Yep, 2022 is over. I’m still getting over it. Even though the year went by in a blink of an eye, we had some amazing writers on Youth Ki Awaaz, use their voice and stand out while doing so! We have read these stories through the year, resonated with them, laughed with them, cried with them and most of all, felt deeply connected with them. So here, are the top YKA voices that stood out in 22.
Blogs That Were Read The Most
1. In this informative review, Syed S Tauheed discusses Gul Panag’s short film, ‘Manoranjan’ and its nuanced focus on a middle-class family’s power dynamics and the ways in which it influences the lives of the household’s women. This has been read by over 2,00,000 people so far.
स्त्री जीवन के अनछुए पहलुओं को दर्शाती है गुल पनाग की शॉर्ट मूवी ‘मनोरंजन’
You can read some of Sayeed’s other pieces and follow them here.
2. College-life of DU has always been shown to be a glamorous, fun fest. However, there is another side to it where the class and caste lines divide students and teachers alike, pushing the have-nots to even farther margins. This blog by Mohini was read by over 1,30,000 people.
“दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी की ‘कॉलेज लाइफ’ सिर्फ अमीर बच्चों के लिए है
You can follow Mohini here.
3. Suraj’s piece on his life as a PhD scholar reached over 1,50,000 people! We know, that’s huge. Not only did his piece left a mark on so many readers, it also motivated so many young people to write about their campus stories on the platform.
‘Why Am I Doing This?’: Life Of A PhD Scholar In India
You can read more from Suraj and follow him here.
4. Panchayat 2 was appreciated a lot. In this unique blog, Sumit points out an observation that has not been discussed in the mainstream before: that the villain is more of a hero, who cannot be maimed as a villain just because he demands his rights, asks questions and demands answers.
“पंचायत के ‘भूषण भाई’ विलेन नहीं, असली हीरो हैं”
You can read more from Sumit and follow them here.
5. Ishika’s review of the third season of ‘Four More Shots Please’ gathered many nods and agreements from us. Her writing was not only witty but also pointed and covered all aspects that deserved criticism from the show.
5 Reasons Why ‘Four More Shots Please!’ Made Me Go No More Shots Please
You can read more from Ishika and follow her here.
6. We are often told that pregnancy is supposed to be a ‘magical time?’ But is that the reality for all women in India? Aditi wrote about the exploitative and oppressive way women are still supposed to unconditionally provide finances for her in-laws. Is this the new age dowry, she asks.
‘Dear Bahu, Please Ask Your Parents To Pay For Your Delivery!’
7. Bullying, homophobia, ragging. These all seem very alien concepts to us until reality hits too close to home. Arvey was a young boy who died by suicide due to the educational institution he was a part of. Vansh spoke to his mother who spoke up and called for justice.
“School Killed Arvey”: Arvey’s Mother Who Lost Her Son To Suicide
You can follow Vansh here.
8. Nupur’s piece on how society tried to condition her into not studying touched many of our hearts. She spoke up and she spoke up loud!
‘Your PhD Isn’t Running Anywhere, Have A Child First’
You can read more from Nupur and follow here here.
9. Rashmi wrote an impassioned piece on the state of gender based violence in India. Her story was not only relevant but also an excellent yet simple telling of something that makes the newspapers almost everyday.
A Personal Account On Why Sex Crimes Happen In India
You can read more from Rashmi and follow her here.
Stories That Stood Out Because Of The Unique Take They Had
10. Social media is often flooded with influencers making a big show out of their charity. Does this mean that they are doing good only for the sake of likes and shares? Are disadvantaged communities meant to be used for our aesthetic Instagram profiles? Suraj asks these hard hitting questions in this story.
Children From Marginalized Groups Are Not Your Instagram Trophies
You can read more from Suraj including his loved PhD article here.
11. The internet can be a scary place and often browsers play an integral role in making it so. But what if we switched to a browser that is not only super easy to use but also protects your privacy? Dinesh writes a piece on why it is high time we make a switch from our Chrome browsers.
Librewolf | What If Browsers Cared About Us?
You can read some of Dinesh’s other really interesting pieces here.
12. ‘Tumbbad’ is often hailed as a groundbreaking horror film. It is after all a movie that dealt very sharply with critical issues of class divide. But, have we ever noticed how it is also a narrative on caste inequities? Kiran breaks down the movie and shows us how all of us missed out on an important aspect of the film.
Why Is Tumbbad Reduced To A Horror Movie When It’s A Great Movie About Caste?
You can follow Kiran here.
13. Hip hop has seen a rise and a very loyal following in India. But where does the music genre finds it roots? Susmit writes an interesting story on how hop hop has been used by marginalised groups to exert their revolution.
Have We Ever Thought Who Occupies The Gullies Hip-Hop Is Based On?
You can read more from Susmit and follow them here.
14. We shouldn’t be feminists. Yes, that’s what Tina has to say! If you haven’t read this beautiful satire on feminism and how it is perceived you should right away!
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should ‘Not’ Be A Feminist
You can read some other treats from Tina here.
15. The Covid-19 pandemic brought many upheavals with it. Shantanu brings to us a story that perhaps many of us didn’t know. A random search for sex apps led them to find their teacher on one. This encounter made Shantanu research more where they found the rise of sex work during the pandemic due to sudden job losses all across the country.
How An Out-of-Work Teacher Landed Up On A Sex Work App
You can follow Shantanu here.
Pieces That Not Only Touched Us But Also Created Lasting Impact
16. Kavya’s blog on Vizag’s Rushikonda beach created a ripple effect that led to concrete change.
Vizag’s Rushikonda Beach From The Lens Of A Disabled Visitor
You can follow Kavya Poornima here.
17. Prateek made a video on a broken road made the administration take action and actually fix it!
How My Video On Youth Ki Awaaz Got The Road Outside My House Fixed
You can follow Prateek and read more from him here.
Campus Narratives That Inspired Conversation
18. Sahil wrote an emotional account of how their parents did not support their decision to study at Delhi University. Their story spoke about issues that so many young people face but are unable to speak about it.
I Got Into Delhi University, But Wasn’t Allowed To Go
Read some of Sahil’s other blogs and follow them here.
19. The IIT craze started a decade ago and it surprisingly still hasn’t ended. Jyothi wrote an important article on how not getting into these so-called reputed colleges is not the be all and end all of his life. His story resonated with so many others.
Not Getting Into IIT, NIT Or IIIT Doesn’t Mean I Won’t Be Successful
You can read some of Jyothi’s other campus stories here.
20. Similar to the IIT craze is also the UPSC pressure that many young people go through. Abhishek’s account of why he never pursued UPSC inspired and motivated so many people on the platform.
Why I Never Pursued UPSC Preparation
You can read more from Abhishek and follow him here.
21. Rankings and colleges have been a friendship that parents love to talk about. But what about students who go to ‘unranked’ colleges? Is their talent any less? Prachi speaks about this very important issue in her blog.
Did You Know That 70% Of Indian Students Go To Unranked Colleges?
You can read more from Prachi and follow her here.
Personal Stories That Smashed Taboos
22. Kinza wrote about her experience battling sexism and patriarchy in her everyday life. “I was unaware that I have to relive every trauma I had ever witnessed in my life all over again,” she writes.
“My Feminism Won’t Pay My Bills, But Exploitation Of My Labour Will?”
You can read more from Kinza and follow her here.
23. Jay wrote about his navigations with masculinity as a trans man on the occasion of International Men’s Day. His post was a strong account on what the men’s rights movement should focus on.
Celebrating Men’s Day As A Transgender Man
You can follow Jay here.
24. Patruni’s story of their experiences as a queer person spoke volumes and represented the community in a powerful way. Their post was not only empowering but also gave them the platform to share a personal story close to them.
Why I Painted My Face With More Than 10 Pride Flags
You can read more from Patruni and follow them here.
25. Jay Sagathia presented a heartfelt story of how a loss in their family made them take an important decision. Told in the form of graphics, this story is poignant and so critical!
Discrimination After My Grandmother’s Death Made Me Leave Hinduism
You can follow Jay here.
26. “If you mention a hint of parental trauma, you will immediately be either stopped, judged, or even outcasted as if what you’ve lost and been through was not sufficient enough.” Shambhavi spoke out on their experience of living with a toxic family bringing to us an issue that is so often overlooked.
Lost Childhood, Parental Trauma: “The House I Live In Is Not A Home”
You can read more from Shambavi and follow them here.
27. Even as we close 2022, intrusive questions about when a woman will have children continue to persist openly. Ranjitha spoke about her story of why she does not want to have children and how this is no one but her own concern.
To Have Or Not Have Babies? Well, I Am Not Having One
You can read more from Ranjitha and follow her here.
28. Postpartum depression is a reality for so many mothers but rarely do we get to read open and honest conversation around it. Nidhi wrote a beautiful blog on her journey with postpartum depression and how travelling helped her bond with her newborn child.
Travelling With My Tiny Human Helped Me Get Over Postpartum Depression
You can follow Nidhi here.
29. “I don’t have the luxury of writing about love, when the likes of me are even struggling to breathe, living a life that is engulfed by strong hands of fear and uncertainty,” wrote Sara. Her piece spoke the truth about so many Muslim women around us.
I’m A Muslim Woman With 22 Years Of ‘Ek Tarfa Pyaar’ With Hindustan
You can read some of Sara’s other pieces and follow her here.
30. Zeeshan’s personal account of witnessing the Gujarat riots and surviving it with his father was a powerful piece.
Gujarat Riots 2002: “As A 7-Year-Old, I Walked With My Father In The Shadows Of The Night”
You can read more from Zeeshan and follow him here.
31. Shilpa’s story of walking out of a marriage and leaving behind her own family in the process was a beautiful story of resilience. From fighting against the world to finding her own space in it, her story is empowering for all of us.
My Dad Disowned Me When I Chose To Walk Out Of My Marriage
You can read some of Shilpa’s other stories and follow her here.
32. Ashwini’s story about life as an Adivasi was an important call out to us. The piece brought words to the alienation many adivasis like Ashwini go through.
#AdivasiLivesMatter: Why My Mother Warned Me Against Publicly Speaking About What We Eat
You can read more from Ashwini and follow them here.
33. Prerona wrote a powerful piece on her struggle with mental health and the reality of mental health institutions in India. Her impassioned words resonated with so many of us.
I Want To Scream But I Have No Mouth: Dark Reality Of Mental Health Inst. In India
You can read more from Prerona and follow her here.
34. Prithvi wrote about his journey of change the affirmed his identity as a trans man. He wrote a beautiful account of going through puberty all over again.
My Second Innings: Going Through Puberty All Over Again At 26
You can read more from Prithvi and follow him here.
35. Harsh wrote about his journey of changing from being a bhakt. Their friendship gave way to a journey of growing up and changing.
Yes, I Was A Bigot, A ‘Bhakt’. Here’s What Changed Me
You can read more from Harsh and follow them here.
36. Abha wrote an intriguing piece on how she navigated the world of online gaming. She speaks with a digital rights consultant and also writes how child abuse can take place in these spaces.
How I Found Out Online Gaming Is An Ominous Combo Of Sex, Scams, Abuse
You can read more from Abha and follow her here.
37. Anish bravely recalled his experiences of being bullied in his high school. His blog was widely read and shared among those who related so much to it.
Part 1: I Was Severely Bullied During My Schooling Days In DPS Patna
You can read more from Anish and follow him here.
38. Seetha’s story is a powerful account of trauma and healing. She wrote about her wounded past but even more about her journey to recover from all that life has thrown at her.
It Took 28 Years For Me To Write About My Trauma Publicly
You can follow Seetha here.
39. “Haan, bro! Gay hoon… Apne bande ke saath aaya hoon.” Priyanjul stood up for himself and his community when he spoke up against a homophobe in the theatres while watching ‘Badhaai Do.’
Badhaai Do: The Whole Theatre Clapped For Me When I Silenced A Homophobe
You can follow Priyanjul here.
Language was not a barrier for these 15 users who wrote impactful stories
40. Substance abuse is a menace that has dug its claws into the nation’s youth and even India’s children seem to be falling prey to it. Abdul Nomani covers one such incident and looks to understand the infamous ‘solution’ in their village.
“बिहार के मेरे गाँव में 9 साल के बच्चे नशे में बर्बाद हो रहे हैं”
You can read more from Abdul and follow them here.
41. Battles for power have taken numerous innocent lives, writes Prince. In this review of ‘Mission Kashmir’, he discusses how the movie chooses to address the phenomena of bigotry and Islamophobia in the erstwhile state.
“कश्मीर फाइल्स देखने वालों, आपको ‘मिशन कश्मीर’ देखने की भी ज़रूरत है”
You can read more from Prince and follow them here.
42. In this moving personal piece, Navi Raza Khan guides us through his interaction with India’s unaffordable healthcare system, and his painful journey of seeing his father be diagnosed with cancer.
“जब मुझे अनाथ होने का डर सताने लगा”
You can read more from Navi and follow them here.
43. Prakash Raj-starring 8-episode web series, ‘Aanantam’, covers a range of topics pertaining to love and attraction. In their piece, Tejeshwar Sahu throws some light on this portrayal, particularly, the depiction of a gay man’s relationship with his father.
एक पिता के लिए बेटे के गे होने को स्वीकार करना कितना कठिन
You can read more from Tejeshwar and follow them here.
44. “…ek baar phhir laga film aur zindagi dono bhram se hi chalti hain. Isiliye film banaayi jaati hai, taaki bhram bana rahe aur duniya zinda rahe…” Shyam Meera Singh sums up, after watching Raanjhana. Read his piece to understand the similarities he finds in Raanjhana and everyday life and shares his observations on love, life and cities.
“मुझे लगता है जब कोई थककर लिखने बैठता है, तब ऐसी कहानियां बनती हैं”
You can read more from Shyam and follow them here.
45. While losing a parent is never easy, to see them bed-ridden and unable to talk can also truly be heartbreaking. Shwet Kumar Sinha writes about their experience of the time their father was admitted in an ICU, and the emotional turbulence that came along with it.
“जब मैं पापा को ICU में सुलाकर आया तो नहीं पता था कि ये आखिरी मुलाकात होगी”
You can read more from Shwet and follow them here.
46. Entrance exams are tough, and gruelling, especially in a country like ours that is marred by competition and merit. Kamna shares a deeply personal sorry of the impact UPSC preparation had on her mental health, and the three mistakes she made throughout that time.
“UPSC ने मुझसे मेरी ज़िंदगी के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण साल छीन लिए”
You can read more from Kamna and follow her here.
47. As you grow older, the pressure to succeed and live grows. Rahul writes a blog on turning 25 and introspecting on what it means to hit mid-twenties.
“जन्मदिन! मेरी ज़िंदगी का रोलर कोस्टर”
You can read more from Rahul and follow him here.
48. Covering a case of bribery, extortion, police violence, and student protest in Bihar’s Pusa Central University, Rajeev Kumar gives a deep dive into the incident and its effects on the students’ academic progress.
“विरोध को दबाने के लिए पूसा विश्वविद्यालय के VC ने स्टूडेंट्स पर कराया केस”
You can read more from Rajeev and follow her here.
49. In this succinct piece discussing India’s current President, Draupadi Murmu’s electoral candidacy, Rupesh Kumar Singh throws light on her tenure as Jharkhand’s former governor and its effects on the state’s Adivasi population.
“द्रौपदी मुर्मू आपने आदिवासियों के लिए आज तक क्या किया?”
You can read more from Rupesh and follow them here.
50. A life of poverty is worlds apart from what anyone could ever imagine. In this gritty and heart-wrenching piece, Mohd Shams Alam explores the turmoil of a child bride, as she goes through fear and frustration in a marriage born out of economic need.
“अब्बू की उम्र का शौहर मिला, पीटने और साथ सोने में कोई फर्क नहीं
You can read more from Shams and follow them here.
51. Alcoholism’s effects are felt on both the consumer of liquor and their immediate family, often halting any kind of socio-economic progress. In this moving and insightful piece that explores its layered influence on the affected family, Nikku Kumari tells the story of 13-year-old Neetu and her father’s brush with alcoholism.
“पिता की शराब के लत के कारण आखिर कैसे मेरे घर का नाम ‘शराबी का घर’ पड़ा!”
You can read more from Nikku and follow them here.
2022 was a remarkable year for the Youth Ki Awaaz community. Members got to write, interact and read stories that we felt close to while also building a platform that provides safe space to all. As we close this year, in our heart and minds we carry the love and harmony of the YKA community. May 2023 be bigger, better and more impactful for all of us!