The Founder | Queer Ink
Shobhna S. Kumar
The inception of Queer Ink back in 2010 stands as a pivotal moment in our history, marking the emergence of a queer-owned business in India, spearheaded by yours truly. That year we hosted a queer book fair, an open mic night, and author-reader meetings.
In 2012, we published Out! Stories from the New Queer India, followed by the debut of Tell Me a Story, a documentary series, in 2014. The introduction of QFest, a monthly celebration of queer arts, literature, and theatre, along with pop-up stalls, further solidified our commitment to fostering queer culture.
Fast forward to 2020, a decade on, and we embarked on a mission to redefine our purpose: reshaping the narrative surrounding India’s LGBTHQIA+ communities. Our renewed dedication is evident—to exclusively champion works created by members of the LGBTHQIA+ communities, expanding our reach globally through book distribution collaborations with talented freelancers. We also developed our 2nd imprint, Queer Ink Swabhimaan, to mentor and empower emerging queer Indian writers.
Our latest endeavour, the Queer Ink Archives, delves into recording oral histories and digitising physical objects, creating a searchable database that breathes life into the lived experiences of queer Indians.
Our two documentaries are in various stages of research.
I am deeply grateful to the individuals who have supported and enriched me throughout this extraordinary journey.
Looking ahead, I am filled with anticipation for the new chapters that await us as we continue to affirm LGBTHQIA+ Indians’s place in Indian history and pave a smoother path for future generations.
What else is possible?!
With warm regards, Shobhna.
About Me
I am fortunate to have had a diverse career journey as an independent, queer serial entrepreneur and author. My path has taken me across the globe, starting in the beautiful islands of Fiji and leading me through Australia and the United States before finding my home in India.
I am the first member of my family to return to India since 1905. My arrival in 2002 was entirely unexpected—a result of a connection forged through Yahoo Chat! This led me to meet Harshita, my partner, for twenty-two years.
I initially worked within the non-profit sector with several organisations, like Lawyers Collective and SNEHA, to update their policies to reflect international best practices. I’ve also had the privilege of working on a project with Population Services International in Goa, which deepened my understanding of grassroots challenges and the importance of social impact within the HIV/AIDS community work.
The work that has continued to be most fulfilling has been providing support to the LBQ women and transmen. Since 2009, I’ve been providing crisis intervention and support and occasionally participate in panel discussions to represent Indian lesbians, bisexual women, and transmen. The erstwhile Umang was founded when I arranged a meeting with Raj Kanoujia’s group of friends. We met in an office provided by The Humsafar Trust, which became a regular safe meeting space. The group members repainted and decorated that room to make it theirs and continued to meet there for some time.
I embarked on a fresh chapter of my life in India, keeping my journey clandestine, shared only with a select few – Harshita, Owais, Shalmalee, and Tejal. As I settled into my new surroundings, my curiosity about the LGBTHQIA+ communities in Mumbai burned fervently. Eager to delve deeper, I voraciously sought information through news articles and books.
Yet, my quest was met with disappointment. The offerings were sparse. Traditional bookstores lacked any literature on queer topics, leaving me with scant resources. The predominant narratives seemed to cast the LGBTHQIA+ communities through the lens of victimhood, mainly portrayed by NGOs and the media. Funding, crucial for the advancement of the queer movement, primarily stemmed from perspectives surrounding HIV/AIDS, perpetuating a sense of affliction and helplessness. Section 377 loomed ominously, equating gay sex with criminality, a grim reality that persisted.
Only after stumbling upon an article recounting the ILGA conference of 2002 held in Juhu, Mumbai, did I find a glimmer of connection to the LGBTHQIA+ communities in India. This event marked our initial encounter with the vibrant and resilient fabric of queer identities within the country.
As an ardent reader deeply interested in understanding the diverse experiences of the LGBTHQIA+ communities in India, I became increasingly frustrated by the glaring absence of literature addressing these narratives. By 2009, it became painfully apparent that even if such books did exist, they were alarmingly inaccessible to those who sought them.
In response to this pressing need, a significant portion of 2009 was dedicated to meticulously researching the landscape of book retail, including sales figures and readership statistics. However, it quickly became evident that India lacked a centralised database to collate such vital information.
During this investigative phase, I embarked on a journey spanning various regions, engaging with agencies and individuals from the LGBTHQIA+ communities across Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi, and Goa. These interactions resulted from shared sentiments echoing a profound yearning for literature that resonated with their identities. Yet, despite this demand, they encountered formidable barriers: a scarcity of relevant books, the discomfort of judgmental glances from fellow customers and cashiers in conventional bookstores, and the frustrating inability to procure and take home the literature they sought.
Listening intently to the voices of these communities marked the genesis of my venture with Queer Ink. It was imbued with trust, vulnerability, and a stark recognition of the acute absence of accessible information about their lived experiences.
Yep, Queer Ink was launched with many gaps in the business plan but the determination to fulfil a gap in the market.
In the subsequent year of 2010, Queer Ink was launched as an online platform, offering a sanctuary where individuals could explore LGBTHQIA+ literature within the safety and comfort of their own spaces. This endeavour initially catered primarily to those with internet access and predominantly urban dwellers. Nevertheless, it heralded the commencement of a transformative journey, opening doors to a vast tapestry of narratives and connecting me with the richly diverse tapestry of the broader community and their myriad stories.
I embarked on my journey as a serial entrepreneur propelled by a series of serendipitous events, initially immersing myself in the realm of e-commerce back in 2010. This marked the genesis of my foray into the intricate online business world. I mastered every facet, from navigating IT landscapes to constructing platforms, orchestrating promotions, and executing marketing strategies.
The turning point in my entrepreneurial voyage came with the pioneering of India’s first queer book fair in 2010. This endeavour introduced me to the intricacies of event production. It served as a platform for cultivating diverse gatherings, ranging from book fairs and pop-up stalls to open mic sessions, author-reader dialogues, and theatrical performances.
From this fertile ground of experience emerged QFest, a landmark monthly festival celebrating the richness of queer talent across various artistic domains. This festival, spanning art, theatre, open mic showcases, and film screenings, quickly became a beacon of inclusivity and creative expression within the community, garnering widespread acclaim.
These monthly activities, which took place in mainstream settings, drew a wide range of attendees, many juggling the demands of marriage and secret identities. It was encouraging to hear murmurs of appreciation from participants who discovered genuine connection and comfort in these events, where they could accept their actual selves for a little while.
Responding to consumer feedback and a desire to adapt to evolving demands, I ventured into book publishing, meticulously navigating the editing process, legal frameworks, promotional strategies, marketing tactics, and distribution channels. By 2014, my endeavours expanded to include the production of compelling short documentaries and fiction films, further enriching my creative repertoire.
Throughout this transformative odyssey, I crisscrossed the nation, lending my voice to panels, spearheading conferences, conducting workshops, and fostering collaborations with various organisations dedicated to advancing LGBTQIA+ causes. My journey as a serial entrepreneur shaped my professional trajectory and imbued me with the drive to champion diversity, inclusion, and social progress on a broader scale.
Since embarking on my journey in 2010, my primary aim has been to establish frameworks dedicated to documenting the diverse experiences of LGBTHQIA+ individuals within the fabric of Indian citizenship and the broader context of Indian history.
In January 2023, the Queer Ink Archives initiative was officially launched, thanks to a collaboration with Culture for Change, and Ishita Shah. This initiative is deeply rooted in the crucial objective of capturing the oral histories of LGBTHQIA+ Indians and digitally conserving tangible artefacts that hold profound significance for their community.
Through rigorous research endeavours and constructive dialogues, fruitful partnerships were forged, culminating in a collaborative effort with Malati Rao to helm the production of a feature-length documentary spotlighting the contemporary landscape of LGBTHQIA+ India.
Simultaneously, the publishing arm underwent a significant evolution, giving rise to the Queer Ink Swabhimaan imprint. This endeavour aims to nurture aspiring queer writers, equipping them with the tools necessary for successful publication while also expanding the repertoire of literature featuring LGBTHQIA+ Indian narratives.
My passion project is centred on celebrating Indian women who love women. Through various initiatives, I aim to create a platform where their voices are heard and their experiences are acknowledged. Here are several projects I am currently involved in:
- Sapphic Circle: This initiative creates a supportive network for Indian women who love women. We encourage dialogue and mutual support among this community by fostering connections and providing safe spaces.
- Anthology Series: I am curating anthologies showcasing the diverse lives and stories of Indian women loving women. These anthologies testify to their experiences, struggles, and triumphs, aiming to amplify their voices and promote visibility.
- Documentary Research: In collaboration with filmmakers and researchers, I am conducting research for a documentary that highlights the life experiences of Indian women who love and desire women. Through interviews and storytelling, we aim to capture their narratives authentically and sensitively on camera.
Together, these projects empower and uplift Indian women who love women, fostering greater understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity within society.
I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to transform lives and challenge societal norms. When I looked around at the literary landscape in India, however, I saw a glaring gap—the absence of authentic queer voices. It was this realisation that prompted me to create the mentoring program to nurture and empower emerging queer Indian writers to be financially successful authors.
I will provide aspiring writers with more than technical skills—I offer guidance, support, and a sense of belonging. Through one-on-one sessions, group discussions, and workshops, I walk alongside these writers on their journey, offering feedback, encouragement, and practical advice every step of the way.
One of the fundamental principles I emphasise in my mentorship is authenticity. The most potent stories stem from lived experiences, and I encourage my mentees to embrace their identities and perspectives wholeheartedly. In a society where queer voices have often been marginalised or misrepresented, this emphasis on authenticity is revolutionary—it’s about reclaiming narratives and telling stories that resonate deeply with the queer Indian experience.
The mentorship program is designed for writers to develop their skills and knowledge to achieve financial independence.
Let’s have informal conversations together, either in person or online, to document your lived experiences in India. We can share stories and journeys, ensuring your valuable narratives are preserved for future generations.
Engaging in energy healing work through practices such as The Bars, Numerology, and active listening is a profound journey towards holistic well-being and self-discovery. In this transformative process, I offer a unique blend of modalities aimed at restoring balance and harmony within individuals’ energetic systems.
The Bars, a technique derived from Access Consciousness, involves gentle touch on 32 specific points on the head, facilitating the release of pent-up energy and thought patterns. Combined with Numerology, which explores the energetic significance of numbers in one’s life, this approach delves deep into understanding the underlying energies at play and guiding individuals towards alignment with their true selves.
Active listening serves as a foundational element, fostering a safe and supportive space for clients to express themselves fully. Through attentive and empathetic listening, I facilitate profound shifts in awareness, allowing clients to unravel limiting beliefs and emotional blockages.
Embracing inclusivity and accessibility, I offer my services on a sliding scale fee structure, ensuring that energy healing remains accessible to individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The sliding scale ranges from rupees 1,200 to 12,000, empowering individuals to choose a fee that aligns with their financial means while honoring the value of the transformative work offered and their wish for change in their lives.
In essence, my energy healing practice embodies a holistic approach to personal growth and empowerment, inviting individuals to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation.
A strong LGBTQ community that has endured prejudice and exclusion for generations lives in India, a country known for its abundant cultural diversity. Several LGBTQ artists and causes have recently emerged in India, coinciding with a movement towards greater LGBTQ visibility in public discourse. The role that LGBTQ art and artists in India play in questioning norms, encouraging acceptance, and fighting for equality is vital, and their significance cannot be emphasised enough.
I am happy to represent LGBTQ Art and Artists. Please message me at +91.9821730721, your email address, for a catalogue.