#Change Name Legally in India

[taxxinn]

Changing your name is a life-changing decision, frequently prompted by important personal or professional circumstances. While the process appears straightforward, it requires multiple legal stages and attention to detail. This blog discusses how to avoid common mistakes in name change process, common reasons and the procedure.

[advocateadvice]

How can I change my name legally in India?

To change your name legally in India, you'll need to follow a specific process. This typically involves drafting an affidavit, publishing a notice in newspapers, and obtaining a Gazette notification. The exact steps might vary slightly depending on your state and specific circumstances, so it's advisable to consult with a legal professional for accurate guidance

[name-change-in-india]

Name Change of Adult in India

Changing your name as an adult in India is a significant decision that requires careful consideration of both legal and personal factors. Whether you’re looking to change your first name, surname, or both, it is important to understand the legal procedures involved in the process within the Indian legal framework.

To help you navigate this process, we have put together a comprehensive guide that provides detailed insights into the procedures, necessary documents, legal age requirements, reasons for name change, types of name changes, and expected duration for each type of name change in India. This guide will serve as a useful resource for anyone looking to change their name in India. Legal Age and Eligibility for Name Change for Adult in India

1. Legal Age Requirement

In India, individuals must generally be at least 18 years old to change their name without parental consent. This age requirement is consistent with the Indian Majority Act, 1875, which defines the age of majority as 18 years for all purposes except marriage.

2. Exceptions

Minors: In cases where a minor (someone below the age of 18) seeks to change their name, parental consent or approval from a legal guardian is typically required. The process for changing the name of a minor may vary depending on the state or union territory’s specific laws and regulations.

Marriage or Divorce: While the legal age for name change is generally 18, exceptions exist when it comes to marriage or divorce-related name changes. For instance, individuals below 18 may be allowed to change their name as part of a marriage or divorce proceeding, provided they meet other legal requirements and obtain appropriate consent or approval.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Sound Mind: An individual seeking to change their name must be of sound mind and capable of understanding the implications of the name change process. This requirement ensures that the decision to change one’s name is made voluntarily and without coercion.

No Fraudulent Intent: The name change process is intended for genuine reasons and not for fraudulent purposes. Individuals seeking to change their name must provide valid reasons for the change and must not intend to deceive or defraud others through the name change.

No Pending Legal Issues: Applicants for name change should not have any pending legal issues or criminal charges against them. Courts may scrutinize name change petitions to ensure that the change is not sought to evade legal obligations or escape criminal liability.

Resident of India: Typically, individuals seeking a name change of an adult in India must be residents of the country. Non-residents may face additional requirements or procedural hurdles, depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of their case.

4. Documentation

Proof of Identity: Applicants must provide valid proof of identity, such as an Aadhaar card, passport, or driver’s license, to verify their identity.

Petition for Name Change: A formal petition or application for name change, along with supporting documents, must be submitted to the appropriate court or authority.

Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree: In cases where the name change is related to marriage or divorce, supporting documentation such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree may be required to substantiate the request.

Other Supporting Documents: Depending on the specific circumstances of the name change, additional documents such as birth certificates, affidavits, or publication notices may be required.

People Also Read: Name Change Procedure for Minor Child

Types of Name Change for Adult in India

1. First Name Change

Reasons: Individuals may choose to change their first name for various reasons, including personal preference, religious conversion, or to align with their gender identity.

Procedure:

Research: Understand the legal requirements and procedures for changing your first name in your jurisdiction.

Petition: Complete the necessary form for a first name change, providing accurate and complete information.

Filing: Submit the petition along with required documents, such as proof of identity and any applicable fees, to the appropriate court.

Publication: In some states, publication of a notice in a local newspaper may be required to inform the public of the name change.

Court Hearing: Attend the scheduled court hearing, where a judge will review your petition and may inquire about the reasons for the name change.

Court Order: If approved, you will receive a court order officially granting the first name change.

Update Records: After obtaining the court order, update your name on various documents and records, such as your Aadhaar card, passport, and other legal documents.

2. Surname Change

Reasons: Individuals may choose to change their surname due to marriage, divorce, personal preference, or to distance themselves from negative associations.

Procedure:

Research: Understand the legal requirements and procedures for changing your surname in your jurisdiction.

Petition: Complete the necessary form for a surname change, providing accurate and complete information.

Filing: Submit the petition along with the required documents and fees to the appropriate court.

Publication: Some states require publishing a notice in a local newspaper to inform the public of the surname change.

Court Hearing: Attend the scheduled court hearing, where a judge will review your petition and may ask for reasons behind the surname change.

Court Order: If approved, you will receive a court order officially granting the surname change.

Update Records: After obtaining the court order, update your surname on various documents and records.

3. First Name and Surname Change

Reasons: Individuals may choose to change both their first name and surname for various reasons, such as marriage, divorce, personal preference, or religious conversion.

Procedure:

Research: Understand the legal requirements and procedures for changing both your first name and surname in your jurisdiction.

Petition: Complete the necessary form for a first name and surname change, providing accurate and complete information.

Filing: Submit the petition along with the required documents and fees to the appropriate court.

Publication: Some states may require publishing a notice in a local newspaper to inform the public of the name change.

Court Hearing: Attend the scheduled court hearing, where a judge will review your petition and inquire about the reasons for the name change.

Court Order: If approved, you will receive a court order officially granting the first name and surname change.

Update Records: After obtaining the court order, update your name on various documents and records.

Reasons for Name Change in India

1. Marriage

Context: In India, it’s common for individuals, particularly women, to change their surname after marriage to adopt their spouse’s surname.

Reasoning: Some individuals may choose to change their surname as a symbolic gesture of their union and to signify their marital status. Others may do so to simplify administrative processes or to conform to societal norms and traditions.

2. Divorce

Context: After divorce, individuals may choose to revert to their maiden name or adopt a completely new name to signify a fresh start.

Reasoning: Changing one’s name after divorce can be a way to reclaim one’s identity and assert independence. It may also help individuals emotionally disassociate from their past marital status and move forward with their lives.

People Also Read: Adult’s Name Change Process After Divorce

3. Personal Preference

Context: Some individuals may simply prefer a different name for personal or aesthetic reasons.

Reasoning: Personal preference could stem from a desire for a name that better reflects one’s identity, cultural heritage, or spiritual beliefs. It could also be motivated by a wish to disassociate from negative connotations associated with their current name.

4. Gender Transition

Context: In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and acceptance of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in India.

Reasoning: Changing one’s name to align with their gender identity is an important step in affirming their true self. It helps transgender individuals feel more comfortable and accepted in society and may also facilitate legal recognition of their gender identity.

People Also Read: Step-by-step Procedure for Name Change After Gender Change

5. Cultural or Religious Conversion

Context: India is a diverse country with various cultures, religions, and linguistic communities.

Reasoning: Individuals may change their names to reflect a cultural or religious conversion. For example, someone converting to Islam may adopt a new name upon conversion, while others may choose a name that reflects their spiritual beliefs or connection to a particular deity.

People Also Read: Adult’s Name Change Procedure After Religion Conversion

6. Avoidance of Stigma or Discrimination

Context: Unfortunately, some names in India may carry stigma or prejudice due to caste, religion, or regional associations.

Reasoning: Changing one’s name can help individuals avoid discrimination or bias in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and social interactions. By adopting a neutral or less stigmatized name, individuals may mitigate the negative impact of societal prejudices.

7. Professional Reasons

Context: In certain professions or industries, individuals may opt to change their names for branding or career-related purposes.

Reasoning: A name change can help individuals create a distinct professional identity or enhance their marketability in competitive fields. For example, an actor may choose a stage name for better recognition, or a writer may use a pen name to appeal to a specific audience.

Important Documents for Name Change of Adult in India

1. Proof of Identity

Aadhaar Card: The Aadhaar card issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) serves as a primary form of identification in India. It contains a unique 12-digit identification number and biometric data.

Passport: A valid passport is another widely accepted form of identification that can be used to verify one’s identity. It contains personal details such as name, date of birth, photograph, and passport number.

Driver’s License: A driver’s license issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) is often accepted as proof of identity. It contains information about the holder’s name, address, date of birth, and vehicle class eligibility.

2. Petition for Name Change

A formal petition or application for name change must be submitted to the appropriate court or authority. The format and content of the petition may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specific requirements of the court.

3. Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree

If the name change is related to marriage or divorce, supporting documentation such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree may be required to substantiate the request. The marriage certificate serves as proof of the marital status change, while the divorce decree may be needed to revert to a previous name.

4. Affidavit

An affidavit is a legal document in which the applicant swears to the truthfulness of the information provided in the name change petition. It may contain details such as the applicant’s current and desired name, reasons for the name change, and confirmation of no fraudulent intent.

5. Publication Notice

In some states or jurisdictions, applicants may be required to publish a notice of their name change in a local newspaper. The publication notice serves to inform the public of the impending name change and provides an opportunity for objections, if any.

6. Gazette Notification

After obtaining the court order for the name change, it’s advisable to publish a notification in the Official Gazette of India. This step gives legal validity to the name change and facilitates the updating of records with government agencies and institutions.

7. Other Supporting Documents

Depending on the specific circumstances of the name change, additional documents may be required. These could include birth certificates, educational certificates, affidavits from witnesses, or any other documentation deemed necessary by the court or authority handling the name change petition.

Procedure for Name Change of Adult in India

1. Research the Law

Begin by researching the legal requirements and procedures for changing your name in your state or union territory. Different states may have varying rules and regulations governing name changes.

2. Obtain the Necessary Forms

Contact the appropriate court or authority to obtain the necessary forms for filing a name change petition. These forms may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of name change you’re seeking (e.g., first name change, surname change, or both).

3. Complete the Petition

Fill out the petition form accurately and completely, providing all required information. This may include your current name, desired new name, reason for the name change, personal details, and any supporting documentation.

4. Gather Supporting Documents

Collect all required supporting documents, such as proof of identity, marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable), affidavit, publication notice (if required), and any other documentation specified by the court or authority.

5. File the Petition

Submit the completed petition along with the supporting documents to the appropriate court or authority with jurisdiction over your place of residence. Pay any required filing fees as prescribed by the court.

6. Publication Notice

In some states or jurisdictions, applicants may be required to publish a notice of their name change in a local newspaper. Follow the guidelines provided by the court or authority regarding the content and format of the publication notice.

7. Court Hearing

Attend the scheduled court hearing, if required. In some cases, the court may schedule a hearing to review the name change petition and inquire about the reasons for the name change. Be prepared to explain your reasons clearly and honestly.

8. Receive Court Order

If the court approves your name change petition, you will receive a court order officially granting the name change. This court order serves as legal proof of your new name.

9. Gazette Notification

After obtaining the court order for the name change, it’s advisable to publish a notification in the Official Gazette of India. This step gives legal validity to the name change and facilitates the updating of records with government agencies and institutions.

10. Update Records

Once you have obtained the court order and Gazette notification, update your name on various documents and records, such as your Aadhaar card, passport, driver’s license, bank accounts, educational certificates, and any other relevant documents.

11. Follow-Up

Follow up with government agencies, financial institutions, educational institutions, and other relevant entities to ensure that your name change is reflected accurately in their records. Keep copies of the court order and Gazette notification for future reference.

Duration of Name Change Process in India

1. Research and Preparation

Duration: 1–2 weeks

Before initiating the name change process, individuals typically spend some time researching the legal requirements and procedures applicable in their state or union territory. This may involve gathering information about the necessary forms, supporting documents, and any specific guidelines provided by the court or authority. Once the necessary information is obtained, individuals can begin preparing their name change petition and collecting the required documentation.

2. Filing the Petition

Duration: 1–2 weeks

After completing the petition form and gathering all required documents, individuals must file their name change petition with the appropriate court or authority. The duration of this step may vary depending on factors such as the availability of court appointments and administrative processing times. Once the petition is filed, individuals may need to wait for the court to schedule a hearing date, if required.

3. Publication Notice (if required)

Duration: 2–4 weeks

In some states or jurisdictions, applicants may be required to publish a notice of their name change in a local newspaper. The duration of this step typically involves waiting for the notice to be published and ensuring compliance with any publication guidelines specified by the court or authority. After the publication notice period expires, individuals can proceed with the next steps of the name change process.

4. Court Hearing (if required)

Duration: 1–2 months

If the court schedules a hearing to review the name change petition, individuals may need to wait for the hearing date to be assigned. The duration of this step can vary depending on factors such as court scheduling and the complexity of the case. During the hearing, individuals can present their case and explain the reasons for the name change to the judge.

5. Receipt of Court Order

Duration: 2–4 weeks

After the court reviews the name change petition, individuals will receive a court order officially granting the name change if approved. The duration of this step involves waiting for the court to issue the order and for individuals to receive it through mail or in person. Once the court order is obtained, individuals can proceed with the next steps of updating their records and notifying relevant authorities.

6. Gazette Notification

Duration: 1–2 months

After receiving the court order for the name change, individuals are advised to publish a notification in the Official Gazette of India. The duration of this step involves submitting the notification to the appropriate authorities and waiting for it to be published in the Gazette. The publication of the Gazette notification provides legal validity to the name change and facilitates the updating of records with government agencies and institutions.

7. Updating Records

Duration: 1–3 months

Once individuals have obtained the court order and Gazette notification, they can begin updating their name on various documents and records, such as their Aadhaar card, passport, driver’s license, bank accounts, educational certificates, and any other relevant documents. The duration of this step may vary depending on the number of records that need to be updated and the processing times of the respective authorities or institutions.

Cost for Name Change for Adults in India

The expected cost for a name change for adults in India can vary significantly depending on various factors, including jurisdiction, legal fees, court fees, publication costs, Gazette notification fees, and administrative charges.

Govt normal fees — ₹1300 To ₹1500 (Adult)

Govt tatkal fees — ₹1300

Professional Fee Structure for Name Change

Name Change Fee for General Public — ₹ 1,500 + ₹ 450 for each Alias

Name Change Fee for Govt. Employee — ₹ 1,750 + ₹ 450 for each Alias

For Person Living In Abroad — ₹ 11,500/-

Name Change + Religion Change — ₹ 3,200 + ₹ 450 for each Alias

Here’s a breakdown of potential costs

1. Legal Fees: Legal fees can vary based on the complexity of the case and the rates charged by the legal professional or law firm. This expense could range from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 or more.

2. Court Fees: Court fees for filing the name change petition may range from nominal amounts to more substantial sums, depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the name change. Expect to pay anywhere from ₹500 to ₹5,000 or more in court fees.

3. Publication Costs: Publishing a notice of the name change petition in a local newspaper can incur additional expenses, such as advertising rates and publication fees. This cost could range from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 or more, depending on the newspaper chosen and the circulation rates.

4. Gazette Notification Fees: Fees for publishing the name change notification in the Official Gazette of India are typically nominal but may vary. Expect to pay around ₹100 to ₹500 for Gazette notification fees.

5. Administrative Charges: Additional administrative charges may apply for updating official documents and records, such as an Aadhaar card, passport, driver’s license, and educational certificates. This could amount to ₹500 to ₹2,000 or more, depending on the number of documents requiring updates and any processing fees involved.

It’s important to note that these are rough estimates, and the actual costs may vary based on individual circumstances, geographic location, and specific requirements of the name change process. Additionally, seeking guidance from legal professionals or consulting with relevant authorities can help individuals better understand the expected costs and budget accordingly for the name change process.

Name Change Office of Central Government in India

The government gazette office or Central Gazette office is located in North Delhi and the Official Address is — Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. Ph: 8588887480 (Call for Guidance)

1. Gazette Notification: The Gazette of India, which is published by the Government of India, plays a crucial role in providing legal validity to name changes. Petitioners are required to publish a notification of their name change in the Official Gazette of India, which facilitates updates to official records with central government agencies and institutions.

2. Passport Office: Individuals who have changed their name may need to update the name on their passports to reflect the change. This process typically involves submitting a copy of the court order approving the name change, along with the updated documents, to the nearest Passport Office or Passport Seva Kendra for processing.

Conclusion

Changing your name as an adult in India is a significant decision that involves navigating legal procedures and personal considerations. Understanding the reasons for name change, the types of changes available, and the procedural steps outlined within the Indian legal system is essential.

By following these steps, gathering the necessary documents, and meeting legal requirements, you can successfully navigate the name change process in India and embrace your new identity with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions on Name Change for Adults in India

Q1. What are the common reasons for changing one’s name in India?

Ans1. Common reasons for changing one’s name in India include marriage, divorce, personal preference, cultural or religious conversion, gender transition, and avoidance of stigma or discrimination.

Q2. Do I need to be a certain age to change my name in India?

Ans2. Yes, generally, individuals must be at least 18 years old to change their name without parental consent. However, exceptions may apply in cases related to marriage or divorce.

Q3. What documents are required for a name change in India?

Ans3. Required documents typically include proof of identity (such as An Aadhaar card, passport, or driver’s license), marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable), petition for name change, affidavit, and publication notice (if required).

Q4. How long does the name change process take in India?

Ans4. The duration varies but generally ranges from a few weeks to several months, depending on factors such as court processing times, publication requirements, and administrative procedures.

Q5. Do I need to publish a notice of my name change in a newspaper?

Ans5. In some states or jurisdictions, applicants may be required to publish a notice of their name change in a local newspaper as part of the legal process.

Q6. What is a Gazette notification, and why is it important?

Ans6. A Gazette notification is published in the Official Gazette of India after obtaining the court order for the name change. It provides legal validity to the name change and facilitates updating of records with government agencies and institutions.

[lemurchick]

Another 'wonderful news' from Russia for your consideration! This week, the BRICS forum on traditional values took place in Moscow. And it was fucking insane.

In short, the opening meeting was BRICS countries representatives verbally jerking off on how well they oppress or plan to oppress their people especially women. The only person who bothered to contradict this narrative was Egyptian female writer Doha Mustafa Assy.

I will translate some quotes from the russian article. https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/7311174

Russia: "At some point the roles for women have begun to change towards independence and self-sufficiency. We, of course, love and respect our women very much, but we want them to pay more attention to their families, men and children. We do not want them to strive for business, politics, economics, power, or culture. <...> The main traditional value is the preservation of natural purpose, where a woman continues the family line and a man inspires her to give birth to children."

Pakistan: "Any traditional religion upholds and promotes social values and traditions. No father would want to harm his family. No mother would want to break up or disintegrate her family. This <rejection of family values> is deliberately imposed on us and promoted by some power circles”

Ethiopia: "In our country it is traditionally women who do the cooking, teaching children and other family duties. So the man's role is not as big as the woman's, and this tradition gives the man the freedom to behave like a child." (?????)

Uganda: [This country experience is “extremely important to the discussion of legislative protection of religious values,” emphasized russian politician Dmitry Kuznetsov, referring to the fact that in Uganda same-sex relations are prohibited, and in some cases violators face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.] “We did this to make sure that the country would be preserved. I would encourage countries to behave in such a way that the culture that exists in each country is not imposed on others.” btw Brazil and South Africa representatives didn't say a word here even though their countries legalized same-sex mafrriage years ago.

Brazil: "Marriage in no longer a goal for our citizens and the country has the highest divorce rate in history. Meanwhile, children are most often left with their mothers, with fathers unwilling to take part in their upbringing. As a result, many Brazilian boys are growing up without a father figure and 9% of male inmates in prisons don't even know their father's name. Shifting the balance in favor of women leads to the fact that the position of feminism is growing, and the number of people who identify as LGBT people is growing.” At the end of his speech, he marveled, “This is my first time in Russia, and I didn't know you guys were so conservative. I'm so happy, it's so impressive!” He also admitted that “the people of Brazil know nothing about Russia,” and Dmitry Kuznetsov promised: “We will come to you and tell you all about our saving conservatism.”

Egypt: As I mentioned in the beginning the only person who actively argued against this trend was Doha Mustafa Assy. She said: "We on the contrary has a struggle against patriarchy. Tradition and religion are not on women's side, they help men. A lot of women in Egypt ask for divorce only because they feel like slaves at home. He (the husband) has the right not to let her leave the house according to tradition. BRICS is India, it's China, it's Russia, it's Egypt. We are very different. And maybe what you are trying to do in Russia has already became a problem for us”.

To be honest I don't know what will come out of this forum. Maybe it's just empty posturing, maybe BRICS countries just sent people who had free time on their hand here as a formality. But I despair reading these quotes; twenty years ago we sent a singing duet posing as lesbians to Eurovision; ten years ago I was watching lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Colour in a full theater. Soviet Union gave women some attempt in an equal rights in fucking 1917 and we were the first country to send a woman in space. What happened? How has it turned this way? We are now friends with some of the most patriarchal countries in the world and with fucking North Korea. They are planning to remove the Taliban's terrorist status.

What the hell.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

WebMD Page for Aziraphale

As promised to you all, inspired by that video of Aziraphale as an antidepressant. The WebMD drug format, from your clearly deranged mascot, Asmi. This took way too much effort. For legal purposes, even though this blog is a lawless hellscape, this is a spoof. If you did like it, reblog it, maggoty loves of mine, because likes don't help visibility on tumblr, and I want everyone to be traumatised with my own specific brand of unhinged. No pressure though, be rebels muaha. That being said:

MENU > DRUGS & MEDICATIONS > AZIRAPHALE

COMMON BRAND(S): Guardian of the East Gate, Angel GENERIC NAME(S): Aziraphale

USES This medication is used to treat mood-related disorders ranging from depression to chronic loneliness and anxiety. It has also been proven effective in treatment of Compulsive Demonic Behavioural Disorder (CDBD) and Post Fall Stress Disorder (PFSD). The medication results in an overall improvement in mood (see Side Effects), morals, and lifestyle choices. This medication is sometimes described as a 'miracle-worker'. It is advisable to ensure that the correct dosage is taken at regular intervals. The doctor/God/Forces That Be may prescribe a lower dose at the start, gradually increasing frequency and amount over the course of millennia.

SIDE EFFECTS Documented side-effects include pining behaviour, severe withdrawal symptoms in case of suddenly stopping the medication, heart palpitations, stuttering or stammering, mood swings including irrational lashing out or defensive behaviour when faced with highly emotional situations, break-ups, misunderstands, obliviousness, amongst others. Despite the studies being limited to a single subject (see Crowley et. al. updated 2023) these effects are typically harmless in the long term. Life-altering effects may also be noted, including irretrievably falling in love, marriage, a positive character arc, tendencies to put oneself at risk to ensure continuation of medication, lifelong friendship, fate-defying romance and severe allergy to the idea of discontinuation of medication.

WARNINGS Casual or reckless consumption can be too fast for the medication, which will lessen its effects, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms range from repeated indulging in CDBD and PFSD induced behaviours to alcoholism, depressive episodes, recklessness, listlessness, and prolonged car rides with no purpose. While the medication should not be consumed too fast, regularity is also advised. This is a long-term medication and not a short-term fix. Rare, short-term exposures will only worsen the side effects, withdrawal symptoms and may even reverse the drug effects.

PRECAUTIONS Ensure immortality so that the medication may be able to work its effect through the full course. Pre-existing trauma and heart conditions may require regular consultations with a therapist.

INTERACTIONS Drug interactions may change how the medication works or increase severity of side effects. This document does not include a comprehensive list of all drug interactions, please do adequate research and check instructions on the medication before proceeding with additional drugs. Aziraphale is known to have highly negative interactions with the toxin hellfire as well as the drugs Gabriel (only when sold as Supreme Archangel), Satan and Metatron (known toxin). Negative interference may occur due to most drugs from the class Heaven and Hell. Vague interference may occur with the drug class Homo sapiens.

OVERDOSE While less dangerous than withdrawal symptoms, overdose may lead to lack of personal space, miscommunication, and decrease in mood stability. Increased irritability is also common. Use with caution.

IMAGE

REVIEWS (1) Effectiveness: 5 stars Ease of use: 4 stars Satisfaction: 100000000000000000000e stars

It must be noted that in the country where I live (India), advertisements for pharmaceutical drugs are legally prohibited on television and other media. Which is why I was very bewildered at the initial video. But WebMD is a universal phenomenon so this shall by my contribution to the fandom. Thank you @neil-gaiman, Good Omens has given me a lot of opportunities to exercise my brain in all the weirdest ways.

[djuvlipen]

Here is an NGO that helps Ukrainian Romani women!

Svitlana’s eyes began to shine with happiness as she entered the hotel room in Odesa. She had never spent a night in a hotel, or any place that to her seemed so beautifully decorated. She had come here to change her life.

Svitlana* was attending a women’s leadership training from CARE and the charity foundation Winds of Change.

Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Svitlana had lived in a compact settlement for Roma families in Odesa region. Women’s health was never discussed there. She didn’t go to school, because she had to take care of her younger siblings.

Only recently, at 28, has she learned to write her own name.

Winds of Change, a CARE partner organization, has been working with the Roma community for over four years.

Roma, also called Romany, is an ethnic group of traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India but now live principally in Europe.

The word “Roma” means “man” and refers to different communities, including Kalderash in southeastern Europe, Romanichals in England, Sinti in Germany, Italy, and France, Kalé in Wales, Finland, Spain and Portugal, and Gitano from Spain, as well as many others around the world — there are an estimated 400,000 Roma people in Ukraine.

As part of CARE’s Women’s Lead in Emergencies model, Winds of Change is working with the Roma communities in Ukraine to train women to take part in leadership.

‘I dreamed of being an artist’

Svitlana was 15 when she got married. She married her husband “under the Roma law.” They have no legal marriage documents.

“He stole me from my parents, and since then we have been living together,” Svitlana says. “This is how most Roma girls live. [They say] women should only look after children, clean and cook… But when I was a child, I dreamed of being an artist. To paint beautiful patterns on the facades of the house. It’s a pity that I never did.”

Some 80 percent of girls in the Roma community have similar stories. From a young age they help their parents look after younger children, and between the ages of 12 and 15 they are coerced into marriage where they then start their adult life.

Now she has six children.

She dreams that all her children will be educated. So, this year, with the support of the Winds of Change Foundation, three of her six children went to the first grade, and two went to the second grade.

For Svitlana, it was an indescribable joy.

A double standard

“Very often, representatives of local authorities, especially in rural areas, turn a blind eye to Roma needs,” says Yulia Hladka, a Winds of Change representative. “Children may not go to school, because it is their tradition. They are Roma; they are married early and have different ‘duties’” — this is how social services often react to the remarks of Roma human rights organizations. If a Ukrainian woman was in a similar situation, she would have been noticed and social services would have intervened.”

Roma people feel this indifference, even from the medical community. When Svitlana fell ill, the local hospital was reluctant to admit her. It was the same with the pediatrician. He simply recorded the visits in a log, although he did not actually examine her children.

It was only with Yulia Hladka’s help that Svitlana finally decided to see a gynecologist to find out the cause of her irregular cycle and heavy bleeding. But it wasn’t easy, because of ethnic discrimination. Only at a private medical center was Svitlana thoroughly examined and found to have cervical erosion, a damaged cyst, and critically low hemoglobin.

Now she is undergoing a long course of treatment.

A double discrimination

As Winds of Change has learned, changing the lives of Roma women is not always easy. These women have suffered discrimination, and sometimes violence, and are understandably reluctant to trust.

Human rights organizations call the Roma community one of the most discriminated against social groups in Ukraine.

Roma women in Ukraine are subject to double discrimination — on ethnic and gender grounds. They face limitations in various aspects of their lives, such as being compelled to marry at a young age and having more than two or three children. Because their community considers them responsible for caring for younger children, they also have restricted access to education compared to boys. They face challenges in finding employment and accessing healthcare.

Life undocumented

Many problems are caused by the lack of documents, as usually Roma people live in isolation and very rarely turn to government institutions. Women give birth at home and do not even apply for birth certificates. The absence of passports also makes it difficult for Roma to obtain documents, so they cannot receive assistance from the state, and their number in the country cannot be officially counted.

According to Roma NGOs like Winds of Change, charitable foundation “Planet of Good People,” just over a third of Ukrainian Roma are employed. For Roma women, this is often complicated by the fact that they are mothers of many children, so they face discrimination on this basis as well.

This was the case with Svitlana. She has been dependent on her husband’s decisions almost since childhood. All her time was taken up with housework and caring for her six children and her husband’s sister’s 13 children.

“At one of the focus groups, we realized that a very big problem for Roma women is the lack of access to basic services and jobs,” says Yulia. “They usually live in rural areas where there are not many employment opportunities.”

“But even if vacancies do appear, Roma are usually rejected, because of stereotypes and ethnicity.”

“We came up with the idea to create a social enterprise where these women could get hard skills — sewing home textiles and clothes — and soft skills, like communication, psychological self-regulation. We organized a small sewing company in Odesa called Petalenca, where Roma women sew bedding and home clothes. We train them and help them promote their products.”

After the escalation of the situation in Ukraine, many internally displaced women also found their place here and started working together with Roma women. Some women had some stereotypes about Roma before but working together helped to dispel them. Now this company employs Roma and women who have been displaced.

*name changed

They accept donations!

[mikasasrippedtoenail]

The Plight of Indian Widows

A woman's dignity is not her own possession. Her life is at the mercy of men around her. She is a commodity to be owned and sold first by her father then her husband. Her entire existence is tied to her servitude to those around her. After giving so much to the world, there is little life left inside of her. Yet, the world still demands her forfeit of this little life after the death of her husband. In India, a woman was expected to burn herself alive in the holy pyre of her husband's body as a show of loyalty in a practice called Sati that was outlawed in 1929(yet it is still rampant today in many rural parts of India).

With her husband no more, she must have no reason to live.Widowhood is the harbringer of acute discrimination for women in South Asia. Widows are ostracized by society and shunned by their family to live a destitute life in "Vidhwa Ashrams". Even the shadow of a widow was believed to inflict depredation and brought. They are called witches and man-eaters. They are forbidden from wearing anything but white clothes and are expected to practice strict abstinence. Widows in Afghanistan are called besarparast, meaning "household without a head". It is customary for a woman to shave off her head to appear undesirable. Her sexuality is confined, her needs and wants must die alongside her husband. Widow remarriage-although legal- is deeply stigmatized as a grave sin.

Widows are not considered to be a part of society. They can neither celebrate festivals nor travel without a religious purpose. In some extreme cases, they are made to drink the bathwater of their husbands’ dead bodies and have unprotected sex to "cleanse themselves of the sin of causing their husbands" death. Young widows also fall prey to the leering eyes of men. Child brides especially are prone to fall victim to manipulation by people around them. Men consider that since marriage has taken away her "innocence", she can now be sexually exploited.

Barring a few states, married women cannot inherit their husband's property. This lack of financial stability is the root cause of their exploitation. Most husbands leave their wives penniless. What little savings he might have had are spent on funeral rites. Relatives do not want to support her financially, considering her children and herself as excess baggage. Her parents also close the doors on her face for it is often said - "only a woman's dead body should come out of her husband's house."

This new found vulnerability makes her an easy prey for prostitution. A primary form of survival for widows is to sell their body through pimps. However, in most ashrams, they are forced to perform sexual favours by the heads of the ashram to gain money. The heads use their political power to silence the widows from raising their voice against this rape. With nowhere else to go, this cycle continues. The widows who get pregnant from this rape are "mauled by quacks for a painfully searing abortion and If that’s not done, then they would have an extra mouth to feed and an extra pair of hands to beg."

As of today, India is the abode of 42 million widows-a social class that is woefully exploited. Widows are often forced to dedicate the remaining parts of their lives to their religion. They must have no desires or wants except singing the God's praise. Widowhood for most women marks the death of their happines and social life. Although with changing times the attitude towards widows is turning positive, it is the bitter truth that the condition of widows from orthodox regions live a terrible life.

Laws protecting women are scarce- let alone widows. In India, widows are considered to be the class 1 heirs of ancestral properties. However, most of them are uneducated and unaware of the laws surrounding them. They are easily manipulated by relatives to give up their rights to the property. As for self acquired property, most men do not mention the name of their wives in their wills. After 2005, women alive on december, 2005 have a right over their father's ancestral property alongside their brothers. One must not forget that women inheriting property is still not socially acceptable in India and women who recieve property are few and far between.

To uplift widows, one must make them aware of the rights around them. Government and local NGOs should work together to organize awareness campaigns on the rights of widows. Women without capital left behind by their husbands should get a monthly stipend. "Vidhwa Ashrams" should be heavily regulated. More so, the social stigma shrouding widows must be removed. Treatment of women belonging to marginalized communities are a reflection of how dire the situation of women's rights are in India. Opening women owned women only shelters is the prime solution for the upliftment of women.

[impala124]

So, after I put this ask into the world and went back to minding my own business, @lurkingshan was kind enough to answer it and tag a few of her friends to share their thoughts on the matter. Thanks to everyone who interacted with the post.

In addition to this thoughtful post from @starryalpacasstuff , I feel that in order to understand the near absence of queer media in the Indian media landscape, people need some context as to what the ground realities are in India like.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality in India happened in 2018. In an unanimous decision, the court overturned its previous ruling and declared that any law that criminalises consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex is unconstitutional. The public backlash wasn't that huge, but a prominent member of the ruling party questioned if the courts are willing to legalise sexual intercourse with animals in the name of personal liberty.

To understand the relatively less public outrage in this scenario, we need to look at how Indian society functions. Indian culture is very collectivist in nature and having individuality is strongly discouraged. If something becomes a threat to them continuing their traditions, they'll try to beat it into submission. It isn't to suggest that people can't/won't change, it just takes time. As long as something isn't out in the open, they can just ignore it and go on about their lives. PDA is not a common thing in India even between heterosexuals. So, the chance of anyone being 'exposed' to homosexuality is close to zero. Landlords are already wary of renting apartments to guys who live together - the reasons they give is that men won't maintain the house properly, neighbours will complain because of noise, etc. So, nothing significant changes in the life of a layman because of this decision. Housing discrimination isn't faced when its women that are living together (disregarding religion and caste). The bitter truth is that housing in India is deeply segregated on the basis of religion and caste, but that's a discussion for another day.

The big fight will happen when the gays ask for marriage equality. As of 2024, same-sex marriage is not legal in India. The courts have said that existing laws have to revised in order to extend marriage equality to the homosexuals and that process has to go through the Parliament. Given the current state of Indian politics, no political party is going to put marriage equality on their election manifesto.

Keeping all of this in mind, I understand the reasons for the sparse queer media content we've seen in India. Once I started talking to others, I realised that I've severely underestimated the number of teen girls and young adults who watch BLs from several East Asian countries. The producers/creators really need to grow a backbone and create the content that clearly has a market, they are leaving money on the table. In the meantime, we need to engage with the existing queer media to give them irrefutable proof that the audience exists!!!

[kafkaoftherubble]

聊聊俺另个冷圈子漫画《AFTER GOD》: 解析、猜测、评论（暂至第58话，英译版为准）

An analysis/speculation/ramble of the manga, After God.

Edit: Upon re-reading some previous chapters for my next ramble, I realized that Yako's name isn't actually "Furuya Yako," but "Furuya Rin" (C56). I'd like to change it accordingly.

The sort of things I'll do for you, @orange-peel-candy, man. Yes, this could have been our Discord conversation, but it’s been a long time since I contributed something to this garden, and the After God appreciator circle is once again, a cold circle (冷圈子) that I thought hey, Future Lyns will enjoy reading. Maybe someone else other than you will, too?

This is up to Chapter 58, "They Don’t Understand."

I’m gonna reiterate some of the interesting things we mentioned back in Discord.

The latest chapter is cool because it showcases how Yako sees the word. “No colors; just lines. Faces are blocked out.”

Apropos of that, I’m personally stoked to see the mangaka spending time establishing the different kinds of visual impairment that might get someone to be legally or functionally declared “blind.” Then, via the elimination method, we get to see just why Yako stood out even within the community she is easily a member of owing to her congenital blindness.

---------------

Blind Perspectives

In the first part of C58, we see the Outsider Auntie describing how much of a stand-offish creep Yako was. Her opinion is likely similar to what readers might have felt about Yako since she appeared in the story.

But, in the second part of the chapter, we got to see Yako reminiscing about her dad’s funeral, her mother, and—we soon find out—the first time she met Chicken (“Rooster,” this distinction is actually important, but I think I’ll make a separate post about it) God. In that flashback, she’s still a little peculiar... but is largely a quiet girl with pretty normal sensibilities. She was defensive of her mother’s character and questioned—but not disparaging of—her long-absent father. She even displayed kindness to a creature she identified as a “parakeet” found near her dad’s coffin.

Little thought that goes nowhere: Child Yako reminded me of a live-action character we really like: India Stoker, from the movie Stoker. They both elicit a peculiar bearing partially from their atypical sensory experiences, are seen as “unsettling,” and are left alone. Man, I dig characters like these. So ghostly.

This is why I’m very interested in C59: it will be a continuation of Yako’s memories of how the Chicken God and her life entwined. Sure, we’ll also get to her reputation as a butcher of eighty lives, but I’m at least 80% sure that the slaughter is related to Chicken God. How the slaughter happened (was it via her new power? Poisoning? etc..), though, is a lot less clear.

Juxtaposing Yako and Outsider Auntie’s perspectives like these made me wonder if Yako had always been as off-putting as the latter claimed. Could it be that, at first, Yako seemed weird because of her nigh-superhuman way of navigating through her blindness with an accuracy other peers like Outsider Auntie could only dream of? Did jealousy introduce a distortion to the Outsider Auntie’s assessment of Yako’s character?

As you pointed out: both narrators are unreliable.

I think that’s a good reminder. So here’s the follow-up:

Is the answer to who Yako is somewhere in between these two perspectives, or does it lie in a third position?

In other words: will Chicken God’s account of Yako’s personality end up being the most accurate version of who she is?

It won’t be surprising if the last part turns out to be true. Alula and Orokapi, who are both IPO/gods, seem to have the most accurate perspectives on Tokinaga compared to any other humans in the story—possibly including Tokinaga himself. Alula also seemed to have understood the sides of Shion that had eluded Waka until the time of their closure.  

I think the gods’ impoverished understanding of humanity, plus their lack of emotional and experiential biases, actually gives the gods a clearer, fresher grip on the humans they are interacting with.

However, there’s a downside to learning about humanity with a blank slate. If you dip a piece of white paper into, say, a bucket of blue dye, you’ll get deep-blue paper. Then, no matter what color you try to paint on it later, the blue dye will influence how these colors present themselves on that paper, right?

That’s the second point—and hypothesis—I want to lead to.

-------------

Formative Experience

You observed that it’s strange that Chicken God relied heavily on others to do its bidding while Orokappi (and presumably others) show no such reliance. You’re right, and as always, you give me one really important lead-up to this hypothesis!

The gods described humanity as an infection, yea? We’re their Covid-19, monkeypox—you get the idea. Getting close to humanity, to them, risks being infected by our behaviors and ways of thinking.

In other words, the gods’ first and sustained interaction with one or more, humans greatly influences much of their personality development.

Orokapi

Orokapi’s first sustained interaction is with Tokinaga, who—due to knowing his OG’s sob story about being a loner with bad decisions and no friends (unless he wanted to include debt-collectors or whatever as “friends”)—offered Orokapi friendship with as little prejudice as possible. Even when Orokapi exhibited behaviors considered offensive, repulsive, or even disgusting, Tokinaga simply—persistently—corrected him and took care of him. Orokapi is Stitch to Tokinaga’s Lilo, y’all.

It’s pretty strange especially after we learned who Tokinaga actually is and what he really thinks of the gods.

But the main point stands: Tokinaga teaches Orokapi about friendship. The human notion of it, with all its complexities.

I argue that this is, therefore, Orokapi’s formative experience of humanity. This is his version of the humanity infection.

Orokapi is also notable among the gods for being one who embodies a human being. That is, he borrows a human body and lives like one—likely similarly to Allula. That affords him more formative experience with a human’s spectrum of emotional complexities—which again, because of Tokinaga, is related to the concept of friendship.

All of this culminated in his last run-in with the Rabbit God, Vollof.  They had been dear friends before Tokinaga was a thing in Orokappi’s life, and yet Orokappi voiced vexation on how to help his dearest bunny-eared friend. Rabbit God was important to him, but Orokappi didn’t know how to be a friend. In the past, he could only provide surface-level help like alleviating Rabbit God’s drug withdrawal symptoms with his toxins.

However, in their last encounter, Orokappi demonstrated emotional intelligence and sentiments paralleling Tokinaga’s treatment of him. The Snake God had used what he had learned and finally gave Vollof the peace and comfort it didn’t even know it wanted.

This was Orokappi’s humanity infection, manifesting. And it looks a whole lot like platonic love.

Orokappi ate Vollof and subsumed Vollof as part of his “self”—this seems to be a property of these gods, as Allula also seemed to have gained her chimeric form this way (hers is characterized more as “lust” than love though if I remember correctly). Interestingly, he expressed similar sentiments toward Tokinaga and wanted to eat him too.

The intrigue posed by Orokappi’s desire to eat Tokinaga and the latter’s own profound suicidal ideation is better discussed in another post that talks more about my mate’s psychology. So I won’t continue beyond this point!

-----

This is the basis for my hypothesis as to why Chicken God relies so much on cult followers. I’m about 75% confident of it.

Chicken God Ahu'az

Here’s what we know:

Chicken God was found by Yako in her own house, near her dad’s coffin.

Yako’s mother founded an abacus school.

She had quite a significant number of students, who seemed less interested in abacus and more in her charisma (and beauty). After all, Yako’s mom “talked a lot” after teaching for a bit, basically making her more of an orator than a teacher.

Her school fees were cheap.

Outsiders characterized the school as “a suspicious group of people,” stopping shy of outright calling it “a cult.”

Here’s what we know about Chicken God:

Bruh is the god of a cult.

Bruh doesn’t kill all humans—it lets those who are sickly or weak live. Could this be pragmatic—giving these desperate human powers and a second chance will strengthen their faith in it? Or did it actually possess a soft spot for the marginalized and/or variously disabled?

Bruh relies heavily on its followers to do its bidding.

For a time, bruh lived in a pond near the Furuya’s house.

Chicken God seems to be the closest to Yako despite proclaiming its contempt for humans.

Chicken God presents itself to humanity instead of embodying a human form.

The lowered fees, and the stated purpose of her starting such a school in the first place, suggested that there’s a chance the school attracted marginalized people. People who may live on the fringes and were forgotten by society.

At this point of the flashback, all of the attendees were male. But that doesn’t mean this won’t change in the future. Perhaps following Yako’s murder, the school became an actual starting point of a cult.

Either way, going from what the rumors said, Yako’s mom’s abacus school likely showed a fervor toward her in ways comparable to a following. Chicken God was already living in proximity to a dedicated group as soon as it regained power and sentience.

This backdrop was Chicken God’s formative experience of humanity.

If Orokappi’s formative experience centers around friendship—what if Chicken God’s centers around worship?

Side note: this will once again pit the Snake God and the Rooster God as foils, especially considering how much the two seemed to hate each other’s guts. Friendship denotes equality between all parties, but worship demands a designation of the superior and its inferiors.

It wouldn’t be hard for Chicken God to assume the role of a god, either. The IPOs’ eyes already have a hypnotic quality inducing religious-like devotion toward them. The questions I can ask, therefore, are:

What happened to Yako’s mom? Was she eaten by Chicken God, and so come to assume a womanly form if it so wished? If this was true, then Yako’s feelings for the Chicken God could very well be mixed with a child’s affection towards her mother.

Or did Yako’s mom perish in the clash occurring between this cult and the government when they found out about Chicken God?

Who were those 80 students, and to what purpose were they killed? How did Chicken God factor into this?

Was the Chicken God’s habit of granting favors to the weak, disabled, and marginalized a pragmatic preference, or a result of its formative experience with humanity?

What was Yako’s mom’s role in all of this? Was she the first follower, and therefore the first priestess? Or was she horrified by the abomination her daughter had awakened (though hinted to be her husband’s finding; more on that later)?

The last question concerns the origin of the Chicken God. If I recall correctly, all IPOs used to live scattered across the globe, until for some reason, they began to gather in Japan. Correct me if I misremembered about this one.

This is where the little tidbit of Furuya Shigetoshi’s scholarly pursuit comes in.

-------------------------

“We joined him to take part in the excavation of Uruk.”

My neural network remembered Uruk enough to immediately think, “Mesopotamia?” So I went to double-confirm.

Yes, Uruk was an important city for Sumerian urbanization. It’s so ancient that it has multiple layers of cities built on top of an older city. It had seen quite a lot of rise and fall in its lifetime, including its annexation by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 850 BCE[1].

The actual name of the Chicken God, Ahu'az, seems fictional. But the word “Nirosca” reminded me of yet another thing I read before, so I went to check. Again. Well, the only thing that I found closest to it was “Nisroch,” which was some god of Assyria[2].  

There had been a scholarly effort in trying to ascertain what kind of god Nisroch was supposed to be.  Apparently, in the 1840s, a British archeologist had mistakenly identified “winged, eagle-headed genii[2]” figures as “Nisroch.” Near Eastern scholars nowadays refer to them simply as “griffin-demons.”

There are two points here that converge to one specific ancient Mesopotamian civilization: Assyria. I don’t know if this is the period Chicken God would reveal to have gained its first sentience, but I do wanna show you this Neo-Assyrian ivory sculpture[3][4].

Assyrian winged Sphinx, excavated from Kalhku (now Nimrud).

From Yako’s memory, we learn that Chicken God wasn’t always a bundle of wings and some occasional chicken feet. It could even possess long, silky hair—one Yako compared to her mother’s.

Could our Chicken God originate from the Neo-Assyrian period of the Mesopotamian civilization, within the context of After God’s universe?

I’m 90% sure that it came with Professor Shigetoshi and somehow fell out of his person near his own coffin, which Yako picked up. After all, before these gods were “gods,” they seemed to be very microscopic—almost like bacteriophages, or something similar. It wouldn’t be surprising if micro-Ahu'az hitched a ride on a certain Japanese man—or if captured by him—and came here.

But of course, there’s this talk about how the IPOs had been moving to Japan despite their places of origin. Who’s to say that this wasn’t the directed work of someone, which would have allowed his job of exterminating these gods easier if they were all in one place? Perhaps someone even more ancient than the gods are supposed to be—and an enemy of them, no less...

---

Well! How the fuck did I get here?

And this isn’t the only After God hypothesis we have. There’s the one about the animal representations of each god which could lead to a full-blown essay about Tokinaga, your (unexpected) favorite character (thanks to me! Ahahahhaha!). Not that I mind. I really like Tokinaga too. He’s so juicy and interesting—and Orokapi is just as intriguing too.

Hopefully, other fans of this manga will find this an entertaining read. If you’ve stuck out here for this long—

Thank you for reading my ramble!

-----------------------------

Citations:

“Uruk” in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruk

“Nisroch” in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisroch

“عاجية اشورية تظهر طائر برأس انسان من كالخو ( النمرود حالياً ) القرن التاسع ق.م” in History of Mesopotamia. Twitter. https://x.com/GilgameshIQ/status/1537489293500899329

Nimrud Ivories عاجيات النمرود in Iraq In History. https://www.abualsoof.com/61-assyrian/detail/8604-assyrian-empire-age?tmpl=component

[marbleboa]

Hiii sorry but lately I've been hyperfixated on the 7th division and Takeuchi ended up being my fav... And I saw your art of him and I loved it, I wanted to know if you had any headcanons about him ;3

Absolutely delighted to see a Takeuchi guy here, take my hand op. I do indeed have Many Thoughts, a lot of these more character musings than straightforward headcanons but! I hope these rambles interest you!

-I made this post a bit ago talking about how his whole Battle Mode deal changes his body, and further building on that— I imagine the frequent use of this has taken its toll, similar to Shibata: issues with his back, joints, etc. Projecting my TMJ on him as well, though I think all of this does ease somewhat as he uses his powers less and starts taking better care of himself.

-The power of his energy blasts is somewhat dampened by comparatively long charge up times and the way he always announces his attacks to enemies. He’s very particular about making sure all of his battle moves have impressive names—often several-words long.

-He and Mob are on a similar wavelength to me. Something something Ishiguro talking about how hard to read Takeuchi is, the way he skirts on the edge of the rest of the Scars’ circle, the way his powers seemed to be the only part of him valued by others…it’s like a different, lonelier path Mob could’ve gone on. I think he has similar difficulties figuring out what he wants from his future, like we see from Mob at the start of season 3.

-I think he’s close with Tsuchiya. Granted this is an anime only thing, but I really liked the detail where when Tsuchiya tackles Shimazaki off a building she calls out for Takeuchi by name and he immediately moves to help. It feels like a maneuver they’ve done before, like they know each other well enough to know what the other needs in a fight. It makes sense that they’d train together with both their powers being classified as qigong too.

-Post-Claw I feel like a few of the Scars go through this phase but Takeuchi especially, he gets in this mindset of like. I must now use my powers against Evil™️ so I can make up for what I’ve done. Because…fighting with powers, black/white ideologies, that’s a lot more familiar to the Scars than writing resumes or apartment-hunting or dealing with other people. Once Claw falls he does this vigilante stuff aimlessly for a while(maybe even runs into Teru again doing the same thing, haha).

-Following from that, I think eventually he gets back in touch with Tsuchiya and stays with her and Mukai for a while as he figures out what he wants to do. (I’m. Not quite sure what that is myself. I’m working on it)

-After Claw, he, Muraki and Sakurai have a book club every other Saturday. Takeuchi enjoys mystery novels.

-There’s more I’d like to research on the particulars re: ethnicities especially so I can improve on how I draw his features, but thus far I’ve been imagining at least part of his ancestry being somewhere from southern India.

-I’ve dabbled with the idea that his name is actually a tsūshōmei, or legal alias, something long-term residents of Japan from other countries can get for various reasons. One thought I had was that Toichiro picked him up in his global search for espers, and he was given another name by Claw to cover up any connection to his family. Or, someone in his family made that change after they started living in Japan, and he was born there under that name. Not sure if I’ll commit to this though, more to look into there too.

-I definitely think he was kidnapped by the organization some way or another— his powers were likely very strong at a young age so they probably got to him under the guise of mentorship. I’d like to think he eventually tries to get back in touch with his family once Claw’s gone.

-Really likes birds. He and Muraki are in close competition for Pigeons of Seasoning City’s Favorite

-He’s ambidextrous!

[eternal-echoes]

“Most people have never heard of the hijra, sādhin, or fa'afafine. As a result, when such names are used in gender theory classes to promote the idea of a "third gender," most students have no option but to listen and "learn." A closer examination of these titles reveals that they don't fit neatly into the Western concept of gender. One reason for this, according to Towle and Morgan, is that "The third gender' concept lumps all nonnormative gender variations into one category, limiting our understandings of the range and diversity of gender ideologies and practices."(6)

Perhaps the most glaring example of this is the fact that segregating sexuality from gender is a distinctively Western concept. This can be seen in popular catchphrases such as, "Sexuality is who you go to bed with, but gender is who you go to bed as." In many cultures, the two are intertwined: Your masculinity or femininity are revealed by how you express your sexuality.

Take, for example, the hijras (also known as kinner). Within parts of Indian culture, these are sexually impotent males who have their genitals removed in a ritual, while facing an image of a goddess, to achieve ritual powers. They often wear women's clothing, assume their mannerisms, take on feminine names, have male sexual partners, and are often used as prostitutes. However, according to anthropologist Adnan Hossain's research of hijras in Bangladesh, their identity is rooted more in their sexuality than in their religious roles.(7) They are not understood to be women. Rather, they are castrated males considered within Hinduism to have received a calling from their goddess. If they refuse to assume this role, their punishment is that they will be reborn impotent seven times.(8)

Another gender variant within Indian culture is the sādhin. These are young women who refuse to marry and sometimes take on certain traditionally male roles. Within traditional Hindu culture, the only accepted roles for a female are those of wife and mother. Since the sādhin do not embrace these roles, they form their own social niche. However, they are not considered to have changed their sexuality.

Rather than labeling such a person a "third gender," a more accurate understanding could be gained by understanding the social pressures that might influence a young Hindu woman to choose celibacy. The Hindu moral legal text Manu Smriti-which has been quoted in supreme court judgments in India-contains regulations regarding a woman's role within marriage.(9) It states, "Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure (elsewhere), or devoid of good qualities, (yet) a husband must be constantly worshipped as a god by a faithful wife."(10) If a woman opts out of marriage because she finds this lifelong misogynistic arrangement to be less than ideal, she does not cease to be a woman. To use her experience to prove gender theory is reductive and unconvincing.

Samoan culture provides another example where a foreign concept of gender doesn't fit the into Western framework. The word fa’afafine means "like a woman" or "in the manner of a woman. These are effeminate males who often take on the social roles of women and dress accordingly. However, they don't typically experience distress over their bodies or seek surgical changes. Paul Vasey, a Canadian psychology professor, explains:

If a fa’afafine went to New Zealand or Australia and had a sex-change operation and returned to Samoa, no one in Samoa would say that individual is now a woman... But traditional, non-Western frameworks for understanding masculine women or feminine men as "third genders" are often warped when viewed through a Western lens, which reinterprets them as transwomen or transmen. It's a type of colonialism.(11)

-Jason Evert, Male, Female, or Other: A Catholic Guide to Understanding Gender

—

Work cited:

6) Towle and Morgan, "Romancing the Transgender Native," 672.

7) Cf. Adnan Hossain, "Beyond Emasculation: Pleasure, Power, and Masculinity in the Making of Hijrahood in Bangladesh" (doctoral dissertation, University of Hull, UK).

8) Cf. Serena Nanda, Gender Diversity (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press: 2014), 31.

9) Cf. Atindriyo Chakraborty, "Manusmriti and the Judiciary-A Dangerous Game," Counter Currents.Org, July 27, 2000.

10) Cf. Manu Smriti in Sanskrit with an English translation at https://www.indiadivine.org/content/files/file/644-manu-smriti-in-sanskrit-with-english-translations-pdf/.

11) As quoted in Joyce, Trans, 36.

—

For more recommended resources on gender dysphoria, click here.

[taxxinn]

Changing the name after adoption in India necessitates some legal steps to ensure that the new name is officially recognised. This step is critical for coordinating personal documents and creating the adoptee’s new identity. Below is a step-by-step process for name change after adoption in India.

[advocateadvice]

What is the Process to Change Name in India? Gazette for Name Change

If you want to change the wrong name to the correct name in any of your documents, then gazette notification is the way to do it. Gazette for name change. This is a legal process of name change in India. For this, a person has to take some legal steps. Which is completed in a few steps.

[ukrfeminism]

Knife crime against women and girls has more than doubled in five years and campaigners are warning that not enough is being done to keep them safe.

New figures obtained by The Independent show the number of women who were killed, injured or threatened by a knife soared from 6,000 in 2018 to more than 13,700 in 2022 – laying bare the scale of the crisis. The offences include ones relating to robbery, rape, homicide, public order and theft.

Elianne Andam, 15, is among the victims of knife crime, having been killed on her way to school in Croydon last September. Mehak Sharma, 19, was stabbed to death in the same borough last November having just moved to the UK from India.

Campaigners say the statistics, which cover the last available full year of 2022, show the country needs to tackle the crisis, particularly when it relates to domestic violence, with Labour MP Jess Phillips warning: “Things are getting progressively worse.”

Nick Gazzard, whose 20-year-old daughter Hollie died after being stabbed 14 times by her violent ex-boyfriend in 2014, said: “If this was terrorism, there would be a national outcry.”

The figures for 2022 reveal that:

The number of female knife crime victims surged by 43 per cent in the West Midlands, from 1,010 in 2018 to 1,448 in 2022, according to the UK’s second-largest force

In Essex, the number of victims more than quadrupled in the same time frame – from 435 to 1,879 

And Avon and Somerset recorded the number of victims as rising 46 per cent over five years, from 593 to 868 

After a Freedom of Information request made by this publication, 26 of the UK’s 43 police forces provided data on knife crime where the victim was either a girl or a woman. The Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest force, did not respond. 

The latest full-year countrywide figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also for 2022, show that 282 homicides – or four out of 10 – were committed using a knife or sharp instrument. This represented a 19 per cent increase over the previous year.

Police said the way knife crimes are recorded had changed in 2019 but they could not attribute the rise in figures to those changes.

Knives and sharp instruments are the most common weapons used to kill women in this country. ONS data shows that, in the year ending March 2022, one in three female homicide victims was killed by a partner or ex (33 per cent), while more than one in 10 died at the hands of a relative (13 per cent). Some 40 per cent of the deaths occurred in or around the home, compared to 7 per cent in the street or other public spaces.

Ms Phillips has long championed the fight against domestic violence but says the government’s Domestic Abuse Bill does not do enough to protect women. The MP for Birmingham Yardley blames a reduction in youth services and workers, local council cuts, and a lack of police and judicial resources for fuelling the crisis.

The MP, who every year in parliament reads out the names of women killed by men, said: “Things are getting progressively worse, knife crime against women is classic domestic abuse but that’s not ever included in knife crime strategy.

“If only they [the government] cared as much about sexual and domestic abuse as they care about Rwanda.”

The law currently states killers who bring a weapon to the scene face a minimum 25-year sentence, while sentences for those who do not start at 15 years. As domestic killers are more likely to use a weapon lying around the house, like a kitchen knife, they can end up with more lenient jail terms.

Carole Gould has campaigned to close the legal loophole ever since her 17-year-old daughter Ellie was killed by her boyfriend of three months when she ended the relationship.

Thomas Griffiths was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12-and-a-half years in 2019 after he walked into Ellie’s family home, strangled her and then stabbed her 13 times, attempting to frame the attack as a suicide by inserting the knife in the side of her neck.

“She’d only been going out with him for a few months,” her mother said. “The ending of a relationship is the most dangerous time in a woman’s life.”

Campaigner Ngozi Fulani told The Independent that the cost of living crisis may also have had an impact on the rise in crimes against women.

Ms Fulani set up the charity Sistah Space to advocate for Black female victims of domestic abuse in the wake of the deaths of Valerie Forde and her 22-month-old daughter Jahzara. They were both stabbed to death in 2014 by Ms Forde’s ex Roland McKoy, who was jailed for 35 years.

“We have seen a significant rise in reporting to us of knife or sharp instrument attacks,” Ms Fulani said. “We are in a time of economic depression right now and we find perpetrators in unstable economic situations will often become violent.”

Sistah Space has campaigned for Valerie’s Law, legislation that would make specialist training mandatory for all police and other government agencies that support black women and girls affected by domestic abuse.

“We want people to understand one thing – domestic abuse is not a woman’s problem,” she said. “It’s an everybody problem.”

For Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, violence by men against women is part of a cultural problem that needs to be tackled.

“Women and girls face the constant threat of male violence, whether that’s in public spaces, the workplace, online or in our own homes, where the majority of this violence takes place,” he said.

“If we are to change this then it is critical that the government prioritises and invests in quality relationships and sex education based on consent and equality, and public campaigns to shift the attitudes that justify and normalise this violence and abuse. Women and girls deserve better.”

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has criticised the government for refusing to commit to a new educational strategy for boys which would aim to tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

The chair of the cross-party women’s and equalities committee said: “Education is a powerful and necessary tool in preventing violence against women and girls. Relationships, sex and health education that continues past secondary school and that engages proactively with boys and young men is crucial to combat harmful attitudes.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is committed to raising the bar in how these vile crimes are dealt with.

“We have gone further than ever before in protecting domestic abuse victims, classifying it as a national threat. Our innovative Young Women and Girls Fund also delivers specialist interventions to vulnerable young women and girls at risk of exploitation or violence.

“We will continue to work closely with the police and courts to bring more criminals to justice, and have set clear expectations for how the police should respond.”

[thynisia-pac-readings]

Globetrotter reading game 🔮🗺️

~CLOSED~

In this reading game, I will read specific locations for you around the world! Example: In which country will I travel next? Answer: Possibly India or France.

Disclaimers: The result is subject to change, you're in control of your decisions in the future! This is a game meant for entertainment purposes even if I do my best to be as accurate as possible. Sometimes, I have more than one possibility, or it turns out it's the country right next to it.

Rules:

I will choose the first 10 people to send a question through the ask box. There will be more games in the future.

You can only one question for yourself, and be specific on the type of location in the world [country, region, hemisphere etc]. Example: In which country will I be living in two years? In which culture did my partner grow up in?

I need your first name or initials.

Be aware that I will respond to your ask publicly, and your question will be seen.

No medical, legal, or health related questions.

Not exactly a rule, but feel free to follow me, like or reblog any of my Pick an Image posts (or this one), to support me and this account.

Be respectful ~

Enjoy :3

Feel free to comment or DM to clarify anything.

When the game is finished, I will make a post to explain how I did it ;)

Many blessings,

Thynisia

[blakbonnet]

15 QUESTIONS FOR 15 FRIENDS

Thanks @rosettyller @spirker @kiwistede @gentlebeardsbarngrill @edsbacktattoo @lisahafey @eye-scream-girls @gntlbrd and @michaelsheens for the tag❤️

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? my parents named me after a manuscript because they were giant history nerds, part one of the manuscript became a nickname and the other part became my legal name (neither of which I no longer use except for official purposes since I'm too lazy to go through bureaucracy and get it changed)

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? when wilf came back to doctor who and I literally sat there rocking back and forth unable to contain the joy and tears

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? nope and I don't plan to, don't want them

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED? I've played most sports when I was a kid including cricket, football, hockey, and local sports, but only swimming has stuck in my adult years

DO YOU USE SARCASM? Don't know who she is 💅🏽

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? definitely hands and eyes

WHAT'S YOUR EYE COLOUR? Brown 👁️ 👁️

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I'm chicken and can't sit through horror movies at all, even basic horror stuff gives me nightmares 😭 so happy endings it is

ANY TALENTS? i can pick up most skills pretty quickly and get decent at them within a week if given the time, it's how i got my job lmao

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? India

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? writing, reading fantasy, drawing, mainly finding new things to get obsessed over

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? yes 🥹 his name is bilbo and he's a very good boy

HOW TALL ARE YOU? 165 cm 😞

FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? English, art, most of the languages

DREAM JOB? exactly what I'm doing right now (any company any industry that pays well for me do a bunch of stuff I like and be a generalist and not put too much deadline pressure on me and lets me work from home)

I'm gonna tag @jaskierx @xoxoemynn @bizarrelittlemew @soupbtch @cahootings and anyone else who wants to do this, no pressure