It’s almost 2018 and what a better way to close the year than to celebrate the best, most path-breaking stories on Youth Ki Awaaz!
Over 2017, YKA saw some of the best stories on the internet that truly represent the Indian youth’s voice. These stories, by users just like you, have sparked debate, positive conversations, and in many cases, created real and tangible impact.
1. Educated, well-dressed, well-mannered, but why so filthy?
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2. Over a year after Rohith Vemula’s death, caste continues to have a strong hold around society’s neck.
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3. How we take our consumeristic life and its impacts for granted.
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This story was read by almost 60,000 users, many of whom tweeted out their support to the Jharkhand government.
4. The shameful way sportspersons are treated in the country.
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The story went viral, and within days, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel said that Assam Government will be appointing her as an archery coach.
5. While women work through the night, the men can be seen playing cards or whiling away time.
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This powerful story was read by over 120K people and sparked a vital conversation around women’s rights.
6. A shocking reminder of how the government has repeatedly failed to protect human rights of the marginalised in India.
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Read and shared by 128K readers, this powerful narrative forced us to acknowledge a harsh truth.
7. 50-year-old Leela has been the only resident of this village for almost three years.
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With over 184K views, this story is the most-read Hindi story on YKA in 2017.
8. A 100-inch square piece of fair skin sells for Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 in Delhi and Mumbai.
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The most-read story on YKA in 2017 with over half a million views, the story was noticed by the Nepal govt. that promised to take action. The author of the story, Soma Basu, was also awarded the prestigious Kurt Schork Memorial Award under the Local Reporter category.
9. The story of how a writer became part of creating India’s most desired Indian woman.
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10. In Haryana, Punjab, and Western UP, trafficking of brides is a booming business fuelled by skewed sex ratios arising out of rampant female foeticide.
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11. Mental health, like any health requires professional help, not ‘happy thoughts’.
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As part of Let’s Talk, a campaign on awareness about depression with WHO, hundreds of YKA users sent in powerful narratives that reinforced the importance of keeping the conversation going.
12. The problem of fake news is a lot bigger, and a lot more dangerous than we may think.
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13. Over 70% women in the country cannot afford a sanitary napkin, but the government still thinks putting a tax on them is a good idea.
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Spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene, Youth Ki Awaaz’s campaign #IAmNotDown received hundreds of powerful stories from users who demanded tax-free sanitary napkins for every last woman.
14. If all women can’t be empowered, none of us will.
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15. In a country that has more men than women, surely women are living their sexual dreams? Well, not quite.
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Read over 94K times, the story started an important conversation on the much-hushed topic of women’s sexuality and desires.
16. Menstruating women are exempt from keeping a fast during Ramadan. Then why do so many of them still do it?
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Zainab’s story broke the silence around an issue that many would consider ‘too controversial’ for even menstruation. Read by more than 52,000 people, it boldly called out the stigma and religious restrictions that force women to compromise on their health.
17. As the Myanmar govt. looks the other way, this is what Rohingya Muslim women have been put through.
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18. Their numbers may be small, but there is a thriving and ever-expanding community of ‘kinksters’ all around us.
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While Indians are a lot more open about sex, discussing kinks and desires that aren’t seen as ‘normal’ are still not matters to be discussed. This post sparked an active conversation on social media.
19. It has been 20 years since the villagers witnessed a wedding celebration.
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Soon after the report was published, Dr. Ashwini Parashar, who started the campaign to save the village was invited to a summit where he featured YKA’s video story. Alongside, the MP High Court instructed the state government to take action immediately.
20. If you’re a woman who makes the mistake of questioning absolutely anything, you obviously have no ‘character’.
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Apart from receiving overwhelming support for her stories and being extremely vocal against online harassment, Simran started a campaign to address the issue and held a protest that was supported by Shashi Tharoor, Shehzad Poonawalla, R Madhavan and Kavita Krishnan.
21. A chance encounter led to 3 months of educating young minds in a hidden Kashmiri village.
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22. Because caste and janam kundli are just not enough.
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23. For anyone who thinks writing about something doesn’t lead to any impact.
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Within hours, Isha’s story went viral and got the Mumbai police’s attention. A formal complaint was filed, and the perpetrator caught.
24. A powerful story of a young boy grappling with religion at a time when that was the only thing defining your identity.
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25. Shashi Tharoor breaks it down for those still caught up in the language-superiority battle.
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26. The scandal that a single bra strap can create.
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27. A fascinating account of a few of the lakhs of people who feed this country’s blind faith monster.
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28. Is a student’s sexuality even a reason to deny them hostel accommodation?
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29. We’ve all faced it at some point, but how many actually try to address it?
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The story resonated with over 124K readers who read and shared it ahead, reinforcing the fact that each issue, as small as it seems, affects more people than you think. It just takes one person to speak up.
30. Until the time we don’t speak out about sexual violence, the society is going to continue ignoring it.
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After #MeToo broke out on the social media, several YKA users shared their stories of harassment.
31. The trauma of child sexual assault only becomes worse with forced silence.
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32. A heartfelt conversation, shortly after Gauri Lankesh’s shocking murder.
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33. For the first time since the media circus around her social media post, Gurmehar Kaur opens up about the toll all of it took on her.
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Gurmehar is a regular columnist on YKA and her stories can be found at #MeharSpeaks.
34. It’s not like we talk about masturbation. But even when we do, we almost never talk about women masturbating.
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Garnering almost 170K page views, the tell-all survey shared fascinating insights into women’s sexuality, sparking active conversation on social media.
35. We found Kamlesh’s way of speaking hilarious, and everyone forgot about the terrbile addiction he’s trapped in.
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36. What good is development if it destroys lives and livelihoods?
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Active users from Mumbai have been consistently writing about the dangers of deforesting Aarey forests on YKA. Their stories have been getting immense support.
37. A YKA investigation into how caste still plays a role on the best campuses of the country.
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The story went viral immediately and has been quoted in many mainstream publications.
38. Caste is a thing of the past, they say. It doesn’t destroy lives anymore, they want you to believe.
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39. This nation-wide study reveals horrific torture and abuse dairy animals go through, for our glass of milk.
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With over 226K views and shares, thousands reached out to express their shock and offered to help bring an end to this practice.
40. Afrazul’s death at the hands of Shambhu Lal jolted the nation to how dangerously real hate crimes have become.
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Your words, your stories have undeniable power, and we hope you use this power to make the world better in 2018.