypes in society, we have covered quite some ground but we still have a long way to go.
PAGE 8
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
As for featuring local artists to look up to, we have interviewed and shared the stories of various small business owners, photographers, artists, chefs, makeup artists for our readers to get inspiration from. With each issue, we have improved in our technical logistics and management and learned how to make something out of nothing - a company of sorts. Our team has grown in number as well as in knowledge and experience over the past year. With a great executive team and the people interning with us who bring so many new ideas to the table, we hope to take Wokal to greater heights, reach more people and support as many artists and small businesses as we can. We hope to expand our platforms and to keep growing and learning together with the support of our readers and introducing new ways to engage with our readers. We will also be starting our own digital newsletter in the coming weeks.
To our readers, thank you for believing in Wokal and for giving all our issues your love. Wokal would be nothing without our audience and we hope it stays this way. Here at Wokal, nothing is off the table - all kinds of art is welcome. We won’t budge from telling stories and recognising struggles until you feel your soul moving with the perpetuity of finding beauty in art. Having this idea in mind since the beginning, we have come a long way and will continue to remain faithful to our principles.
from the team "Wokal has been my dream project and mapping our trajectory in the past one year is a very proud moment for me. Ever since I have embarked on this journey, I have never felt more sure about living and doing what I love to do. Sometimes in life we have to take steps no matter how small they might appear, they are always the way forward. And so has Wokal, we have tried to make our niche, no matter how minute but significant. I have learnt enormously, improving both Wokal and myself, but this journey wouldn't have been the same without the meticulous team that has made my dreams into a reality. Even after one whole year, It all still feels so surreal."
ALINA AHMED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Without this team of wonderfully creative individuals onboard with us, we wouldn’t have been able to make Wokal what it is today. When we were starting out, we had no idea we’d get this much love and support. The significance this project holds in my life is unfathomable and the support we got was fortuitous. Getting to interview people I look up to is something I never imagined I would get to do. I’m so excited to see where the future takes us. This one year has been a delightful experience!” AABIYAH ZEHRA
EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
"Wokal has been such an amazing ride with such joyful and overwhelming turns, I can't explain what it means to me but it definitely means a lot. It was the first professional project I ever worked on. Can't keep this short because there's so much to say. Wokal has been blessed with such beautiful people who make it worth the while, O love how the team strives together to make things happen! Wokal is a feeling." ALISHA HUSSAIN ART DIRECTOR
"First things first, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Alina for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity and making me a part of this loving family. It was my first experience as a cover model, I was super excited and nervous at the same time. Wokal is not only a name for me, but it means so much to me. Via Wokal, I got connected with many new beautiful folks. I eagerly wait every month for its new issue, as they don't fail to enliven any given matter! Proud member of this fantastic team! Loads of love."
SHEIKH ALMAAS ISLAM COVER MODEL
from the team "Words can not fully capture the depth and complexity of my experience with Wokal, so I’m incorporating emojis into my message to better express myself.
KASHISH CHOPRA
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PR HEAD
"Since I started working at Wokal, I feel confident about my skills and I feel like I’m contributing to the audience’s lives a lot as we’re spreading information about so many taboos. I feel like I’ve been given the platform to express my skills in my field and I’ve already learnt a lot. The team members are great and so supportive and I feel this is the kind of an environment every person needs when they move out into the world. I’m really grateful to Wokal for choosing me to be a part of their family and giving me the platform to explore my future." SIMRAN VANI
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PR HEAD
"We make art out of scratch here and working at Wokal for a year has been a serendipitous experience. being surrounded by a team of extraordinarily creative women and meeting deadlines with them has given me infinite chances to both teach and learn more than I expected." HIBA
COLUMNIST
"Wokal has been like a family to me! When I joined this team, I didn’t know I’d be surrounded by so many cute people. I’ve love every single day since last year, all because of the people here. Extra love to Aabiyah and Alina for always giving me love and hugs, you guys are the best!" DAKSHITA MITRA
HEAD, PET CARE & COLUMNIST
from the team "In all honesty, the magazine helped me grow in innumerable ways breathing reality to ideas almost instinctively, it gave me a platform, an opportunity I wouldn't trade for anything else in the world. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to have worked with the most kindest and humble Founder and Editors, Alina and Aabiyah for without them the magazine is null to the void! And for everyone on the team too, possibly can not be more glad to work with people who are the epitome of all things creative."
JIGISHA SHARMA COLUMNIST
“My experience with Wokal has been phenomenal. It’s been such a smooth journey. Everyone has been super sweet and accommodating. We have the freedom to write everything we’re passionate about, and the people at Wokal are the warmest. There’s honestly no better place to be for someone who wants to explore their writing potential and the fields that they’re comfortable writing in and can write in!” MEHAK PASRICHA COLUMNIST
"Started writing for Wokal with the thought of just helping out a friend, turns out, I absolutely love working for the Magazine, and love creating content for it. The Editor is a sweetheart and the working environment is so friendly and positive! It’s indeed been a great experience." SNEHA BARUA
HEAD, FASHION
"It goes without saying that the success of any publication is directly proportional to the creative minds behind it. At Wokal, the kindness, passion and diligence that everyone on the team has is absolutely amazing, which naturally translates into quality of our published content." ITU DUTTA
HEAD, PHOTOGRAPHY
from the team “I can't believe Wokal is already one year old! Working for Wokal has been a fun experience, it has helped me explore my creative interests a bit more and given me another platform to showcase my work through monthly articles. I'm so happy and grateful to be a part of Wokal's talented team!”
HITASHI
HEAD, MAKEUP
"Started from the bottom, now my whole team here." ELIZABETH REJI
HEAD, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
"It’s been 8 months I have been a part of this amazingly enthusiastic team at WOKAL! Being a travel enthusiast myself, I am heading the travel section. With the thought of being in the midst of a pandemic and not being able to travel, one can visit countries by glancing through the magazine!"
VANSHIKA SETH HEAD, TRAVEL
"Wokal to me is that friend with whom you can talk about anything under the sun. My personal experience with Wokal has been like a joyful ride on a Ferris Wheel. While I have enjoyed writing for its culture pages, I hope you too have enjoyed reading it with the same fervour. As the magazine turns one, I wish it a roaring success. Here's to being more WOKAL." VINAY AGRAWAL HEAD, CULTURE
While the pandemic has been very boring for some, it has definitely helped a few to get on track with their hobbies and even carving a niche for themselves. Zubia is one such artist who has discovered her talent for Quilling, an art of rolling paper in various shapes to produce art, and started out her small brand of making personalised handmade gifts for her customers. In a conversation with Alina Ahmed and Aabiyah Zehra, she described her journey, how her father was the force behind her endeavour and more. Read on! PAGE 14
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How’s the quarantine been for you?
What inspires you to create art? Is it career driven or otherwise?
Really boring, but productive. I don’t think I would have discovered what I have right now, if it wasn’t for the quarantine. I didn’t want to sit idle or just spend my time watching movies at that time and I thought I needed to have a creative outlet and make something. I came across quilling on Instagram when I was just scrolling and I thought maybe I can do it, let’s try. So, I tried it, I started small and it was like a hobby which turned out to be great.
I do want people to be aware of and appreciate this art form but no, I don’t think this is career driven or that I want some material benefit out of it, I just do it because I like it. It is more like a hobby than something that I want to pursue full time.
When did you first realise that you were inclined towards Quilling? Well, I saw this post on Instagram and I really liked it. I had no idea quilling could be done this way. In our art and craft classes at school, quilling was just making spirals and pasting them on paper, but it turned out to be so much more for me. I started with it and eventually my interest developed, so it became a hobby and then my father suggested that I could also make custom artworks and monetise it. So, that is how I grew more inclined towards it. PAGE 15
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How would you define your brand Quillin’It for people who are yet to come across it? When we think of artists we think of those who sketch or paint, quilling is a form of art that is not very common. No one talks about it and no one teaches it at a professional level. So, I would say if they recognise me as an artist it would be an honour for me. This is something I discovered and created on my own, no one taught me this. So, the recognition would be a really good feeling. I would say, if you come across my brand and ever want to buy something from it please do it. The money does help me although I am passionate about it. It's almost like meditation for me, I sit by myself and create. PAGE 16
Who all are managing this venture along with you? Well, I started on my own and am still on my own but my parents have helped me a lot. I handle everything from creation to delivery. I am always open to suggestions , my parents do a lot of PR for me, support and promote my work and suggest ideas such as framing my artwork and giving me advice.
What are your plans for the future of the brand? I hope it grows as it has been doing and I want to become better at my work. I learn a lot from other artists on Instagram. There are a lot of nice and great artists out there, trust me I am not even close. It would be great if people recognised my work and gave me a chance to create something for them. WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How do you overcome creative block? I am very fortunate to not have had any yet. I would say that when a customer comes to me and asks me can you customise according to our needs, they send me pictures of many saying can we incorporate this as well, so I think that is also something that inspires me, which makes me want to do something for them. They choose their own colours and how they want it to be. They give me ideas and from their ideas I create a new idea which suits them and me
PAGE 17
Please tell us more about experiences with your customers, business and more. My customers are really nice and the response has been overwhelming. The business has been growing quite a bit, because of the lockdown people are not ready to spend a lot right now. I have had customers who have sent orders and they don’t reply further or pay. But that’s okay, most of them are really good, they reply and are ready to pay for what they have ordered. It’s good to interact with them. There was a woman from Aligarh, she placed an order with me while I was shifting. She required her order to be delivered within 2 days, and to make a piece it usually takes me 12 working hours. Since she had asked me so nicely I couldn’t say no to her or that I couldn’t make it within 2 days. I spent 12 hours working on it and it was during the lockdown so I somehow managed to get it framed and I sent it through a delivery guy and he actually broke the frame. I was heartbroken because I spent 12 hours straight working on that for someone who liked my work. But she said that it was alright and that she’ll pay me and I could make her another one when she orders next time. This kind of positive response that I get from customers is something that I really love. WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How do you handle criticism, if any, that comes from the audience? Every small business owner would relate to this when I say that customers are never satisfied even when you do your best. If I make something on a black sheet of paper, after spending 3 hours on it someone will say that it should have been a different colour and not black. I take it as just constructive criticism and learn from it. I don’t think it is demeaning or not good, or that they should not do that because at the end I am making this piece of art for them.
PAGE 18
WORDS OF om
o d s i W
What message would you want to pass onto aspiring visual artists? I would say, do your best and do not copy someone else’s work. I have seen my work and ideas being copied in spite of being a rather small artist. As an artist when you make things for yourself you deserve the credit for it. So don’t copy, please do your thing and don’t listen to people. People might say that you are not doing good or you should do this or you should do that. If you keep listening to people you might actually come to a creative block. Take your work as a hobby and not something that you want to earn out of because that will never help you out. Use your ideas, be it good or bad because you never know what the end result may be, but you should still learn from your own mistakes. WOKAL
ISSUE 9
u t p m o r Imp What would you name your alter ego if there would be one?
If you eat only one cuisine in your life, which one would it be?
I would name it Quilling Kiddo
Definitely Mughlai. I cannot live without Mughlai
What is a song that describes your personality the best?
A local artist that you might have come across recently?
Sabeena Karnik, she is based in Mumbai and I love her work and would love to meet her. Among Indian artists, she is my inspiration. She’s the person who made this possible for me
Señorita from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara If you were a coffee, which one would you be?
Caramel Macchiato
Are there any memorable books that you have read?
Paper Towns by John Green was crazy good
PAGE 19
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 20
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
INTERVIEW FEATURE In conversation with Shubhi Jain By Alina Ahmed
PAGE 21
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
1. Tell us about the story behind ‘Indore’s Dancing Traffic Girl’ Well talking about that, since you know that I am a student at SIBM Pune, I came to Indore for my winter internship with the Robin Hood Army but then I came to know that Indore Police is on a campaign where they were welcoming college students to join hands with them, to work as volunteers as to make traffic convenient and disciplined. And since I was in Indore for around 20 days, I joined them and that’s how it started. And while I saw the other volunteers working I couldn’t quite see the results coming out. Also, the people on the road were not happy being instructed that way, since most of them are tired and in a hurry to reach their home. So I took a different approach to this, when I started thanking those who were actually wearing helmets and following rules instead of penalising the ones that weren’t. This brought out more smiles than before and I started making out requests instead of orders or commands. I believe in a balance between punishment and appreciation, so yes, this is the story behind Indore’s Dancing Traffic girl.
2. While we have noticed that youngsters often look forward to high profile jobs, what made you join as a traffic volunteer? Yes I agree with that and I myself have been quite an enthusiastic academic as well as an athlete. At a point in my life I really wanted to go for the Police services but since my father is my idol, I always looked up to his business and wanted to do the same. One of my aunts has given me
PAGE 22
WOKAL
an important lesson that all you need in life is to maintain a balance. You need not be a cop to serve your country, you can do that from the place you are in. And although I was working at a startup idea at that time, I took up the volunteering service because I never wanted to lose an opportunity to do something for others.
3. What challenges did you face while you volunteered for the same? It was both positive as well as negative. The biggest challenge that I faced was being a girl. Although it did work in my favour sometimes, for example, people would be easier to convince when they saw a girl smiling at them, telling them to obey rules. Some even respected the fact and showed a lot of cooperation. But other times, there were indecent people on the road too who were quite disrespectful, and even catcalled, at times also passing lewd comments. And this is what affected my family a lot too, because they were worried about my safety.
ISSUE 9
4. What was the response from your friends and family? My friends and family were really happy and proud of me. My first interview was live on ‘India News’. I had this interview in which my parents were also invited and I saw my father crying as he was proud of me. My father came to me and told me that it’s so good to be known by your name and for me, that is one of the best things.
PAGE 23
WOKAL
BRINGING NATURE TO HOMES
6. What all goes into creating a niche for your brand? So, Maatiwala creates a niche on green makeover and we focus on the maintenance of the plants as they’re also like us. We provide helping hands - you just need to keep the plants and we’ll be the caretakers of them.
ISSUE 9
5. How would you introduce your initiative ‘Maatiwaala’ to the people who are yet to discover it? Maatiwaala works on the mantra ‘Bring nature to your home’. It is basically into gardening which helps you maintain your little garden. Mainly we provide Green Makeover Services where you can get any space of yours decorated according to yourself. Summarising, Maatiwala deals with three things i.e. Green Makeover Services; one can get healthy fresh plants and their accessories; and we provide a drip irrigation system. There’s more to add on but it’s confidential for now as we’re working on it.
PAGE 24
7. What are your future plans for this initiative? Our main focus is to create employment and provide recognition to the ones who work a lot. Like farmers, they don’t get the recognition which they should be given as they’re the backbone of our economy.
8. What message would you like to pass on to the ones that look up to you? My message to the people is to be the change you wish to see in the world, but I believe it is a revolution which starts with a spark and you need to become that spark. Settle down in your life satisfy your basic needs and then start contributing to society, it’s never about the monetary funds one is donating, it’s about time, which is one of your most precious things. If you’re able to devote your time for the benefit of society, that's what makes you a person who is well balanced in their real life and society. In the end, I would just want to say do not regret in your life, whatever profession you’re in, just do your best.
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
WOKAL
PAGE 25
CARAVAN sshhaarree o t o t s e s S Sttoorrii e FEATURING PRIYANKA JOSHI
Priyanka Joshi, an illustrator as well as comic, started her art journey in April, 2021 and have never looked back since. Her art resonates completely with her personality and helps to expresses her when words cant do the job. This month we got into a conversation with her, only to discover a more candid Priyanka. Excerpts:
By Arya Gupta and Alina Ahmed
ISSUE 9
- FEATURED INTERVIEW -
IN AWE OF HER ART! You can find her on Instagram (@pingyaspaintbox), where she will be busy amusing you with her creative side, while you go through her feed, only to bring a smile to your face.
PAGE 26
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 27
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
1. Tell us something about yourself and how you resonate with your art. So, I’m an artist. A writer, comedian and a singer. In most of the aspects in my life I try to choose the creative route because that is the best way I can express myself. Art, being an important part of my life while growing up, comes naturally to me. Being an introvert, I’ve always chosen art over words while expressing myself. I feel art is the purest form of selfexpression. My art acts as the best reflection of my feelings, whether happy or sad. It is who I am and how I feel.
Q2. Social Media is full of digital art creators. What motivated you to start your own art page and how do you see yourself different from the others? My main account on Instagram which is named pingya reflects one aspect of who I am, with the majority of the posts being funny videos. That space to me never felt right for my art and my feelings expressed through it, since I’m not good with words. So, I created a separate art account and that is where my art journey began. I understand that the digital space is already saturated with many artists but to be honest I never started to compete with anyone else. We are all running in our own separate races. If you start seeing it as a competition, the fun of creating art goes away with a lot of self-doubt coming in. So yes, I don’t know if I’m different or if there’s any difference at all between me and the other creators. I’m just creating art in my way.
PAGE 28
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Q3. Since the first post in April ‘21, are you happy with where your art journey is today? I am actually both grateful and surprised at the growth and the journey of my art account. My main agenda of creating an art account was for me to get back to creating art again. The fact that people started seeing, interacting and resonating with it was like the most beautiful cherry on the cake. It has been a magnificent journey so far and yes, I’m very happy.
4. What are your immediate art goals? Say, in the coming 6 months. Firstly, of course, it would be great to see my community grow further. Evolving my skills through new art styles is something I’m looking forward to. Also, once the pandemic situation improves, I would like to go out, create and print physical designs which is beyond digital art.
PAGE 29
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Q5. Except for Painting and Illustration, what works as your creative escape? I love to sing. I love making funny videos. The whole process of creating it – brainstorming, filming, acting in it and then editing the video is something I enjoy doing. So yes, these two are my other creative outlets. Q6. What is that one advice you would give me if I were to ‘start’ working in this domain today. Art, in any form, is for everyone. You shouldn’t stop yourself from doing art, especially illustration, only because you’re not well qualified for it. Learning and education does help in understanding its foundation but you don’t need a degree for it. Trust the artist within you and go for it. Q7. Do you often encounter creative blocks? How do you overcome them? Definitely, like any other creator, I do experience creative blocks. Any idea which doesn’t surpass the previous one in terms of quality and what you think you’re capable of, results in a creative block. And this happens a lot of the time. Especially on social media, where the pressure of creating the most relatable illustration is so high, makes you judge your own ideas. These blocks keep reminding me of why I started this – just to create art and not a post with the highest number of likes and shares. To overcome this, I just take any idea of mine which I feel is horrible and create its illustration and put it out there, without worrying about the response. I do it for myself and all the good ideas come through. Don’t strive for perfection, do it to make yourself happy.
PAGE 30
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
8. Both professionally and personally, where do you see yourself in the coming 3-5 years?
I have a dream of writing and illustrating a children’s book. Also, creating art which is representative of the people themselves and continuing doing that is my long-term goal. Seeing these two happen would be great.
PAGE 31
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
9. Tell us something that no one really knows about you.
So, on social media I have an image of a straight-faced person but in real life I’m actually very emotional. It may not show on the outside but from within I’m EXTREMELY emotional. Not many people know that.
OCD PAGE 32
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
AND WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GENERALISE IT
By Jigisha Sharma
I have read so many articles where people professionally diagnosed with this disorder often pry about other people generalising the disorder to a quirk, “I have OCD too.”
However the disorder in its very definition is not a quirk and should not have to be interpreted as such, unless you have a degree in psychology/neuropsychology and the like and have studied and researched disorders. If that’s not the case however, then it’s a code of unethical diagnosis or as most cases go, selfdiagnosis. The disorder is a rubric term for a broad set of other symptoms of a disorder and goes beyond the intent to stay organised.
Due to the upsurge of the epidemic that every individual is dealing with it is no question that in innumerable ways it caused an offset-of detrimental mental health of not just health personnel but the other participants or active members of the society too. The mental illnesses then can be in summation understood to have been aggravated for the individuals diagnosed with it.
PAGE 33
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 34
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
What exactly is
OCD
OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness that in overlay involves obsessing over thoughts and compulsions, some people have either of them or one of them - obsessions or compulsions. According to research and theories further presented for the public to read, it is, to this day, unclear what gives rise to OCD. However, it is more common in women than men. For most, reasons why OCD developed were due to some preceding traumatic events that lead to fixating on those particular intrusive thoughts, a history of physical or sexual abuse during preadolescence, or biological reasons of particular functioning or disruption of the nerves in the brain, or attributes inherited from genetics, and even post - pregnancy some symptoms of the disorder spur offset, to name a few.
The lack of awareness of the disorder provokes the pre- requisite information for people to self-diagnose themselves with disorders alike, however the severity of the disorder is not just a way of life but an unhealthy or disruptive way to go about one’s life. The types of OCD can be numerous and entail to different symptoms at discourse to name a few might be contamination, intrusive thoughts or pure-o, symmetry and/or ordering or otherwise known as ‘just-right OCD’ , 'religious OCD' or unwanted thoughts relating to one’s spirituality and or religion, 'harm OCD' or unwanted violent thoughts of causing harm to oneself or people.
PAGE 35
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
COVID-19 and OCD Due to the aftermath of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic the cases of OCD have also surged with symptoms of obsessions of intrusive thoughts that of contamination and/or compulsions of repetitive washing or sanitising one’s hands to just the general fear of getting infected. According to a particular psychiatry research published by the US National Library of Medicine The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive (Y-BOCS), severity scores that were administered in the US before the quarantine, was readministered after six weeks since the beginning of the complete lockdown in the country and a significant increase in obsession and compulsion severity emerged. Studies on the disorder are more
likely prevalent in the US than Asian countries like India , which is another cause of concern or the general public to then not be misinformed or deter being empathetic to the sufferings of the individual’s diagnosed with the particular disorder.
PAGE 36
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Help them to cope with this disorder
Just the abstraction of phrases too however can be better constructed to establish an empathetic approach for people who are sufferers of the disorder to be encouraged to cope with life for the severity shan’t be a topic of dismay. Some examples of sentences to be framed with people with mental health issues you might know a bit about “From what I know, I think I empathise with some part of the struggle.”
“I wanted to let you know my perspective based on my level of understanding.”
“I hope things get better for you and I can give you my perspective to be empathetic.”
“Do you want me to give my opinion about your personal struggles?” “Let me know how I can help you cope, if you think humour then I have something to say.”
PAGE 37
WOKAL
DISCOURSE ON THE DISPOSABLE The lazy haze, light streaks and fixed degree of exposure is the embodiment of a photograph taken with a disposable camera. The single-use camera with a fixed focal length with limited number of exposures is surely an indispensable tool for nostalgia inducing photographs that seem to carry over a fondness and creative liberation from yesteryear.
By Itu Dutta
ISSUE 9
PAGE 38
WOKAL
A favoured companion for travels and daily sojourns, the disposable truly has stood the test of time with making a comeback into popular culture with living in the moment and authenticity becoming the status quo across social media platforms. A disposable camera comes with a fixed film and the camera itself has to be sent for developing the photographs, which can then be scanned to digitalize, if required. A trait which sets it apart would be the limited number of exposures available, i.e., only 24-30 photographs can be shot with a disposable after which it has to be sent for developing the photos. The concern here arises with the cycle of production of photographs, substances used for developing the film and the materials that are discarded after a single use. With minimal control over how your photographs will turn out, film or digital cameras are recommended as the more environment and budget friendly choices. The fork in the road which takes you toward or away from a disposable is how mindful you can be while perusing to pick a camera, during usage and after.
ISSUE 9
PAGE 39
WOKAL
Of course, most of the components of a disposable can be recycled - from its flash to the body and made available for purchase again and with its easy configuration and all-weather attributes, it is an uncomplicated pick for photography enthusiasts. An alternative to a disposable camera could be a film camera, which comes with similar nuances, or by using disposable cameras that can be refilled although these options are scarce. As far as the visual look goes, to emulate the disposable effect in your digital photographs you can just refer to the Lightroom presets and settings. A vignette, some grain and cool tones can easily be replicated through a few adjustments after all.
Sources: Complete Guide On Disposable Cameras: What Are They And Why Are They Coming Back – The Photography Professor Sustainability and Photography - Debris Free Oceans The Complete Guide to Reloading Disposable Cameras · Lomography
ISSUE 9
PAGE 40
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
MUSIC OVER THE YEARS
THAT STOLE MY
HEART
BY MEHAK PASRICHA
PAGE 41
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
If there’s one thing in the world that can make initial connections to everlasting bonds between people - it’s music. If two people can connect over the same music tastes, that’s a clear testimony to an everlasting friendship or relationship. While we don’t always need to know a language to understand or feel the music, and while I love my English songs and all my foreign artists, there’s just something that Bollywood and Hindi tracks do for me that songs from no other language can even begin to do. I mean, “Aakhir Dil hai Hindustani”, right?
PAGE 42
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
From making one dance to making one think about the meaning of life, here's a list of my favourite Bollywood tracks that cover it all. So, keep your tissue boxes ready, because it’s about to
The Solace Track A.R. Rahman himself is a genius. Combine him with Mohit Chauhan and Javed Ali, and the result is absolute magic, and that is the exact feeling one feels while listening to Kun Faya Kun. Kun Faya Kun is a song that needs no mood, it’s a song that one can hear at any time of the day and have a soft smile on their face. It’s sheer brilliance, and that’s very aptly portrayed by the song! From the lyrics, to the instrumental and, of course, the singing. There’s not one thing that’s amiss in this song.
The Hits Where it Hurts Track: This track hits where it hurts the most. More than the fact that the song is so pure, the setting in which it plays out does it for me. Flowing beautifully throughout the movie, Tere Liye from Veer Zara definitely adds to the beauty of the movie! I don’t think anyone could think of this movie without thinking of this song. If beauty with brains could be applied to songs, Tere Liye would definitely win the title for it!
Get Messy !
PAGE 43
WOKAL
The Underdog Track: Everyone while thinking about Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham thinks of Bole Chudiyan, and while that, being a great track, somehow comes second in my ranking of songs from that movie. While everybody went gaga about Bole Chudiyan, Deewana Hai Dekho stole the show for me. Honestly, I just want somebody to look at me the way Rohan looks at Poo, and sing “Pehli baar dekha hai aisa, ajnabee na ajnabee ke jaisa ''. Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik undoubtedly made everyone feel young and chic with this song.
The College/School Friend Trackrack: While we have a number of songs that we can dedicate to our friends, what makes this song special is its singer. Not only a brilliant actor and director, Farhan Akhtar with Tum Ho Toh, steals the hearts of those few people left whose hearts he hadn’t already stolen with his incredible acting and directing skills. The lyrics, the song and oh, the instrumentals of this song are outstanding! And how can we forget the way Arjun Rampal and Farhan Akhtar reunite throughout the course of this song; “Hello, someone give them the best friendship scene award already”.
The Track That Makes You Love Life Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara definitely had some phenomenal tracks but the one song from the film that stood out for me for sure is Paint It Red. Just the whole vibe of the song is so uplifting, happy and wholesome. Not only does it bring an ear splitting grin on your face whenever you hear this song, but it definitely makes you groove too!
ISSUE 9
The Royal Track I can say I’ve loved this track before Reels brought it back into the limelight. Jashn-EBahara, though glorified by reels, has always been a showstopper for me. The lyrics of this song are so well thought out, that if you actually sit and listen to the meanings of the lyrics, they take your breath away; After all it is a Javed Akhtar composition. One of Javed Ali’s best singing works, coupled with AR Rahman’s music direction, this song is nothing short of beautiful. “Hum jo agar hain ghumgeen, woh bhi udhar khush toh nahi”; such beautiful words. Petition to make more songs like this which woo your heart and can make you happy cry at the same time.
MUSIC
Heart
IS THE WAY TO THE
When words fall short, music becomes the answer. There is nothing truer than this. Music is not just a string of words attached together in a melodious way, rather it’s a feeling, an expression, and for sure one of the ways to my heart! PAGE 44
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 45
WOKAL
A DEEP DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF e c e n c a n r a g r ag F ra Fr
By Vinay Agrawal
ISSUE 9
SOLVING YOUR
Queries
Scents can evoke certain memories and emotions. It can also bring in a sense of comfort (a prized trait in today's times). Wokal magazine sat down with Ummesalama Mala, owner of the boutique fragrance brand USM Fragrances to decode the fragrance trends for 2021 – and discussed the packaging, newer shifts in buying behavior, fragrance myths, and solutions to your common queries such as ‘Should I go for a blind buy?’ Read on to know more about the psychology behind choosing a particular scent, as a scent goes beyond the base, middle and top notes. PAGE 46
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
What can make or break a fragrance, according to you? A lot of fragrances aren’t designed for Indian weather, so having a balance of notes which impart freshness along with warmth can work wonders. Also a very strong penetrating fragrance sometimes is a deal breaker, what would be more appealing is a perfume with mild sillage.
What do fragrances mean to you? Can you describe any scent-related memory? When an interesting fragrance passes by you it completely freezes that moment. That is what a fragrance is for me, a way to transport you to your favourite memory. As a family tradition, we used to burn Bakhoor or Oudh as a part of the cleansing ceremony for auspicious occasions that is where my liking for smoky, woody fragrances evolved.
What are some of the biggest fragrance trends of 2021? In terms of fine fragrances, we are looking at more gender-neutral fragrances coming up in the market. Also, looking at the demand in self-care and home wellness products due to the new normal way of living, we can expect interesting fragrances for products such as hand wash, body lotions, candles etc.
PAGE 47
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Blind purchases/buys are one of the concerns a buyer has when they shop for a new scent from an online marketplace, what are your thoughts on that? I am not an advocate for blind purchase of fragrances online; each scent is composed of various notes which perform in unique manner for every individual. The actual outcome can only be liked or disliked after trials.
What is a bizarre fragrance myth that needs to be busted?? The misbelief that stronger the fragrance, the longer it will last is something I have come across a lot. A fragrance is a composition of various notes such as top, middle, base - each comprising of different raw materials. The moment you wear a fragrance every raw material is present and perceivable from the beginning. The stronger top notes will usually fade off, but the most persistent notes are the ones in base with slower volatility which define the lasting of a fragrance.
Should perfumes have a gender? Gender based fragrances are soon fading; more consumers are looking at a unisex appeal from their fragrances. I feel more females are comfortable wearing woody & leather intense perfumes and at the same time rose and few other floral notes in various new combinations are making their way in men’s collection. PAGE 48
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 49
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Educating the young on
QUEER ISSUES By Elizabeth Reji
LGBTQIA+ inclusive
LGBT-inclusive teaching
education is a step
ensures that queer
forward in the fight for
children and young
equality, marking a
people, and children
significant change in the
and young people
way children and
with queer families,
young people are
see themselves
taught about queer
reflected in
relationships and
what they learn. It
identities. Queer
also encourages all
inclusive education can
young people to
be a way to reduce
grow up with inclusive
homophobic bullying and
and accepting
decrease the instance of
attitudes.
mental health for young students.
PAGE 50
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 51
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Why is it it important important to to teach teach LGBTQIA LGBTQIA issues issues in in schools? schools? Why is
LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum benefits all students by promoting acceptance and respect, and teaching them more about the diverse people and families in the world. Anti-LGBTQ bias hurts all children, both those directly affected and those who learn in an atmosphere of fear and tension, afraid to explore their own lives because of worry about disapproval and rejection. Beginning these conversations in elementary school will help young people develop empathy for a diverse group of people, and to learn about identities that might relate to their families or even themselves. It is never too early for schools to set up a foundation of understanding and respect. Students of all ages must be given an opportunity to learn that the words “gay,” “lesbian,” and “transgender” are adjectives that should be used with respect to describe people in their community, not words used in a negative way to hurt, insult, and degrade. Inclusive curriculum supports a student’s ability to empathize, connect, and collaborate with a diverse group of peers, and encourages respect for all. All students deserve to see themselves in their curriculum, including students who identify as a part of the community and come from queer headed families. LGBTQ students with inclusive curriculum have better academic and mental health outcomes, and are less likely to miss school.
PAGE 52
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How to make the classroom a safe space? Use non binary terminologies like “students”, “everyone” or “kids” to refer to your students instead of “girls” or “boys”. Children must be taught about the difference between gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression early on in order to promote tolerance. A survey should be taken for students for their gender pronouns and family situation. The responses from the survey should not be shared with the family members if the student is not comfortable in doing so. Visibly show support to your students and/or colleagues by adding your pronouns to your email signature and social media handles. Avoid and Address Microaggressions. A microaggression is an action or phrase that (unintentionally) discriminates against a marginalized group, including queer people, people of color, and others. Microaggressions against queer people could sound like: “Who’s the man in the relationship?”, “I have a cousin/sibling like you!”, “You aren’t bi, you have a boyfriend/girlfriend!”, “I have a gay friend you should meet!”, “This is my gay/bi/trans/lesbian friend!”, or “It’s too much to remember all of this stuff!” among others. No one in the queer community wants to be labeled as the “gay best friend” or be known only for their LGBTQ identity, so it’s important to be mindful of how we talk about queer people in front of our students and in general. Evaluate curriculum and assess opportunities for queer inclusion. It’s easy to change word problems to not be heteronormative and to include stories with queer characters or relationships. Feature unisex or gender-neutral names! Talk about queer mathematicians, scientists, and/or historical figures in class. Whatever your subject, students should see that queer people exist. They should be able to see themselves going into your field because of the positive representation.
PAGE 53
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
It requires a lot of learning and unlearning for us to be able to impart the knowledge of creating a safe and inclusive space for all to the young students. It is easier for us to sow the seeds of queer inclusivity and acceptance in young minds than trying to fight the full grown trees of hatred. The LGBTQIA community is constantly fighting for acceptance and equal rights. We need to stop the cycle of hate and educate our children about love and acceptance!
PAGE 54
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Claim The Roads: Safest Safest Countries Countries to to Travel Travel alone alone
- Vanshika Seth
PAGE 55
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Equality is the most important aspect that all human beings expect and strive for. Unfortunately, we have irrationally created a divide by discriminating amongst fellow human beings on the basis of caste, colour, creed, religion riches and gender. Gender equality refers to a situation when people of all genders that is men, women and even transgenders have similar opportunities, rights and responsibilities. Till very recently, the gender divide was amongst men and women and very unfortunately the women were considered and labelled as the weaker sex. How unfortunate and ridiculous it is that women who are bestowedwith the capacity to bring children, of courseincluding males, into this world,are bracketed as ‘weak’. A fallout of such conception was or rather has been violence against women and girls. Such gender bias has been undermining our social fabric and demeans and undervalues all of us.
LATVIA
PAGE 56
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
The atrocities and deprivation are not only a human rights issue but in a wider sense it is a tremendous waste of worlds human potential since half the population comprises of women, whom we deny a chance to live and lead the life they deserve. Societies that value women and consider them as equal to men are progressive, besides being healthier and safer. It is not a hidden secret that the concept and practice of gender equality benefits everyone.
SPAIN
PAGE 57
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
THAILAND A few countries that have accepted or are in the process of accepting gender equality, basis economic participation and opportunities, political empowerment, educational attainment, health and survival, rank very high in the list of countries with high levels of income as also happiness quotient. Names of some such countries that come to mind are Iceland, Spain, Latvia and near our home -Thailand. Women have been given a lot of opportunities since these countries have accepted gender parity and resultantly the contribution from the women towards progress and growth of these countries is remarkable. Even in our country the women aremarching shoulder to shoulder with men in all spheres of life - be it education or profession.
WOKAL
PAGE 58
ICELAND
More and more countries are now convinced about the importance and relevance of gender equality. 2020 PEW Research Centre survey of citizens in 38 countries found that majority in 37 of those 38 countries accorded importance to gender equality. A global median of 65% believe it is very important that women have the same rights as men in all spheres. There has been improvement in gender parity during the past few years or maybe the last couple of decades but the improvement is gradual and slow paced and is not universal and uniform. The sooner the world takes cognizance of and believes in the importance and relevance of gender equality, the better it would be for the society, the country and the world.
ISSUE 9
PAGE 59
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
E EV VO OL LU UT T II O ON N O OF F
T TH HE E
INTERNET INTERNET CULTURE CULTURE
WOKAL
PAGE 60
ISSUE 9
PURPOSE OF
nt te er rn ne et t IIn
Initially what begun as a government funded project for the citizens of the country entailing to the responsibility of engineers, scientists, and of military personnels. It were a medium of information and symbolic of the technological advancement that the society had so far been a part of.
The internet were to be a transportation of great efficacy for information and networking, from then there have been what we would now come to know of the internet as a virtual community for not just working professionals of the nationstate but for computerised networking and communication for the common people of the twenty firstcentury era.
The online cultures that have spawned the time since the internet’s very inception seems to have propelled us to move away from the very conception of the idea of the internet.
By Jigisha Sharma
WOKAL
PAGE 61
ISSUE 9
Growth Growth in in the the Internet Internet as as a a
medium medium of of communication communication
Internet was plainly a network of networks and was initially developed by the citizens and therefore the culture grew for the citizens allowing the exchange of ideas, information and shared emotions. Ideals of the internet as time went by were distant from the interest of the working professionals as a
medium
of
communication
to
explicitly mention the application of science was less foreseen, and the prominence of scientists, business and military personnels. The The significance significance of of the the Internet Internet
The is a report significant patron to to Wikipedia, annual report is aInternet comprehensive on a The virtual According community of an anonline company's activities throughout the preceding year. Annuallive. reports are intended the way people A lot has changed culture initially began to sharing ideas to give shareholders and other interested people information about the the Internet because of the technology, from the love for science fiction, to any company's activities and financial performance. They may be considered as grey that is bringing culture closer to literature. Most jurisdictions require companies to prepare and disclose annual and every fictional novels from George individuals, making it more easily reports, and many require the annual report to be filed at the company's registry. Orwell’s 1984 to the Star Wars series or accessible. It has also at given Companies listed on a stock exchange are also required to report more rise to new the then prominent rock bands, the forms of expression for art and the frequent intervals. spread of knowledge. Pink Floyd or Nirvana.
PAGE 62
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
The idea of the the subcultures to have existed ferment from the time of the hopeful computer network enthusiasts who ventured the world for “virtual possibilities”. Online cultures are not much different as time has seen to be similar to face-to-face interactions, or human contact, as people exchange pleasantries, intellectualise and argue online.
World World wide wide web web
World wide web also benefitted the twentieth and twenty-first century allowing a network of easily shared information for educational or entertainment purposes. Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 developed the World Wide Web, he was trying to find a new way for scientists to easily share and access the data from their experiments, that allowed or existed even if the internet was a pre requisite. The web now as we know it is something which derives the modern world, ironically it were meant to connect individuals through information yet it’s discerned the very thing and made us less social. The millennials have since then developed a complicated, and clingy relationship with the internet.
Generartion Generartion Z Z and and the the Internet Internet
In comparison to the Generation z or the individuals born in the mid 21st century this has only seen to be more promising with time, students spend more time technologically charmed than by real human beings. Technological dependence is not to be seen as an escape but it is a culture which has seen the participation of the individuals of the younger generations of the millennials and the generation z. The internet however is efficient of the Information Age, and an evidence of a technological advancement it has allowed us to connect with people oversees across the globe delimiting global barriers to communication. The media however can aggravate the distorted perception of reality by dwelling into aggravated reports on the basis of anecdotal observation and biased commentary, for instance media often reports that the intense use of the Internet increases the risk of alienation, isolation, depression, and withdrawal from society.
PAGE 63
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Contradicting that evidence shows that there is no relationship or a positive cumulative relationship between the Internet use and sociability.
On a more lighter note, the prominent internet culture trends are probable of being a source of entertainment from online shopping experiences of thrift stores to designer stores, comedic meme cultures that helps us be better equipped with the miseries and day welters of our lives, and an heightened social media presence giving rise to the internet viral culture or for information, videos, pictures to become popular on the internet in a matter of days and hours.
These online communities all came together through shared interest of video games, music, TV shows, drama, relationship stories, social criticism, and various other forms of pop culture, often being obscure.
PAGE 64
BRINGING THE 2000’S BACK!
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
MAKE A STATEMENT,
RULE THE POP CULTURE
MAKE IT LOUDER!
WITH US!!
BY BY SNEHA SNEHA BARUA BARUA
PAGE 65
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
In case you have not noticed people obsessing over low rise jeans, shoulder bags, halter tops like they used to back in the 2000s, then we’ll have you know - the 2000s fashion is back and it is taking over the internet by storm. ‘Y2K fashion’, as it is called, is the style everyone will be wearing in 2021.
Y2K fashion is all about making a statement, and making it louder than anyone else. Technically, Y2K covers the late ’90sand early-to-mid 2000s, so for millennials, it captures the energy (and shopping habits) of your childhood and early teens. This era was undeniably defined by women who ruled pop culture at the time. The Y2K aesthetic is an aesthetic that was prevalent in pop culture in the 2000s. Most Y2K trends rely on the use of technology and slick futuristic looks. The Y2K fashion includes garments like low rise jeans, one that is a must if you ever plan to create a Y2K look. Others include tight leather pants, shiny clothes, crop tops, silver eyeshadow, chunky sunglasses, shoulder bags, baggy jeans, sneakers, and so on.
BY SNEHA BARUA
WOKAL
PAGE 66
IF IF YOU YOU EVER EVER WANT WANT TO TO GET GET INSPIRATION INSPIRATION FOR FOR YOUR YOUR Y2K Y2K
LOOKS, LOOKS, THE THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWING ARE ARE THE THE CELEBRITY CELEBRITY ICONS ICONS YOU YOU
SHOULD SHOULD FOLLOW: FOLLOW:
1.
BRITNEY SPEARS
2.
PARIS HILTON
3.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA
4.
MILEY CYRUS
5.
RIHANNA
6.
KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN
7.
PREITY ZINTA
ISSUE 9
PAGE 67
Y YO OU UR R
WOKAL
U UL LT T II M MA AT TE E
T TO O
1.
Y Y2 2K K
B BU UY Y
LOW-RISE JEANS
Well, it’s a love hate relationship with low rise jeans but you can't deny the fact that it is a must have in all Y2K aesthetics. Low rise jeans are not very body positive as the main motive to wear it is to show off their perfect bellies, which, let's be honest, not all people have. However, it was a big show in the 2000s and thus no matter how much we hate it, we have to accept that there is no Y2K aesthetic without low rise jeans. Where to buy low rise jeans : Urbanic.com has a wide range of low rise jeans
F FA AS SH H II O ON N
Y YO OU UR R
Y Y2 2K K
ISSUE 9
F F II T TS S
G GU U II D DE E
A AE ES ST TH HE ET T II C C ..
A AN ND D
W WH HE ER RE E
PAGE 68
WOKAL
2.
ISSUE 9
BABY
TEES
These tiny T-shirts are one of the cutest trends from the 2000s to come back. These tops are cropped above the belly button with quirky quotes, cute patterns and graphics at the front. Usually they are paired with low rise jeans or baggy jeans. However it’s a versatile option which would look good with pretty much everything. Where to buy baby tees : Burgerbaeclothing.com – has vintage options Hnmindia.com – has wide variety of Y2K clothing Urbanic.com – cutest baby tees you will find Forever21.in – has a decent collection
WOKAL
PAGE 69
3.
PLEATED
Giving us the Bratz dolls vibe of the 2000s, pleated colourful skirts have come back as Y2K fashion. They can be paired with oversized sweaters, baby tees, crop tops and chunky sneakers or boots. Where to buy pleated skirts : Urbanic.com – Your one stop destination for a variety of pleated skirts
COLOURFUL
ISSUE 9
SKIRTS
WOKAL
PAGE 70
4 4 ..
T T II E E
F F R R O O N N T T
One of the biggest hits are the front open tie tops which look chic and cute and are preferred in pastel colours and ribbed fabric. This is one of the styles which would never go out of fashion.
Where to buy : Urbanic.com Forever21.in
T T O O P P S S
::
ISSUE 9
PAGE 71
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
5.
BAGUETTE BAGS
The iconic baguette bag is a true symbol of Y2K aesthetic. Pair them up with funky sunglasses and a Y2K fit and you are ready to live the 2000s again. These bags look cute and immediately amp up the outfit. Where to buy: Instagram store – the_baguette_co Instagram store – slingandbling.co
PAGE 72
WOKAL
Mix and match these styles and get creative with your Y2K aesthetic. Although the trend is not inclusive of all body types and many girls would feel like they are not fit to follow this trend, just keep in mind that your confidence is what matters, wear whatever you want, flaunt your body in any outfit that makes you feel confident
ISSUE 9
PAGE 73
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
How To Make Your Makeup Monsoon Proof WITH HITASHI
SAY NO TO SMUDGED LIPS
NO MORE
HUMIDITY? BUT
PANDA EYES
DON’T YOU WORRY
PAGE 74
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
YES,
WE
TEND
TO SPILL THE TEA!
Monsoon is just around the corner and it’s the best season to enjoy that perfect cup of tea, but sadly the worst season for makeup lovers. Rain and humid weather tend to wash down all the efforts that we put to achieve that flawless face of makeup . So, here are a few key points for you to avoid smudged lips and panda eyes this monsoon !
WOKAL
PAGE 75
TRIED & TESTED
Here is a picture in which on the left side of my face I’ve done my makeup according to the 5 points mentioned here and on the right side of my face I’ve done the complete opposite of it. Now to test it I stood under a running shower for 5 minutes and you can see the results as it is in the picture. On the left side of my face I did a full glam black smokey eye with a glossy lip and for my base I used all cream products, now you can spot that I ended up with patchy foundation, smudged eyes and bleeding lipstick on this side; while on the right side of my face I followed all the monsoon-friendly steps and did a very minimal look with a matte lip and used all powder products therefore water did no harm to my makeup. So go ahead try out these steps yourself!
ISSUE 9
WOKAL
PAGE 76
ISSUE 9
5 STEPS TO ACHIEVE MONSOON & SWEAT
PROOF BEAUTY!
1. Moisturize Moisturizing is always a key to a flawless base no matter if you’re an oily skin type or dry, same goes for the weather conditions around you. It doesn’t matter if the weather is humid or dry, never skip on moisturizing. But few changes are necessary if you want to avoid looking super greasy in this humid weather. Completely ditch heavy and thick crème based moisturizers instead switch to water based moisturizers this monsoon because they tend to control any excess oil on the face and keeps the skin hydrated.
Dit
ch
dul
l
th
e
ss ne
!
PAGE 77
WOKAL
2. POWDERS In monsoons our skin tends to look very tired and dull. Basically it doesn’t look the healthiest version of itself, this is caused by dust and dirt particles that get stuck on our skin mainly in this season because of the greasiness caused by humid weather conditions. The opposites of oily, watery and greasy are dry and powdery so just like that we’re going to use the same formula here, I personally love to use crème based products like a crème blush, crème contour and a liquid highlighter because they look very skin like and are perfect for a dry skin type like me but sadly, even I give those products a break in monsoons and switch to all powder products, like a loose powder for setting my face, a powder blush to add that color, a powder contour for that chiseled look and lastly a powder highlighter for that glow! Powder products work towards controlling oil on our skin and once set, they don’t move even if someone splashes water on your face.
ISSUE 9
PAGE 78
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
3. EYES I know most of you were waiting for this one because a good rainfall literally leaves us with panda eyes, dripping eyeliner and a smudged mascara and we don’t have time for that kind of negativity in life. Avoiding panda eyes in this weather is actually the easiest step because a lot of makeup brands are here for our rescue with their range of waterproof eyeliners and mascaras, so I must say a waterproof eyeliner and a mascara should be there in your kit not only for the rainy days but for some teary days as well to make sure we slay that liner through thick and thin. Please avoid Kohls and Kajals, especially colors like black and blue are a no-no because Kohl melts down really fast in humid conditions leaving us with a smudged eye, instead switch to a white or nude Kohl pencil or maybe just work without them for a while.
BEWARE!
IT’S A NO-NO
PAGE 79
I think lipsticks are still quite long lasting in rains and masks but all of it depends on the type of lipstick you use, because monsoons in 2021 are far worse than in any year, the reason behind it is obviously our masks but please don’t take that mask off, instead make some changes to the formula of lipstick you wear. Satin and gloss finish lippies are your worst enemies but matte tints and Liquid lipsticks are your best friends, they won’t budge off under your mask which in this humid weather also, please avoid dark shades of lipstick and switch to some nudes and light pinks. To add a bit more longevity to your lip colour, pat it with a tissue paper and dust on some translucent powder on top.
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
4 LIPS
WOKAL
PAGE 80 I personally love going overboard with my makeup at times and do a dark lip or a dark Smokey eye but I put a break to that when I’m going out in monsoons, obviously you can do whatever you want to when you’re sitting at home doing makeup just for fun. Sadly, monsoon is not the time to experiment with makeup, I advise everyone to wear light shades on their face like nudes and soft pinks, avoid a full coverage foundation + concealer instead just use a waterproof concealer to cover up a few spots. All these points will help you avoid a dripping and patchy base.
5. Less is More
ISSUE 9
PAGE 81
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Mini Monsoon Kit Here are a few products that are perfect for monsoon and are completely waterproof!
Ponds Super Light Gel Oil Free Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E (Available in 2 sizes) ₹149
Sugar Cosmetics Magic Wand Waterproof Concealer (Available in 6 shades) ₹799
PAGE 82
SUGAR Contour De Force Face Palette (Available in 2 shades) ₹799
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara ₹510
WOKAL
PAGE 83
Faces Canada Magneteyes Eyeliner ₹249
ISSUE 9
Maybelline New York Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (Available in 25+ shades) ₹650
So now you’ve got your makeup hacks as well as a mini kit for the season, nothing can come between you and your makeup!
PAGE 84
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
o T r e t t e L A r e g n u o Y y M Self BY DAKSHITA MITRA
PAGE 85
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Dear younger me, I know you’re struggling and I know you feel like you can’t do this at times, but trust me, you can. Keep holding onto yourself because things get better, they do. There’s a happy world out there waiting for you and all you need is to walk over there and realise how amazing your life is. Here’s a little reminder for you to let you know that life is simple and someday you’ll break free from all your fears and learn to love yourself unconditionally and you’ll be the happiest you’ve ever been.
“Alis Volat Propriis (she/he flies with their own wings); living life on your own terms, overcoming fear of missing out and regrets” 1. Know what you want and what matters. Life is simple, the end goal is to be happy. Give yourself time and get to know what makes you happy. Selfintrospect and see where your heart lies and then make time and space for those things in your life. Give time to what makes you happy, it can be traveling or getting settled at one place. The worst enemy of yourself is your mind which starts comparing you with others, you look at them and see how happy they are and you start to believe you aren’t. There’s no standard for being happy, so remember to not compare yourself with others; make your own definition of happy. There are a million things in life you don’t have, but there are also a million things in life you do have; appreciate that. Focus on your own life and how blessed you are. Living a life you love is something you build up by loving yourself and everything around you. If you surround yourself with things and people who make you happy, life will automatically start getting better and brighter. Take responsibility for your own happiness.
PAGE 86
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
2. ) Everyone around you is the same as you are, they’re human. They face the same issues that you’re facing now, they’re not always happy and even they struggle to be happy and love themselves at times. Don’t be hard on yourself for feeling this way. Fight with your insecurities and fears, don’t avoid or run away from them because in the end reality will catch up to you. Learn to express yourself and what you’re feeling and solve those issues. Make yourself understand that what you’re feeling is valid. Make peace with your mistakes. If there’s something you did in the past that haunts you, acknowledge it. Everyone makes mistakes, so be kind to yourself because no one else will, no one else will stick around till the end to make you understand where you went wrong or how it’s human nature to make mistakes, in the end all you have is yourself. 3. Self-love. You’re the main character and you have the power to live the way you want to; all it takes is a little courage, but don’t lose yourself in the process of trying to have everything. It's simple - you can’t have everything in life, so enjoy what you have. Be bold and hold the courage to live the way you want to, speak for yourself and don’t get trampled in this big world. The first step towards change is to embrace your feelings and understand the situations you are in and the reasons behind them. Work on them gradually, get to know yourself and then sort them one by one. You can do this, believe in yourself.
WOKAL
PAGE 87
ISSUE 9
4) Fall in love with yourself and then understand that the person you are today is because of the decisions you’ve taken in the past. Would you still like to change something in your life? Do it now, it’s always the right time to do so. You don’t have to regret what you did in the past, change it today. It’s never too late to change your life, now is the perfect time. Work on yourself and reach the place where you belong, you can do it.
5) Broaden your mind. A lot of times we think we’re just stuck in a loop because that’s where our mind is, we make our life seem small by over thinking and creating an alternative universe in our mind. Free yourself from the shackles of your thinking and start living in reality, and then change it by working on your life. Stop holding yourself back. Be independent to avoid being dictated by others. Work for yourself and create a safe environment around yourself. Work hard to achieve your goals and follow your own path. Get out of your comfort zone and try things which scare you, be it starting with small things.
PAGE 88
WOKAL
I wish I could go back in time and give myself love and be a little kind to myself when I deserved it, but it’s never too late. Start right now, and come back here when you feel life is getting too hard on you and know that you always have yourself, and that’s enough.
Yours truly, The happiest version of yourself.
ISSUE 9
WOKAL
PAGE 89
ISSUE 9
BY AABIYAH ZEHRA
Iconic Photographs Over The Years MAKING THE
PHOTOGRAPHS WORTH REMEMBERING
PAGE 90
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Over time, some artworks make their mark on people and gain perpetuity. What makes a photograph worth remembering? It’s mostly pictures that tell stories that stick with you for a long time. Some of them are listed below -
WOKAL 09
PAGE 91
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
Lunch Atop A Skyscraper Clicked on September 20th, 1932, later discovered to be staged for an advertisement with the credits for taking the photograph deemed “unknown”, this photograph of 11 ironworkers having lunch 850 feet above the ground during the construction of the Rockefeller Centre, Manhattan, New York became famous and is still recognised as iconic, even close to a century later.
Dalí Atomicus In 1941, three cats and a bucket of water thrown into the air, with a chair and an easel suspended by inconspicuous wires, this composition was inspired by Salvador Dalí’s Leda Atomica - Leda, Sparta's fabled queen, is seen with the swan in this painting. Gala, Dalí’s wife, is seated on a pedestal with a swan suspended behind and to her left in Leda, a frontal portrait of her. This photograph by Philippe Halsman revolutionised the way portrait photography was done by encouraging photographers to interact more with their subjects instead of portraying some separation between the two.
PAGE 92
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 93
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
The First Digital Image A bust of Russell Kirsch’s first son was the first digital image to be scanned and not a photograph out of the first digital camera, as one would expect. Kirsch, an American engineer, who died at 91 in 2020, scanned this image as a test answer for his question, “what would happen if computers could see the world the way we do?” Displaying just the baby’s face, the photograph is a cropped version of the original where you can see Kirsch holding his son.
PAGE 94
WOKAL
Behind the Gare SaintLazare
Imitating the dancers in the posters on the wall at the back, a man jumps into the water. This perfectly timed photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1932 at Saint-Lazare train station in Paris was shot without a flash with a simple camera, is said to have served to shape modern photojournalism.
ISSUE 9
Dovima With Elephants, Evening Dress By Dior In the photograph, you see model Dovima standing with two elephants displaying contrasting features of toughness of the elephants from the beauty of the model - from a time when haute couture was a secluded and exclusive realm. The dress shown is the first Dior dress designed by Saint Laurent.
PAGE 95
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
PAGE 96
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
SoUrces https://www.smithsonianmag.co m/history/lunch-atop-askyscraper-photograph-thestory-behind-the-famous-shot43931148/ https://time.com/4429888/daliatomicus/ https://www.washingtonpost.com /local/obituaries/russell-kirschcomputer-scientist-who-scannedfirst-digital-image-dies-at91/2020/08/13/a234a22c-dccd11ea-b205ff838e15a9a6_story.html http://100photos.time.com/photo s/henri-cartier-bresson-behindgare-saint-lazare http://100photos.time.com/photo s/richard-avedon-dovima-withelephants
EXPRESSION OF
L VE
BY DAKSHITA MITRA
PAGE 97
WOKAL
ISSUE 9
HELPING YOU CONVEY YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO YOUR DOG!
The moment they walk through the gate inside their houses, their paws bring sunshine and happiness along with them. Their presence becomes the reason behind our smiles and our houses become homes. The love you have for your dogs is unconditional, but are you able to convey this to them? Are you able to express to them how special they are to you and how much you love them? We’re here with some simple ways through which you can do so, have a have a pawsome time with your fur-friends;
1
Rub Their Ears
Since a dog's ears are full of nerve endings that send impulses all through the body, rubbing their ears stimulates the release of endorphins. This hormone relieves pain and brings on feelings of pleasure, and makes them receive the message of your love. It is also released when dogs feel loved.
2
Lean on Them, and Vice Versa
Both metaphorically and literally. You should actually press your body against your dog’s and let them do the same in return, as this is something our pups associate with display of affection and love for us, it’s like a dog version of hug which you can return back by doing the same. But, make sure you don’t end up making them feel cornered and intimidated.
3 3
Cuddle Time
A lot of times, dogs usually despise being hugged, but snuggling is different. It makes them feel safe and loved. Along with this, letting your dog sleep with you is a good way of displaying trust and affection. However, if you avoid getting your dog up on your bed, you can try doing this on the couch, or even lying with them on the floor
4 4
Eye Contact
One way to show your pup you love them is through eye contact. It’s often said that a dog’s eyes do much of their talking. According to studies, gazing into their eyes leads to development of strong emotional bonds between the pups and their owners, it’s viewed as a display of affection. You can communicate your feelings to them through this action (also try raising your left eyebrows while doing this). When a dog gives you long eye contact, it’s their way of expressing love. This will also increase yours and your dog’s level of oxytocin, a happy hormone that helps in strengthening the bond.
5 5
Spend Time Together
The greatest way of expressing your love is by being with your pet and spending time with them. Spend ample time every day doing things your dog loves. Try playing their favourite games, or even teach them a few new ones. Take them for a walk, or just keep them around you the whole day. Not only will your dog feel loved, but this will also help your dog in being active and healthy.
6 6
Try Feeding Your Dog by Hand
Some experts recommend hand feeding, especially with your puppies. It’s a great way of expressing love, and also has a big intimate experience attached to it. Along with this, it shows your dog that you're a food provider and reduces food aggression.
" Make an extra effort to Express your love ! "
7 7
Expression Through Words
Studies using MRI technology show that dogs not only understand your praising tone, but also some of the words as well, i.e., they’re able to interpret a few of our phrases, just like the tone behind them. This shows that dogs understand human language better than we thought before. Also, reading for your dog helps them calm down and open themselves up to you.
8 8
Facial Expression
Logical examinations have shown that canines can interpret human emotions through our facial expressions. It’s a great way to make them understand what you feel about them. For example, behavioural studies have shown that when they feel close to someone, they often raise their eyebrows—especially the left one. Implementing this ourselves, try greeting your dog with raised eyebrows and a relaxed smile, this will show them how happy you are to see them.
CREDITS
WOKAL ISSUE 09 JULY 2021
INFORM. INSIGHT. INSPIRE. WOKAL MAGAZINE
ISSUE 09| JULY 2021
WOKAL ISSUE 9 | JULY 2021