Wokal Issue 1 August 2020

WOKAL A

STROKES OF PRIDE: THE RAINBOW FIGHTS

UGUST 2020

TRANSGENDERS:

DARK CLOUDS LIFE BEYOND BLUE OR PINK

RANNGG: INTERVIEW FEATURE

WHENÂ GOURMET MET QUARANTINE: LOCKDOWN FODD TRENDS

A STITCH IN TIME: EMBROIDERIES IOF

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS LIFE OF WOMEN IN QUARANTINE

INDIA

WOKALMAG.COM

ISSUE 1

Quarantined

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WOKAL LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Cover story

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Interview

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Stopping by old friends again

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Shaan-e-Urdu

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1943,1975,2002

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Bangalore Sight Seeing

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Transgenders: Life Beyond Pink and Blue

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When Gourmet meet Quarantine A Stitch In Time

Hues Beat Lockdown Blues

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Tea with Sib

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The Monochrome Mojo

76

Strokes of Pride

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Have a Paw-some Day! Homemade: Mirchi Gosht

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First issue AUGUST 2020

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INFORM. INSIGHT. INSPIRE. WOKAL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 1| AUGUST 2020

Wokal issue no1

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. “I SHUT MY EYES IN ORDER TO SEE.� ~

Paul Gauguin

From the time you come to know that you want to pursue creative arts, your soul reduces to nothing but a cacophony of waves of ingenuity, crashing on the shores of your conscience.

The world sleeps to dream, you stay awake to chase your dreams. You resolve to create arts that would evoke a thousand emotions in the beholder, waiting for the eyes that seek the beauty of your art. You intend to move oceans while perfectly sitting in a peaceful Cafe. But the road to creation is not an easy one. You come across a lot of characters that fail to realize the substance of your piece. To each his own. But do not let their leaning extinguish the fire within. Keep it burning. Do not let it turn into ashes. But there is something more that artists can do to keep themselves warm, which is to consume art that impels them to follow their own. And this is how you rise, by raising others. That is how the idea of Wokal came into existence. I wanted to bring together an inclusive place where everyone could contribute their art, connect with other artists and proudly own all of it.

Here, I proudly present to you the first issue of Wokal Digital Magazine. With this issue we have presented the various facets of life in quarantine. I hope that all of you would support the local artists featured here.

With best compliments, Alina Ahmed.

Editor in Chief.

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TW: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,

Rape and Assault

WOMEN IN

Quarantine

Behind Closed Doors

BY ALINA AHMED

0202 tsuguA * eussi tsrif * gam lakoW

WOKAL. MAG

Behind Closed Doors A pandemic, deadly. Stay safe at home, really? With an increase in domestic crimes, Alina Ahmed gravely questions the statistics that report the decline of sexual assault cases against women in public spheres. Are we looking at the real picture?

Are we looking at the real picture?

The other day I read a report which stated that every third woman in India suffers either sexual or physical violence at home. Most of the time, both. If those are to be held true, every other minute, a woman is tortured. If walls could hear and testify, how many Indian men would be behind bars? The answer would be, not many.

The second largest-populated country in the world works on the principle that a Man is innocent until proven guilty, often resulting in providing the benefit of doubt to the accused rather than the victim. Here, marital rape is not seen as a crime in the eyes of the law. Several political as well as social leaders do not acknowledge the idea of marital rape and violence, simply terming it as an ‘adjustment’ between the couple. They are heard character assassinating their fellow female workers, and even victims of the abuse. In a country where a rape victim is jailed for contempt while recording her statement, who would pay heed to walls? In a country where a rape-survivor had to self-immolate to get an FIR registered, women are neither safe outside, nor inside the four walls, we call home.

BY ALINA AHMED

Wokal mag

Homes become nothing but graves.

For some women, their homes are nothing less than graves, where they wake up everyday just to be buried along with strangled dreams and stifled voices. Before the pandemic, these women used to sometimes step out of their houses to breath in fresh air, to live for themselves.

Now, they either stay home, where they are subjected to assault everyday or walk out, which seems rather fatal during these unwanted state of affairs.

Neema* (30), is one such woman who found her happiness in the little things life had to offer. At 13, she was married off to a man in his thirties. And since then, she has never seen the sky as a symbol of freedom. For her, they have been grey and raining.

After living for fifteen years in a small village near Jhansi, she moved to Delhi and this is where, despite the smog ridden sky of the city, she breathed the air of freedom.

After 15 long years of staying indoors with her husband and 3 brothers-in-law, who molested her behind closed walls, she had finally moved out of hell. Her husband, being a daily wage labourer, left home every morning, only to return late at night, often drunk. Gradually, the events of molestation decreased. Beatings violence, too, subdued.

Nights of horror, marital rape, still remained her reality but Neema had accepted it. Moving out was never an option with a daughter almost 12.

BY ALINA AHMED

Wokal magazine

There’s no magic in real life

Being illiterate and lacking any other skill, she decided to stay with her husband, started to work as a domestic help at a nearby kothi. S he shared all her musing stories of defeat and triumphs, of atrocities inflicted and shedded tears, of new found happiness and acceptance. In no time, she started with a new life. The place she worked at, became her second home. She had fruit chaat, every day while returning from work. Used to visit the local market every week with her new friends. Slowly, she had found freedom. Now, due to the pandemic, her beloved didi at the kothi, d enied her entry inside the house. Afterall, Neema was still an outsider to them, a slum waali.

W ith the pandemic, returned the days of monstrosity. Nights of bruises and screams.

Of rape and violence. Her husband stayed home and she, in a cage.

ALINA AHMED

WWW.WOKALMAG.COM

Trauma If you believe that Neema had to face such atrocities because of her social and economic standings, you alone are not mistaken. We simply find it easier to blame economic shortcomings as the root cause of all problems when the actual issues are rooted in patriarchy. Women from all walks of life are facing similar acts of barbarity since the imposition of the nationwide lockdown.

Economic adversities, lack of social interaction and a general panic pertaining to the pandemic has been harder on women and children. Perpetrators of these horrific crimes do not face any legal actions as marital rape and domestic violence is still considered a part and parcel of a woman’s happily married life.

Children, on the other hand, are projected upon with the trauma these mothers face. Sometimes, these innocent souls also fall prey to the unfulfilled sexual ardor of pedophilic relatives, living within a joint family. The pandemic has seen a huge increase in such cases of child abuse. For it is easier to subjugate the weak, and silence their voices of protest.

WWW.WOKALMAG.COM

The saddest part of this mishap is that these women have failed to realise that these acts of abuse are undeserved and that they should stand up when them or their children fall prey to such transgression. Neither the mother, nor her children complain of disapproval. Silently sulking within the four walls seem to be more preferable to the social stigma they would face. Police stations seem so alien to them that they hardly even consider it a helpline. Another factor behind the muffled alliance of the victim with their abusers is their economic dependence of the former on the latter.

And again, bringing the economic depression into picture, fewer means of employment, has further aided this vile scenario. With these alarming statistics and figures we are still to decide if it is an apocalypse within those four walls or outside.

*Name changed on request.

RANNGG FILLING COLOURS IN WASHED OUT LIVES :

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THE INTERVIEW BY ALINA AHMED

WOKAL MAG

BEST OF ART

BY ALINA AHMED 2020 is a year that made us question is the worst yet to come But Oishani Choudhary and Shriya Kaushal decided to make the most of their art and came up with RANGG commissioned artworks where they contribute 80 of their earnings to various relief funds Alina Ahmed gets into a candid conversation with the duo Excerpts :

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WOKAL MAG

Q1. HOW DID YOU AND SHRIYA MEET AND BECAME FRIENDS? We met during the first few days of our college We gave the auditions of the Western Music Society Orpheus of our College Miranda House together I still remember that day Kannan Gill had replied to her dm and she had put up a story about it Shriya laughs Yes Oishani Yes that is how we became friends Oishani

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WOKAL

Q2. PLEASE SHED SOME LIGHT ON YOUR INITIATIVE, RANNGG.HOW DID THE IDEA COME INTO EXISTENCE?

Oishani: Okay so this was on my birthday last year, when Shriya had made a portrait for me, that’s when we realised that Shriya can actually draw. So that’s how we thought chalo! Let's do this. That was actually the time when Grace Banu was collecting funds, and we thought since we want to donate but it’s not like our families were going through a certain kind of financial strain. So we thought why not do it independently, to save them also, while also benefiting our cause and intentions.

WOKAL

Q3. TILL NOW, HOW MANY RELIEF FUNDS WERE YOU ABLE TO DONATE?

Both Basically we could donate to Grace Banu s funds Covid relief funds Bihar floods Assam funds and recently to Lebanon :

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Q4. HOW DO BOTH OF YOU MANAGE RANNG? DO BOTH OF YOU DRAW

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OC I don t draw SK Yeah I draw and Oishani handles the PR and orders OC I handle the advertising PR and the payments while Shriya draws :

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THE RESPONSE FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

Shriya They were very supportive. They made sure that we were in that we had enough time and the right head space to do this. In fact my family and our friends placed orders in a large number and that is why we were overbooked during the first few days.

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into creating the finished art pieces that you sell? How do you cope with a creative block?

Shriya: We usually get the painting orders via Instagram, we ask the customers if they need any changes as in whether they want to change the background or supervise anything, if they need any additional texts, then we give them a deadline. I usually take around two days to make a piece of digital art, then we send it to them via email. So fortunately I haven't had a creative block so far basically, it has been a couple of months, I’d surely tell you when I do

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future plans for Rangg, have you decided

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anything yet

Oishani: I believe in this model but it's also how far Shriya and I can take it.

We’ll see till the end of this year and then we might take a definitive call on it.

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How much do approvals

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and validation mean to you

Oishani: See as long as you are validating us in cash, it’s fine. (Smiles). But obviously if you go beyond that like tag us in stories, it’s obviously a boost, because at this point we are just seeing how long can we pull it because it started out as a pet project so we’re still waiting to see if we can build down this or expand this.

Issue 01

WOKAL

Impromptu What What would would you you name name your your alter alter ego? ego?

O: O: Oh Oh God, God, II have have no no idea idea on on this. this. Pass Pass S: S: Probably, Probably, Shrees, Shrees, from from my my email email id id in in fourth fourth standard. standard. Nobody Nobody was was able able to to give give a a nickname nickname to to me me so so II gave gave one one to to myself! myself! (laughs) (laughs)

A A song song that that describes describes your your personality personality the the best. best.

O: O: Twist Twist U U Up Up - Sisyfuss Sisyfuss S: S: II will will survive survive - Gloria Gloria Gayno Gayno

If If you you were were a a type type of of coffee, coffee, which which one one would would you you be? be?

O: O: I’d I’d definitely definitely be be Black Black coffee coffee S: S: I’d I’d be be a a Latte.

Latte.

O: O: Yes, Yes, Shriya Shriya would would be be a a very very milky, milky, sweet sweet Latte.

Latte.

Any Any good good local local artists artists that that you you discovered discovered recently? recently?

O: O: Yes, Yes, a a Musician Musician Seedhe Seedhe Maut.

Maut.

S: S: II recently recently discovered discovered an an Instagram Instagram account account phoolaurpatte. phoolaurpatte. They They incorporated incorporated dried dried flowers flowers and and leaves leaves in in stationery stationery and and put put it it out out for for sale. sale.

One One talent talent or or quality quality that that you you would would like like to to steal steal from from each each other. other.

S: S: II really really admire admire Oishani’s Oishani’s quality quality to to reply reply to to all all texts texts and and how how she she can can arrange arrange a a lot lot of of things. things. It It takes takes me me around around three three days days to to get get back back to to a a single single text. text.

O: O: II like like how how Shriya’s Shriya’s very very forgiving forgiving to to people, people, and and she she lets lets go go very very easily. easily. II think think that that works works really really well well in in her her favour. favour.

If If you you could could eat, eat, only only one one cuisine cuisine your your entire entire life, life, what what would would it it be? be?

S: S: (Shouts!)

(Shouts!) SUSHI!!!

SUSHI!!!

O: O: II think think II don’t don’t get get much much of of Bengali Bengali food food in in Delhi, Delhi, so so I’d I’d probably probably eat eat that. that.

The The book book you you last last read. read.

O: O: These These days days II am am reading reading the the NEP NEP (National (National Educational Educational Policy) Policy) because because II don't don't have have an an opinion opinion on on it it yet. yet.

S: S: The The last last book book II read read was was ‘India ‘India After After Gandhi’ Gandhi’ by

by Ramachandra Ramachandra Guha Guha because because it it was was in in my my syllabus. syllabus. (Smiles (Smiles

August 2020

Thanda Gosht-Manto Lihaaf- Ismat Chugtai

August 2020

SHAAN -eUrdu

By Hiba Ahmed

SHAAN-EURDU On how Khusraho’s darling Urdu, has explored femininity and its nuances. Hiba Ahmed writes a tale of women, written and projected in the language are, more often than not, epitomes of struggle, freedom and strength, as opposed to the portrayal by men of the time.

As my mother tongue, Urdu runs along well entangled with my veins. with unmatched depth, finesse and mysticism, it is way more than just a language, it is a way of life. It is intertwined with each of us and continues to secretly influence our lives everyday.

Since the mughal era (when Urdu was first formalized), during the colonial rule and post partition, women as literary pioneers in the forefront of Urdu isn't something unusual. Even Bollywood is infinitely indebted to them as it owes a lot of its dramatically show-stopping dialogues and lyrics to these women working behind and on screen.

Literature involving women are of two types - writings aimed at Send me your women written by men vs writings by women. The former frequently suggestions! views women as an object of desire whose sole purpose is to be soft and obedient. The vexation of women towards this has been captured in the lyrics of Gulzar sahab's s ong "Kitni Girhain" - "ghazal aur nazmein kehte kehte husn aur ishq ke afsano mein main jakdi gayi, uff kitni tarah main pakdi gayi". (And as this poetry upheld my beauty, clasping me in the tales of love, Oh how it clutched me, oh how I was caged....)

It would be unfair to say all the Urdu writings by men are that way, many writers like Saadat Hasan Manto, Rajinder Singh Bedi and Krishan Chander are not merely the finest exponents of the genre but can also be credited with advocating for and introducing a realistic portrayal of women. Manto especially was apt in accurate representation of the women of his time in not only satirically hilarious stories like "Ulti Shalwar" and "Shikari Auratein" but also touched upon sensitive topics like the communal violence of 1947 in stories like "Thanda Gosht" for which he was charged with obscenity and faced a trial in criminal court.

The writings by female Urdu writers often visualize their grievances and evince that they are way more than something pretty to be romanticized in poetry. They also break stereotypes by addressing controversial issues like gender, sexuality, stigmatization of natural physical processes and also embrace the religious aspect by rectifying biased interpretations. The women in their

works are a far cry from the cosmetic, unnatural, almost fictionalised depictions that Urdu readers had previously encountered. A fine example of this is Ismat Chughtai's short story from 1942 "Lihaaf". it was narrated from the perspective of a little girl yet approached the concept of lesbianism and the struggles of a disregarded wife in an orthodox feudal society. The controversial story caused much uproar and Chugtai had to defend herself in court for Send me your an obscenity trial. As an iconic and assertive woman, she suggestions! refused to apologize and also won the case.

This brings us to the question, what was the progressive writer's movement of india? It was a literary movement in pre-partition british india set up in london in 1935. they were anti-imperialist, left-oriented, and sought to inspire people through their writings advocating equality among all humans and attacking social injustice and backwardness in the society. they contributed some of the finest pieces in Urdu literature and were undoubtedly the trend-setters for the coming generation of writers. The members included prominent names like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmed Faraz, Sahir Ludhainavi and dynamic women like Ismat Chughtai, Salma Siddiqui and Amrita Pritam.

Throughout history, Urdu has given women the space (or rather, they have made that space on their own) to assert themselves unlike any other language. As love and revolution go hand in hand, their writings drip with ecstasy and misery, are bound to touch your soul and will keep you company even during the apocalypse.

-Hiba Ahmed

1943, 1975, 2002

By Aabiyah Zehra

The definition of living life to the fullest might change with each generation, but what doesn’t change is the smile which is the result of such a living. Aabiyah Zehra shares a sweet memoir about her grandmother, and their mutual love for tea and taash

Ammi was a woman of the Forties, and just like all other grandmothers, had the biggest heart and an even bigger smile on her face when she looked at me for the first time.

That smile never got a tad bit smaller when I was around.

What also never changed was her love for a hot cup of chai, which she passed on to her next generation and the one after it.

She would spend her days cooking and making money along with Papa for the family. Just like most women her age back then, she was a teacher. History and Political Science were her favourite subjects and she’d always dreamt about teaching them. She lived her life to the fullest- fullest meant something different back then. It meant to live for the people you love, and so she spent her entire life making her family happy- it was her only goal.

She used to tell me how different her life used to be when she was my age. They would play on trees and grass with sticks and stones and would be happier than we are now, with a minimal amount of belongings and just pure fun.

There weren’t as many differences between her generation and my mother’s generation, as there are between hers and mine. In my mother's time the sticks and stones were traded for miniature toys of kitchen utensils and paper ships that sailed in puddles whenever the rain fell a little too heavily and that would be the most fun they had all day. The two generations would sit at a large table in the evening for a game of taash and at this point, I was about the same size as my grandmother's arm that I was held with, watching her win every time, but I remember nothing more of that game even though my phone gets cluttered with the many apps to play it.

In the fast world of today, she would always tell me how looking at her old radio and cassettes reminded her of a simpler time, and as I would observe her smile growing fonder, a mismatched memory of cards on a table and the family around it would take form in my head. Feeling the mirth and the warmth of those days, I couldn’t help but agree that life and its happiness was simpler back then.

SIGHT SEEING BY WAJIHA

BANGAL ORE SIGHT SEEING

AUGUST 2020 WOKAL

From the Land of Malgudi Days and Rava Idli !

BY WAJIHA HAIDER The inspiration behind RK Narayan’s famous work and also the birthplace of our Southy favorite, Rava Idli, Bangalore might not see a heavy tourist footfall, but still remains an important tech hub. We bring you a list of ten must visit places in Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore, duh!

Named after Beans Yes Beans Bend kal uru Land of beans The capital of the Indian state Karnataka has developed into a major technical hub with big companies setting up their headquarters here Bengaluru is a crowd puller for young techies The city is a flourishing modern business center dubbed that turned it into Silicon Valley of India But most people know it as the hometown of Deepika Padukone while it also was the home to Nobel awardee CV Raman Bengaluru might have gifted us Comedian Kenny Sebastian but Don t Be That Guy who doesn t know any tourist spots in the city Kempe Gowda I founded and established it back in the year 1537 As of now there has been a tremendous increase within the migrated population of Bangalore Most of the individuals over the years have moved there for work purposes But if your travel lists never had an urban city to explore now is the time to add one Keep reading as this one is apt for people falling in both categories the ones who have been busy with work chaos or just got a chance to visit the place

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FOR THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTU RAL LOVER IN YOU, VISIT TIPU SULTAN SUMMER PALACE

BY WAJIHA The palace located in the Bangalore Fort is established in the old Bangalore area The fort and the palace depict the Indo Islamic architecture impeccably Also it was once used as a summer escape by the king and was called the Abode of Happiness and Rash e Jannat translating into Envy of Heaven The establishment is a two story building solely made with pure teak wood and big fluted pillars holding the whole structure Decorative floral patterns have been given to the walls and the ceilings of the palace Whereas the arches have been made with keeping the Islamic concept and motifs in mind ,

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To amaze yourself with the oldest Catholic Church, visit St. Mary's Basilica

Built in the Gothic style with stained glass window panes The church also hosts the St Mary s Feast every year in September Believers throng the basilica during the feast which completes with a procession with a chariot It is a significant reminder from the past to the colonial era of Indian history Somehow it restores the ancestral faith of Christianity till the time -

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Drop by VV Puram Food Street to delight your inner foodie.

The VV Puram Food street is also popularly known as Thindi Beedi, and Chaat Street.

Bangalore's only food street that serves everything vegetarian. From Paani Puri to chaats and plates of pasta, they've it all in restaurants, stalls, carts, and small hole-in-thewall shops.

IF YOU'RE A CARTOON LOVER, THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF CARTOONISTS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!

IIC IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN CRAIG PARK, BANGALORE. FOUNDED IN THE YEAR 2001 AIMS TO CONSERVE AND PROMOTE THE ART OF CARTOONING AND CARTOONISTS IN INDIA. IT IDENTIFIES TALENTS IN THE FIELD, REWARDS THEM, SHOWCASES, AND SAVE THEIR ART FOR UPCOMING GENERATIONS. THEY ALSO GUIDE YOUNG AND BUDDING CARTOONISTS AND ABOVE ALL, POPULARIZE THE ART AMONG THE MASSES.

KALAPALLI CEMETERY SHOULD BE THE CHOICE IF YOU HAVE A KNACK FOR HAUNTED PLACES IT IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE HAUNTED PLACES IN THE BANGALORE AREA. IT IS REPORTED THAT A MYSTERIOUS MAN HAS HAD SEVERAL VISITORS SHARING THE SENSATION OF UNIDENTIFIED PRESENCES, AS WELL AS VIDEO RECORDINGS OF GHOSTS MOVING AROUND.

Ulsoor Lake, a refreshing lake to cover One of the largest lakes situated in Bangalore, the Ulsoor Lake, covers an area of over 50 hectares. The foundation of the lake was made by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, Bangalore's commissioner during those days. People usually come to relax, shoot pictures, and also to do boating, one of the most popular activities there.

HAL AEROSPACE MUSEUM IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T REGRET VIEWING AUGUST 2020

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum, is the first of its kind in India set in 2001. A virtual wonderland perfect for Aviation lovers and history buffs. It has two main halls; the first one shows the growth of aviation starting from the year 1940. The second major hall displays interesting and real models of aero engines.

IF YOU LOVE GAZING AT THE FISHES, BANGALORE AQUARIUM, IT IS TO VISIT!

BANGALORE AQUARIUM IS ALSO KNOWN AS GOVERNMENT AQUARIUM AMONG PEOPLE. IT IS THE SECOND-LARGEST AQUARIUM ESTABLISHED IN INDIA. IT IS SET AT THE ENTRANCE OF CUBBON PARK AND WAS BUILT IN THE YEAR 1983. IT HAS A VARIETY OF EXOTIC CULTIVABLE AS WELL AS ORNAMENTAL FISHES ON DISPLAY.

AUG 2020

BRING OUT THE INNER WINE ENTHUSIAST, AND TAKE A ROUND OF GROVER ZAMPA VINEYARDS Grover Zampa is a must-visit Indian vineyard and wineproducing company located in Doddaballapur, Karnataka.

The winery was established in the year 1988 by Kanwal Grover who left his job in space and defense procurement industries.

Some wine brands produced by them include Shiraz Still Rose, La Reserve Red, etc.

H AV E YOU DON E YOU R S H O P P I NG Y E T? NO , T H E N D R I VE TO B R I G AD E R OAD NOW !

BRIGADE ROAD IN BANGALORE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU IF YOU RE LOOKING OUT TO BUY STUFF BUT NOT SPEND MUCH INDIVIDUAL SHOPS ARE LINED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND TO TEMPT THE TIRED SHOPPERS SEVERAL EATERIES ARE ALSO FOUND ALONG THIS ROAD IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND COMMERCIAL SHOPPING AREAS OF BANGALORE ’

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AUGUST

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TRANSGENDERS: LIFE BEYOND PINK OR BLUE

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MOC GAMLAKOW WWW

AUGUST 2020

THE EXPERIENCES OF TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY

BY ELIZABETH REJI

TRANSGENDE RS: LIFE BEYOND PINK OR BLUE

BY ELIZABETH REJI

Since the beginning of time we have only ever talked about the battle between the sexes Constricted by this polarity we often negate that there exists a range of other genders that fight numerous other battles everyday sometimes with their own selves In this article Elizabeth Reji has penned the experiences of the transgender community ,

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WOKAL MAG

AUGUST 2020

Transgender people come from all walks of life. They are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons, and daughters. They are your coworkers and your neighbors. They are 7-year-old children and 70-year-old grandparents. Some embrace their feelings and transition to the image they aspire to see in the mirror. While for others it’s living a life in a name and body that they don’t associate with, to live in the shadows of someone else, and to wake up everyday to see in the mirror the body they are not familiar with. Living with a constant feeling of dissatisfaction, anxiety, and discomfort that starts to interfere with your normal life. It gets to be too difficult socially to be constantly fielding a barrage of questions about gender from the society so they try to overcompensate in other aspects of their personhood, in hopes that people would be forgetful, forgiving, or gracious towards their gender, which did not fall in line the way people seemed to want it to. These struggles encompass the everyday life of a Transgender Person.

August 2020

What does it mean to be transgender?

Transgender describes people who feel that the gender identity, gender expression or behavior they were assigned at birth doesn't match how they feel inside. Some transgender people identify as male or female, and some identify as nonbinary, agender, genderqueer, or somewhere else on or outside of the spectrum of what we understand gender to be. Being non-binary means that you don’t identify as either male or female.

Sometimes people might feel both male and female, or they might feel like they’re neither.

What is the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity?

Gender identity and sexual orientation are not identical Sexual orientation implies an individual s sustaining physical romantic and or emotional attraction to another individual whereas gender identity refers to one s inner sense of being male female or something else Transgender people may be straight gay lesbian bisexual or asexual just as Cisgender people can be Ways to support transgender people 1 Educate yourself Know the difference between the terminologies to use 2 Always ask for preferred pronouns and make sure to use that 3 Engage Compassionately and Validate Their Experience 4 Don t ask a trans person for personal information about their body or medical care 5 Don t out a trans person you know without their permission 6 Ask How You Can Help .

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The struggles can be painful, and at times, traumatic. That being said, the support of a loved one can make all the difference. You may not be able to take away the pain and discomfort that comes with the body, but with compassion and respect, you can help make the burden just a little bit easier WOKAL for them to carry.

When Gourmet met Quarantine!

15 food trends that no one could resist this pandemic.

By -Subhomita Baksi

Wokal

While 2020 is cancelled, food is definitely not. It is the year of budding bakers, healthier options, crazy coffee and much more. Let’s see the surging food trends of 2020.

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food

WOKAL

Dalgona Coffee

By Subhomita Baksi

Dalgona Coffee had to be the number one on this list because half the world had, jumped on this bandwagon after seeing a TikTok video, to create this aesthetically pleasing coffee What is it?

It is just equal ratios of hot water, coffee granules and sugar whipped for roughly 57 minutes with a result of a frothy coffee mix. And then simply top your milk with a big dollop of this mixture and that’s the trend.

While Indians were not too surprised seeing this trend as they have followed this method for all their lives. However, instead of topping the milk

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with the coffee, they do it the other way round.

Nevertheless, the idea remains the same.

Banana Bread

Wokal

Banana bread is no new discovery and has been here forever but why is it on the list? Well, Banana bread became a big trend in May-June 2020 because everybody was making and god knows why. Looking at everybody’s stories and posts more people went ahead with it. People came up with refined flour free options, gluten-free options and whatnot.

It was a hit and you were not a part of 2020 if you did not bake a loaf of banana bread.

Coffee Bean Cookies WOKAL

BY SUBHOMITA BAKSI

Cookies are God's gift and we cherish them. So, 2020 folks took it further to make a coffeechocolate flavoured cookie shaped like a coffee bean and made it a trend. Who would have thought that?

While making any chocolate baked item, a teaspoon of coffee is thrown in to enhance the flavour of chocolate in that recipe but these cookies are nearly the same with maybe one more teaspoon of coffee.

Honestly, except for the fact that this cookie looks absolutely adorable and Instagram worthy, it's practically a chocolate cookie with an extra hint of the caffeine looking all cute.

WOKAL MAG * AUGUST 2020

QUARANTINE FOOD GUIDE

DISNEY INSPIRED COOKING

TIKTOK IS THE RAGE OF 2020 AND SO ARE THE RECIPES TRENDING ON THIS PLATFORM AND ONE SUCH BEING DISNEY INSPIRED COOKING. WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT WE HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST FANS OF DISNEY AND THE FOOD LOOKED AMAZING. AND IT IS NOT JUST DISNEY, EVEN IN ANIME, THE FOOD LOOKS MOUTH-WATERING. So which Disney foods were trending?

FROM THE SOUP AND ACTUAL RATATOUILLE FROM RATATOUILLE TO BEIGNETS FROM THE FROG AND THE PRINCESS, IT HAS ALL BEEN FINALLY MADE AND SAVOURED IN 2020. WE ARE LOWKEY PROUD OF THIS POSITIVE PROGRESS.

Vietnamese Coffee AUGUST 2020

If you’ve ever been to Vietnam then you know that small coffee shops are every two steps away. And their coffee standards are unmatched and the coffee is so cheap for that standard. Vietnamese people love their coffee and you won't ever come across one person without a cup in their hands or handing on their bikes in disposable plastic.

What makes their coffee so tasty?

The answer is Condensed milk. It's bound to make anything tasty and they put it in their coffee, So, how do you make it at home?

You make your coffee as you would but only with water and once that is done add generous amounts of condensed milk and ice and that’s one part of Vietnam in a cup

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ALTERNATIVE CEREAL Good food made 2020 bearable and the best invention was an alternative cereal. What?

Yes! People have made mini food and had it with milk as a cereal. From mini pancakes to mini cinnamon rolls to mini chocochip cookies, it’s all done. And people seem to love it! All the recipes stay same but the portions become smaller and cuter.

What’s better?

Its Instagram worthy for sure!

WOKAL MAG

Subhomita Baksi

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FOCACCIA

BY SUBHOMITA BAKSI

Focaccia is a fancy Italian bread which is so easy to make and has been here forever. But 2020 made it a trend. The fancy thing about this bread is that you can top it with whatever vegetables, herbs or spices you like and make it so feed worthy.

It’s simple is perfect for beginners in bread making is delicious.

WOKAL MAG

DONUTS Donuts? Trend? What?

Yes! Donuts made it to this list because everybody lost access to Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme this lockdown and decided to try it at home. This deep-fried leavened dough has been a big hit especially now that people know how to make it.

The recipe for this enriched dough is pretty simple and consists of flour, yeast, milk, butter, eggs, sugar and a dash of nutmeg but makes a delicious batch of yummy donuts which are finished in less than 10 mins.

SUBHOMITA BAKSI

STUFFED PANCAKE BALLS Instagrammers took pancakes to the next level by making pancake balls stuffed with their favourite things. Its either made by deep-fried or in an Idli maker. The stuffing’s range from Oreo biscuits to Nutella or even Jam. The choices are endless and this has become more of a snack rather than a breakfast dish.

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Garlic Bread Calzone We parted ways with Domino’s too this lockdown and missed their Garlic Bread way too much. So, the internet decided to make too many and make it viral.

The result is obviously delicious.

Again, a leavened dough stuffed with cheese and topped with dry oregano is just too hard to resist and way safer made at home

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Brownies are food for the soul and there is no specific time or year or mood to eat brownies. But what happens when the best bakery in town is closed due to pandemic?

You make your own. Cakey or fudgy, it’s all your call and you can even choose a topping.

It is a trend because boxed cakes have also been unavailable at grocery stores.

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Popsicles Summers meant popsicles and ice cream and making it at home was a quarantine activity as well as the perfect summer treat. People got really creative with their flavours and presentations and made it a big hit for the summer of 2020. Flavours ranged from cherry and chocolate to depict black forest to generic flavours like mango and lemon. The choices were endless and all too hard to resist.

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Smoothie Bowls Healthy eating did not take a step back this quarantine and transformed itself into smoothie bowls.

It's good because you start your day with so many fruits, nuts and grains and also so many colours. You’ve probably heard about eating a lot of colours.

Colours also are essential for the gram and yes, this bowl will make it to the gram because it is so photogenic. You can make this with any type of fruits, top it with granola, oats, nuts and the choice is totally yours.

BY

SUBHOMITA

BAKSI

Chia Pudding Again healthy, and power-packed for your work at home! Chia pudding is pretty self-explanatory and can be eaten with any fruit, nut or grain. Its not just a breakfast option but also a great snack.

Again, very easy to make and you can also make this ahead of time!

Mug Recipes YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF MUG CAKES BUT NETIZENS HAVE TAKEN IT FORWARD BY MUG-ING ANYTHING. WE’VE SEEN PASTA AND PIZZAS BEING MADE IN A MUG TO SATISFY THOSE CRAVING, IT’S A QUICK FIX AND A SINGLE PORTION FOOD TO MAKE YOUR QUARANTINE BLUES FADE AWAY!

A STITCH IN TIME

By WAJIHA HAIDER Whether Gandhi’s charkha, Khadi or Indigo, choice of textiles, threads, fabrics and their colours have added to the world’s obsession with Indian embroideries, and it never really died down. They always stood in awe of traditional arts like Phulkari or Lucknowi Chikankari. This might have earned us a global platform when it comes to fashion but it seems that we Indians ourselves have little knowledge of the talented artisans and their crafts that might have peaked interests of foreigners, oceans away. In terms of craft and culture, among all other Asian countries, India holds vital significance.

Although being the heirs of such a rich heritage of embroidery arts which still continues to be practiced by certain families/villages, we didn't actually make good ambassadors of it.

Though a lot of designers have reached out to people who are practicing these embroideries, the art of embroidery remains unknown to the GEN-Z and is now slowly on the verge of losing its identity. It was back in the 19th century when machinery replaced human labor to produce excellent pieces of clothing. This came as a huge blow to such workers who were only proficient in the art of embroidery. They haven't become extinct yet, but are no longer quite away from it! We buy items of clothing, upholstery, bed-sheets, etc. with embroidery on them, but barely care to know how it got there.

Let’s have a look at these magnificent thread works that may be under the threat of going extinct:

PROFILE

PARSI EMBROIDERY Parsi Embroidery Gara work is an attribute of style and grace, one of the finest and most under-celebrated fashions of embroideries to rise from the homeland.

The Parsis of western India traditionally practice a form of Zoroastrianism, and their designs are often a fusion of Chinese and older European export patterns.Over the time, this traditional embroidery came into fashion in colors like red, blue, and white

Wajiha Haider threads in an article to educate us about the lesser known needleworks, as she reminisces about embroideries of India: lost and forgotten.

The designs are exported.

S H A M I L A M I E M B R O I D E R Y

Shamilami, embroidery from the North-eastern state Manipur, a blend of weaving, and embroidery has a status symbol. Also, "Shamilami" in Manipuri language stands for "wild animal printed warrior cloth." The embroidery reveals distinct animal motifs, using threads of vibrant colors

In early times, the Kings used to gift the embroidered clothes to the warriors as a sign of appreciation.

KUTCH EMBROIDERY

1ST ISSUE AUGUST

KUTCH EMBROIDERY IS A HANDICRAFT TRADITION CARRIED FORWARD BY THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY RESIDING IN THE KUTCH DISTRICT OF GUJARAT, INDIA. IT IS MAINLY MADE WITH COLORS SUCH AS GREEN, IVORY, INDIGO, BLACK, DEEP RED, YELLOW, AND OFF-WHITE.THIS EMBROIDERY, ESTABLISHED BY SUFI SAINTS IN SINDH IS GENERALLY DONE BY WOMEN, ON FABRICS LIKE COTTON, IN THE FORM OF A NET USING COTTON OR SILK THREADS.

kasuti embroidery

Kasuti embroidery settled in Karnataka is a craft followed mainly in the North district Its secret rests in the fact that it can be made only by counting the threads of the weft and the warp The cloth on which the embroidery is executed is a handwoven material of dark color usually black The designs are stitched without using knots to assure that both sides of the cloth look alike However Kasuti work is undergoing stress from poor business with not many people willing to take the craft seriously ,

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Toda embroidery

ORIGINATED IN THE STATE TAMIL NADU, TODA EMBROIDERY LIKE KANTHA IS PRACTICED BY WOMEN. THEY HAVE THEIR STYLE CALLED PUGUR, WHICH MEANS FLOWER. THE EMBROIDERY ENHANCES THE QUALITY AND DESIGN OF SHAWLS. IT INVOLVES USING RED, BLACK, AND OCCASIONALLY BLUE THREAD WORK IN GEOMETRIC PATTERNS ON UNBLEACHED WHITE COTTON FABRIC.JUST IN, ARTISANS PRACTICING TODA EMBROIDERY CAME FORWARD FROM THE NILGIRIS TO USE THEIR TRADITIONAL SKILLS IN MAKING FACE-MASKS AND TO HELP PEOPLE WARD OFF THE INFECTION AND ALSO PROVIDE THEIR COMMUNITY WITH A LIVELIHOOD.

HUES BEAT LOCKDOWN BLUES AUG

2020

WAYS TO UPDATE YOURÂ LOOK

THE PERFECT WING

YOUR CRAZY EYESHADOW HACKS

LOCKDOWN HUES

BY HITASHI

WWW.WOKALMAG.COM

HUES BEAT LOCKDOWN BLUES

AUGUST 2020

A lockdown does not necessarily mean a break from our eyeshadow palettes and make-up brushes. The pandemic might have made us see the world in shades of grey but it cannot simply dampen our spirits. The following article is a joyride for the Diva in you, as Hitashi talks about the latest makeup trends of 2020, and gives us a hint at tints. of body text

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DO IT FOR THE GRAM! his year might have been as disappointing as smudged Mascara, but somehow Makeup enthusiasts managed to keep their heads high and lashes even higher. 2020 gave us no choice but to sit at home, but one thing that you can practice or maybe just do for fun these days is makeup.

Looking at top celebrity makeup artists like Shaan Muttathil and Mehak Oberoi, it is very clear that bold colors are here to stay. Adding color to your makeup look gives it a very edgy touch and if stepping out is still not on the charts, why not try out some quirky, fresh and colourful makeup looks that we would shirk from stepping out with. Or simply snap some selfies for the GRAM and make your feed look jazzy and prismatic. So here are top 5 makeup looks to step up your makeup game and add some fun to an otherwise mundane afternoon.

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GLOSSY EYES

Bored by the usual powdery eyeshadows and want to try out something new that isn’t too much work but still stands out? So here's a quick way to do a glossy eye makeup that you often see on magazine covers which can turn heads and flood in likes on your picture. Take some Vaseline or any clear gloss that is available to you at this moment and dab it on to your eyelids. If you like it like that, go ahead, put on some mascara and you're good to go. But if you feel a bit adventurous and want to add color to your eyes, crimson, gold or fuschia, take a lipstick of whatever color you want to work with and blend it well on your lid, once that is done apply some petroleum jelly or clear gloss on top of it and VOILA!!

Tip: Use a glitter gloss to give your makeup a sparkly touch text

Another look that has made its way to our top 3 makeup trends is the inner corner color eyeshadow look. It's one of the quickest makeup looks and does not require much expertise to achieve. Take any eyeshadow color of your choice ( preferably a bright color ), on a round pencil eyeshadow brush and just dab it on the inner corners of your eye, and there you go! The best part about it, no one can go wrong with this look, it is so easy to

Inner corner pop

Tip: Use a cream color as a base to make it pop more

Tip: Always set your lower lash line with an eyeshadow to avoid smudging.

Colored lower lash line Admit it, all of us are quite bored with our basic black kohl that we wear almost every time we do our makeup. So why not give it up for a fancier, saucier look, and make it more summer friendly by swapping the regular black kajal with a brighter color. To achieve this look take any color eyeshadow or eye pencil of your choice and apply it on your lower lash line and

Tip: Use a black or dark brown eyeshadow for a softer look

Black foxy eyes

The Fox-eye make-up trend has been doing rounds on the internet for quite a while. Inspired by Bella Hadid's beautiful elongated eyes and lifted face, it’s basically known as foxy eyes because this look requires you to make sharp inner corners and an uplifted wing eyeliner.

Contouring your face also makes this a very put together look and gives more of a lifted and chiselled look. Try this one if you keenly follow things in vogue.

Add a little Tip: pair it with a nude lip to make your eyes the center of attraction of body text

White graphic eyeliner

THIS TREND STARTED AFTER THE RELEASE OF LADY GAGA’S SONG “RAIN ON ME”, FEATURING BOTH ARIANA AND GAGA WITH WHITE GRAPHIC EYELINER AND MADE IT A WHOLE NEW TREND AMONG MAKEUP ENTHUSIASTS. FOR THIS LOOK YOU CAN USE A WHITE LIQUID EYELINER OR A WHITE AQUA COLOR AND FOLLOW THE SHAPE OF YOUR LID TO CREATE A PERFECT LOOK. YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME SILVER STUDS ALONG YOUR EYELINER TO MAKE THIS LOOK STAND OUT MORE

Add a little bit of This short list is a surefire way to garner likes and practise your way into the latest summer friendly makeup trends. Give it a try and look your best even when you're chilling on your couch. Don’t stop, make it pop. text

AUGUST 2020

TEA WITH SIB (BOTH METAPHORICALLY AND LITERALLY)

BY DAKSHITA AND SARAH

Hi, I m Dr. Sib Husky. As much as I would like to show off about how I modelled for PEDIGREE , I think I ll have to stick to introducing you all to my job I am a pet psychologist. Wait, let me explain...since all my friends cannot communicate to their owners and tell them how they re feeling, they get a little sad and end up needing someone to talk to, and here s where I come in the picture. And you ll ask me why am I here now? Simple.

I m here to pass on bits of some important discussion I ve had with some of my patients so that from now on my friends and their parents will be a happy family with no communication gap. ’

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PS: Hit me up on insta (ID: coolsibhusky) to know more about my modelling life *cool emoji* PPS: Thank Dakshita and Sarah for persuading me to feature in the magazine.

PPPS: secret: they called me good boi, I couldn t say No : ’

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Q) Okay so tell me something about yourself.

I’m Goldy, a common goldfish. I have the ability to distinguish between four different primary colours; Red, green, blue and ultraviolet, making me a tetrachromat. I can also tell the difference between shapes, colours and sounds. I have strong learning abilities and social learning skills, and I can distinguish between different human beings. I can hold grudges against mean fish for up to three months.

Q) Goldy, do you mind if I ask you about your age?

You seem a little younger than the age you’ve written in the form.

It’s alright, doctor. I’m 7 years old and I have high aspirations of living a full life. My great grandfather lived up to 43 years, and maybe I could too. The main reason why so many goldfish die young is that they aren’t kept in the proper conditions. On average, if we’re kept in a bowl, we have the shortest lifespan of about five years, in an aquarium we might live up to 10 years and by living in a pond, we could easily live at least 30 years.

Q) I’m a bit concerned about your growth, don’t you think Since I live in a water bowl at home, I’m probably suffering from stunting and if things get serious it could also lead to various diseases and even death.

And because I have high oxygen needs and produce a large amount of waste; therefore, I require large amounts of well-filtered water to survive. Like for example, I need around 30 gallons of water where I live, whereas all my cousins who go by the name of “fancy goldfish” need around 20 gallons. And I think my owner usually forgets that rapid changes in the temperature of the water might be dangerous for me.

Q) Your mother told me about your new tankmates, are you at ease with them now? Are things finally starting to get better?

I don’t know, it’s a little weird these days. Not all fish can live with us and making the wrong type of fish our tank-mates can be dangerous for the both of us. I wish my owner had made sure that both of us would have been compatible and our needs would have before he got home the new fish.

Q) WHAT ARE YOU INCLUDING IN YOUR DIET THESE DAYS? YOU LOOK HEALTHY AN COLORFUL. I usually eat pellets or flake food. My owner has also put some greenery in the bowl since I like eating live plants. Naturally I would have liked eating worms, larvae, etc. But an important thing to know is that I only have an intestinal tract which means that feeding excessive amounts of protein can be dangerous for me. So my owner has been making sure he only gives me good quality fish food and only the recommended quantity and no more than that.

Q) What’s the one thing your owner doesn’t know about you?

I don’t like it when people try to put their hands in my tank to touch me, it not only makes me sad but it can also endanger my health because it can cause harm to my protective slime coat and could even expose my skin to infection.

SOURCES’ HTTPS://WWW.NATIONALGE OGRAPHIC.COM/ANIMALS/FI SH/G/GOLDFISH/ HTTPS://WWW.PETMD.COM/ FISH/CARE/EVR_FI_FACTSABOUT-GOLDFISH HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/ WIKI/GOLDFISH HTTPS://THEGOLDFISHTANK. COM/GOLDFISH-FACTS/ WOKAL MAG

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The Monochrome Mojo B Y

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August 2020 wokal mag

MOJO We have been donning the Little Black Dress for ages but shirk away from monochromes. Pairing monochrome outfits might be baffling but the right choices can make heads turn. Read Sneha Barua’s advice on how to break the mundane with monochrome. Wearing outfits of the same colour? Blue trousers with a blue shirt, who even does that? Well, this is what netizens call a Monochromatic Look and it is taking the internet by a storm. What is Monochrome, you may ask? As the name suggests, Monochrome is an aesthetic which plays with a single colour. So a monochromatic outfit consists of clothings of one color. While trying this look, one doesn’t always have to bring together pieces in one solid colour from head to toe. The fact that you can play with different shades and tints and fabrics of the same colour is something people often miss out on.While you may think that monochromatic outfits take less energy to piece together, on the contrary, they can be pretty tricky to get right, especially if you venture into bright colors or light neutrals. If done correctly, a monochromatic look can be just as show-stopping as a patterned dress or statement jacket. Be it a chique party, casual outing, or a formal meeting, monochromes can be toned accordingly.

If you are wondering how to style a monochromatic look and stand out, you’ve come to the right place!

B BO OS SS S L LA AD DY Y

This look is easy to create with a dark shade of any colour. Here, we’ve played with texture and fabric while the shade of the colour remained the same. The aim of this look is to be stylish and bossy, so we paired up matt formal pants with a satin shirt, just to add a little bit of that oomph to the outfit! Pair it up with some black boots and a bag and you’re good to go. Accessorize minimally with some hoop earrings so that the glossy shirt stands out. And this is how you play with fabrics and textures in a monochrome look!

This is a girly look for all the lovelies out there. Here, we’ve played with texture and tones. A velvet pink set and throw a mesh top in a darker shade of pink underneath to give an edgy look to it while sticking to the monochromatic vibe. Add some accessories and you’re good to go!

T TH HE E B BU UT TT TE ER RC CU UP P L LO OO OK K

look for a date with your girlfriends, it’s minimal but also a head turner! A beige co-ord never goes

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wrong

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Create a casual beige

Neutral tones compliment your skintone the most!

Add some fun to your outfit by carrying a pop of colour, a red handbag in this case!

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The last look is a fierce Goddess look black never goes wrong Pair up a mesh black skirt and a black crop top to complete the look Here we added a ribbon in the middle of the crop top for the hint of colour and a glossy black bag for some texture Add some oxidised jewellery and complete the look Monochrome is a fun way to express your creativity and styling But it should be a balance of colours and textures Remember balance when combining pieces This is a rule for every outfit not just monochromatic ones You don t want the one color to overwhelm you ,,

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STROKES OF PRIDE

BY KASHISH CHOPRA

LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

FIGHTING THE DULL CLOUDS

www.wokalmag.com

AUG 2020

AUG 2020

STROKES OF PRIDE Prejudices based on identities are not something new, but the LGBTQ+ community has been enduring the bias in quite violent ways. Before the colours in the rainbow became brighter, there were people who fought the dull clouds. Kashish Chopra drafts an article about the rich history of Pride month.

Of Pride and Prejudice

Everyone there looked so beautiful! Colourful costumes painted faces, posters empowering love, the pride flag held high and just the aura created by everyone out there was a sight to behold forever!!�, exclaimed my partner when he returned after attending the Pride Parade in November 2019. Cut short to a few months later, in June 2020, our social media was flooded with stories, posts, and filters empowering and embracing everyone who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community. I wondered if they knew how it all began. It sure was overwhelming to see an enormous amount of support and witnessing how strong it felt when everyone accepted you for who you are and who you love, but when no one spoke about or acknowledged what led to us starting celebrating our identities, I felt a tad bit disappointed. Not to mention that most of us are still clueless about a lot of things!

WOKAL WOKAL MAG

Celebrations.

Back in the 1960s, very few places were welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community. One of them being the Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, New York City which was popular amongst the poorest and marginalized people, effeminate men, lesbians, drag queens, transgender people, male prostitutes, and homeless youth. Police raids were a routine at bars like Stonewall Inn- which was owned by a Mafia. On the night of 28th June 1969, the police raided at the Stonewall Inn, marking the beginning of a revolutionary movement. While examining everyone during the raid to determine their identities, some men cross-dressed as women refused to go to the station when arrested which led to the police deciding on taking everybody to the station. They started swarming everyone in their wagons. However, the brawl broke when a woman(trans/cis) grumbled about her handcuffs being too tight and got hit in her head with a rod. She questioned the bystanders, “why don’t you do anything?” and tried to escape several times, swearing and shouting at the cops, only to be jabbed at the back of the wagon. That’s when the crowd became a mob and went berserk. Now known as the Stonewall ‘Riots’, they went on from June 28th to July 3rd and marked the first open celebration of all queer identity in America. While the 6 days are famous for the violent clashes, there was also a wholesome festive celebration of the queer identity and courage. A year later on 28th June 1970, the first Gay Pride march took place in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Fransisco. These riots are considered to constitute one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBTQ rights. A few years after the riots, many gay rights organisations were formed across the world

WOKAL

Choosing not to acknowledge things even though you encounter them on a daily basis is sheer ignorance. So let s acknowledge the reason why we re even able to celebrate our existence at all because we wouldn t even have been halfway through in case no one stood up against the injustices we faced that day. The pride month is not only the celebration of our identities but also the celebration of all the courageous souls who fought for their rights. '

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So let's celebrate today’s freedom with love and respect in our hearts for yesterday’s struggles.

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AUGUST

2020

HAVE A PAWSOME DAY!

HOW WAYS

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TO MAKE

LOVE THE

MOST FURRY

BY

OF

YOUR

PETS

QUARANTINE

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FRIENDS

DAKSHITA

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SARAH

YOUR

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HAVE A PAWSOME DAY!

Between your busy routine of daily hustle and of your doggo’s involving thinking about what they could do to earn another treat, spending time together might get affected. Dakshita and Sarah share a few ways to make the most of this quarantine with your furry friends.

Baby’s Day Out USUALLY, PET OWNERS SPEND ONLY

40

MINUTES A DAY WITH

THEIR PETS, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD DEAL. ALL PETS EXPECT FROM THEIR PUP PARENTS IS SOME QUALITY TIME, IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR? SO TAKE THEM OUT FOR A DAY AND SPEND IT MAKING UP FOR ALL THE MOMENTS YOU HAD TO GIVE UP ON AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM.

Taking your dog to the park has to be the best option, both feasible and fun. Snuggle with your dog, or have fun running around with them, “Aap doggo ke peeche, doggo aapke peeche. Too much fun.” There are lots of other ways you can have fun with them, playing games is one of them. A few games that you can include in the list are; Fetch, Catch and Frisbee. Since socializing is an essential part of your pet’s growth, this is also the easiest place where your dog can find some furry friends to play with. A good option might be Lodhi Garden, near JLN metro station

AUGUST 2020

DATE WITH YOUR MATE

SINCE YOUR BABY DESERVES ALL THINGS BEST, PAMPER THEM BY TAKING THEM TO A DOG-FRIENDLY CAFÉ. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, AND IF YOU’RE LUCKY YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND ONE NEARBY YOUR PLACE. SOME OF THESE MIGHT EVEN INCLUDE A PLAY AREA FOR YOUR PET TO RELAX AND HAVE EXTRA FUN. YOU CAN CONSIDER PUPPYCINO CAFÉ A GOOD OPTION. IMPRESS YOUR FURRY DATE WITH THEIR EXCLUSIVE DOG MENU AND MAKE SURE YOU GO DOWN IN THE LIST AS THEIR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE LOVER.

AUGUST 2020

TAKING YOUR PET TO THE VET

Take them for a visit to the vet for a regular health check-up to make sure they’re perfectly fine and good to go. You might even get the chance to know more about your dog’s needs, from the most suitable skincare products for them to the best nutritional food brands, W O K A Lget to know them all.

pohS teP ;potS txeN Taking your pet for shopping might be a strange experience for them, so make sure they’re ready for the process first. You could take them to a pet shop, the smells and the environment there might be familiar and friendly for your pet. Fill up their accessories and food requirements, and a few more toys could be bought for you both to have fun with. If your pet has recently come into your life, you could also talk to a trainer for their basic training sessions.

AUGUST 2020

Dil Dil Maange Maange More More

After spending the said day with your pet if you still think you want more, you could go on a vacation with them to a dog friendly resort/hotel. There are various good ones that provide everything you and your pet need on your vacation. Sounds like a great getaway, right?

Bonus:

PS: If you could, please feed at least a few stray dogs during these tough times, it would make a really huge difference.

With so much time to spare these days, use it wisely by understanding your pet and spending more time with them.

You could learn more about their body language and what the smol gestures they do tell you about their mood, or you could try playing some indoor games with them.

WOKAL MAGAZINE

MIRCHI GOSHT WHAT’S GOSHT? MEAT.

What’s Mirchi? Spicy.

WHAT’S MIRCHI GOSHT? SIMPLY SPICY MEAT.

ISSUE 1 AUGUST 2020

BY SUBHOMITA BAKSI

YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY CONTROL THE SPICE BUT IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL BE GREEN PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE CHILIES AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE CORIANDER. HOWEVER IT IS THE MOST SIMPLE YET WHOLESOME RECIPE WITH JUST 5 INGREDIENTS. AND TRUST US, IT’S A SHOWSTOPPER. SUBHOMITA BAKSI

Ingredients YOUR GUIDE TO MIRCHI GOSHT

Mutton/Lamb- 1kg Corriander ⁄ kg -

Green Chilies- 1⁄4 kg and you can increase or decrease the spice here

Garlic – 12-14 cloves Ginger paste 1 ⁄ tablespoons -

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Method:

1. Make a paste of the coriander, garlic and chilies and add it to the lamb/mutton. At this stage add the ginger paste and marinate the meat with all this

2. Keep it marinated for atleast an hour and maximum of overnight.

3. Heat mustard oil (if you want any other flavourless oil, that will work fine too) in a wok and

the marinated meat

4. Cover and cook for 45-70 minutes and keep stirring occasionally.

5. The meat should be tender and the gravy should coat the meat. It wont consist of a lot of

gravy as it is concentrated with a lot of spice

6. Finally, serve this hot with plain white rice or rumali rotis.

AUGUST 2020 • ISSUE NO. 1

WOKAL