#sustainable tourism in India

[globalwildlifefair]

About the Global Wildlife Fair

About the Global Wildlife Fair

The Global Wildlife Fair is a unique, large-scale event that celebrates the rich diversity of wildlife from around the world. This annual gathering is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, conservationists, and anyone passionate about the planet’s biodiversity. Held in various locations each year, the fair brings together a diverse range of exhibitors, experts, and visitors to showcase and learn about wildlife conservation efforts, innovative research, and sustainable practices.

A Celebration of Biodiversity

The Global Wildlife Fair is more than just an exhibition; it is a celebration of the planet’s biodiversity. The event features a wide array of species from different continents, offering visitors a rare opportunity to witness the incredible variety of life forms up close. From majestic big cats and playful primates to exotic birds and rare reptiles, the fair provides a platform to educate the public about the importance of preserving these species and their habitats.

Expert Talks and Workshops

One of the highlights of the Global Wildlife Fair is the series of expert talks and workshops. Renowned scientists, conservationists, and wildlife photographers share their insights and experiences, providing valuable knowledge about the challenges and successes in wildlife conservation. These sessions cover a broad spectrum of topics, including habitat preservation, anti-poaching strategies, wildlife rehabilitation, and the impact of climate change on different species. Interactive workshops offer hands-on learning experiences, from wildlife tracking techniques to photography tips for capturing stunning images of animals in their natural habitats.

Conservation Initiatives

The fair also serves as a platform for various conservation organizations to showcase their projects and initiatives. Visitors can learn about the latest efforts to protect endangered species, restore degraded ecosystems, and promote sustainable living practices. Exhibitors include global NGOs, national parks, wildlife reserves, and research institutions, all working towards a common goal: to ensure the survival of wildlife for future generations. The fair provides a unique opportunity to engage with these organizations, learn about their work, and find out how to get involved or support their causes.

Interactive Exhibits and Attractions

Interactive exhibits are a significant draw at the Global Wildlife Fair. Virtual reality experiences, for instance, allow visitors to embark on immersive wildlife adventures, such as exploring the depths of the Amazon rainforest or observing the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Live demonstrations, such as bird of prey shows and reptile handling sessions, provide thrilling and educational experiences for all ages. These interactive elements make the fair an engaging and memorable experience, fostering a deeper connection with wildlife and nature.

Sustainable Living

A dedicated section of the fair focuses on sustainable living and eco-friendly products. Here, visitors can explore a variety of environmentally conscious goods, from organic clothing and cruelty-free cosmetics to sustainable travel options and green technologies. The Sustainable Living Expo emphasizes the importance of reducing our ecological footprint and offers practical solutions for living in harmony with nature.

Family-Friendly Activities

The Global Wildlife Fair is designed to be a family-friendly event, with a range of activities to entertain and educate children. Kids can participate in wildlife-themed arts and crafts, interactive games, and storytelling sessions. Educational displays and kid-friendly workshops ensure that young visitors leave with a greater understanding of the natural world and the importance of conservation.

Networking and Collaboration

For professionals in the field, the fair provides ample networking opportunities. Researchers, educators, and conservationists can connect, share ideas, and form collaborations that drive forward the mission of wildlife preservation. The Global Wildlife Fair fosters a spirit of cooperation and collective action, recognizing that protecting wildlife is a global responsibility that requires unified efforts.

Conclusion

The Global Wildlife Fair is a dynamic and inspiring event that brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate and protect the world’s wildlife. Whether you’re a seasoned conservationist or a curious newcomer, the fair offers something for everyone. By raising awareness, educating the public, and promoting sustainable practices, the Global Wildlife Fair plays a crucial role in the global effort to conserve our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

[rrhasija]

Sustainable Tourism In India | Sustainable Tourism Consultant

Explore the transformative work of RR Hasija, a dedicated sustainable tourism in India, in promoting sustainable tourism in India. By encouraging responsible travel practices, RR Hasija aims to protect India's diverse cultural and natural heritage. Learn how you can contribute to sustainable tourism in India and explore eco-friendly travel options. Click here to join the movement towards a greener and more responsible travel experience.

[kunoevokeexperiences]

Charting a Green Path: 2024's Sustainable Tourism at Kuno Forest Retreat

In the heart of India's vibrant landscape, nestled within the lush confines of Madhya Pradesh, lies a beacon of sustainable tourism: Kuno Forest Retreat. As we venture into 2024, this sanctuary not only promises an escape into nature but also stands as a testament to eco-friendly travel and wildlife conservation success stories.

The Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary: A Commitment to Conservation

Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the larger Madhya Pradesh National Park network, has long been at the forefront of conservation efforts in India. Its dedication to preserving the natural habitat and the species that call it home exemplifies the positive environmental impact of tourism. The sanctuary’s efforts have led to numerous wildlife conservation success stories, making it a model for sustainable tourism in India.

Sustainable Tourism in the Heart of India

Kuno Forest Retreat is more than just a destination; it's an experience that harmonizes luxury with nature's untouched beauty. In fostering sustainable tourism, the retreat has implemented practices that minimize environmental footprints while maximizing visitor engagement with the natural world. From solar energy to water conservation methods, every aspect of the retreat is designed with sustainability in mind.

Green Getaways: The Essence of Eco-Friendly Travel

2024's sustainable tourism landscape is rich with green getaways, yet Kuno Forest Retreat stands out for its commitment to eco-friendly accommodations. These accommodations not only offer comfort and luxury but also ensure that every stay contributes positively to the surrounding ecosystem. The retreat's practices exemplify how tourism can coexist with nature conservation, providing a blueprint for green travel destinations worldwide.

Exploring the Great Outdoors: Adventures in Kuno

Kuno Forest Retreat offers a plethora of activities that allow guests to immerse themselves in the majesty of Madhya Pradesh's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Whether it's a safari through the dense forests, a guided nature walk that reveals the secrets of the local flora and fauna, or star-gazing sessions under the clear night sky, the retreat ensures that every experience is in harmony with its sustainable tourism ethos.

The Role of Eco-Friendly Accommodations

The significance of eco-friendly accommodations in reducing the environmental impact of tourism cannot be overstated. At Kuno Forest Retreat, guests find themselves staying in settings that are not only luxurious but also environmentally conscious. From the materials used in construction to the daily operations, everything is aligned with the goal of sustainability. By choosing eco-friendly accommodations, travelers contribute to a larger movement that prioritizes the well-being of our planet.

A Beacon for Sustainable Tourism in India

Kuno Forest Retreat is not just a destination; it's a movement towards a greener future. As we look towards 2024 and beyond, the retreat's role in promoting sustainable tourism in India becomes increasingly vital. It serves as a reminder that responsible travel is not only about the places we visit but also about how we choose to engage with them.

Accommodation Details

For those planning their next sustainable getaway, Kuno Forest Retreat offers a variety of eco-friendly accommodations designed to provide an immersive experience in nature without compromising on luxury or comfort. Discover the perfect blend of wilderness and wellness by exploring our accommodation options here.

In conclusion, as we navigate the path of sustainable tourism in 2024, Kuno Forest Retreat shines as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It exemplifies how destinations can offer mesmerizing experiences while upholding the principles of conservation and sustainability. A visit to Kuno is not just a journey to a place but a step towards a more sustainable and conscious way of exploring our beautiful planet.

[travelthrivehub]

Ranikhet: A Complete Guide to Uttarakhand's Hidden Paradise

🌄 Escape to the scenic beauty of Ranikhet in Uttarakhand! Discover stunning mountain views, peaceful temples, and adventure. Perfect for a quiet getaway! 🏞️ #Ranikhet #Uttarakhand #TravelIndia #NatureLovers

Ranikhet, a quaint hill station in Uttarakhand, India, is a charming blend of scenic beauty and rich history. Known for its cool climate, majestic mountains, and lush forests, Ranikhet serves as a serene escape for travelers looking to reconnect with nature. Sunset_point,_Ranikhet by Karan Dhawan India, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Location and Setting Located at an altitude of…

[lionheartlr]

Discovering Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La

Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan, known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” is a country that beckons travelers with its pristine landscapes, vibrant culture, and profound spirituality. As one of the world’s last remaining Buddhist kingdoms, Bhutan offers a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern sensibilities. In this travel guide, we’ll explore Bhutan’s history, political…

[businessresearchreportss]

An Overview of India Sustainable Tourism Market

India's vibrant tapestry of cultures, awe-inspiring landscapes, and ancient traditions has long attracted travelers from across the globe. However, with tourism comes a responsibility to ensure the industry thrives in harmony with the environment and local communities. This is where sustainable tourism steps in, offering a path for responsible travel that benefits all stakeholders.

To gain more information on the India's sustainable tourism market forecast,  download a free report sample

This overview explores the current state of India's sustainable tourism market, its potential, and the challenges that need to be addressed.

The Rise of Sustainable Tourism in India:

The Indian tourism sector is a significant contributor to the national economy, generating jobs and foreign exchange. However, concerns about the environmental and social impact of mass tourism are prompting a shift towards sustainable practices. Travelers worldwide are increasingly seeking eco-friendly experiences, and India is well-positioned to cater to this growing demand.

Market Potential:

India possesses a wealth of natural resources and cultural heritage, making it an ideal destination for sustainable tourism initiatives. The market holds immense potential for growth, driven by:

Rich Biodiversity: From the snow-capped Himalayas to the lush beaches of Kerala, India boasts diverse ecosystems that can be explored responsibly. Ecotourism initiatives can focus on wildlife conservation, responsible trekking, and nature-based experiences.

Ancient Cultural Heritage: India's rich history and archaeological treasures can be showcased through responsible heritage tourism practices. Sustainable restoration projects and community-based tourism models can ensure cultural preservation and economic empowerment.

Growing Demand: The global trend towards sustainable travel presents a significant opportunity for India. Tourists are increasingly seeking authentic experiences that minimize environmental impact and support local communities.

Key Players:

Several key players are driving the growth of India's sustainable tourism market:

Eco-Lodges and Homestays: These establishments are built using eco-friendly materials, minimize waste generation, and often source local produce. The rise of homestays allows tourists to immerse themselves in local cultures and support rural communities.

Responsible Tour Operators: Travel companies specializing in sustainable tourism offer carefully curated itineraries that promote responsible travel practices. These operators focus on minimizing environmental impact, supporting local economies, and educating tourists on responsible behavior.

Government Initiatives: The Indian government recognizes the importance of sustainable tourism and is implementing policies like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) to improve cleanliness at tourist destinations. Investments in renewable energy infrastructure and eco-tourism projects are also contributing to the market's growth.

NGOs and Local Communities: Non-governmental organizations and local communities play a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism practices at the grassroots level. They raise awareness about responsible travel, educate communities, and participate in conservation efforts.

Benefits of Sustainable Tourism:

The adoption of sustainable practices benefits various stakeholders within the tourism industry:

Environment: Sustainable tourism practices help conserve natural resources, minimize pollution, and promote eco-friendly waste management. This ensures the long-term viability of tourist destinations.

Local Communities: Responsible tourism empowers local communities by creating employment opportunities, promoting cultural preservation, and ensuring fair distribution of tourism benefits.

Tourism Industry: By prioritizing sustainability, the industry can attract environmentally conscious travelers, enhance brand reputation, and ensure the longevity of tourist destinations.

Challenges and Considerations:

Despite its potential, India's sustainable tourism market faces some challenges:

Lack of Awareness: Raising awareness about sustainable tourism practices among tourists, local communities, and industry stakeholders is crucial. Educational campaigns and capacity building programs can address this gap.

Standardization and Certification: Developing standardized criteria for sustainable tourism practices across the industry is important to ensure transparency and credibility. Robust eco-certification programs can help achieve this.

Financing Sustainability: Transitioning to sustainable practices often requires investment in eco-friendly infrastructure and renewable energy sources. Financial incentives and government support are crucial for wider adoption.

Infrastructure Development: Developing eco-friendly infrastructure, such as public transportation systems and waste management facilities, in tourist destinations is essential. This can improve accessibility and minimize environmental impact.

The future of India's sustainable tourism market is bright. By addressing the challenges, harnessing the potential, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders, the industry can achieve significant growth.

[color-odyssey]

Padma Hotel : A Room with a View and heartfelt hospitality

*New* on the Blog - "Padma Hotel : A Room with a View and heartfelt hospitality." #Ladakh #accomodation #wintertravel

[shisonika]

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram's historical and religious importance stretches back through the annals of time. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed to be the very spot where Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, built a bridge known as "Rama Setu" (Rama's Bridge) to reach Lanka, in pursuit of rescuing his beloved wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. This epic tale is chronicled in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, adding to the sanctity of this place.

                                                                             The centerpiece of Rameshwaram's spiritual significance is the iconic  Ramanathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which stands as a testament to Dravidian architecture and craftsmanship. This temple is one of the Char Dhams (four abodes) of Hindu pilgrimage, and it holds immense reverence among devotees. The temple's corridors, embellished with intricate, ornate pillars, lead to the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity, Lord Ramanathaswamy, is worshipped. Pilgrims visit to seek blessings, perform rituals, and immerse themselves in the divine aura. Apart from the Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram boasts a multitude of sacred water bodies known as "teerthams" or holy baths. The Agnitheertham is particularly revered, and it is believed that a dip in its waters absolves one of sins. Each of these teerthams carries a mythological tale, adding layers of spirituality to the pilgrimage experience. Rameshwaram's rich tapestry of legends, rituals, and religious practices continues to attract devotees and spiritual seekers from across India and beyond. The town's atmosphere resonates with the chanting of hymns, the ringing of temple bells, and the fragrance of incense, creating an otherworldly aura that transports visitors to a realm where divinity and devotion reign supreme. It is this historical and religious significance that makes Rameshwaram an enduring and enchanting destination for those in search of a deeper connection with their faith and spirituality.

[globalwildlifefair]

Wildlife Conservation Network | Fund Donate For Conservation

Wildlife conservation is a critical global effort aimed at protecting endangered species and preserving natural habitats. Global Wildlife Fair stands steadfast in this mission, acting as a bridge between dedicated conservationists and the resources they need to succeed. By joining hands with Global Wildlife Fair, you become a vital part of this transformative journey, helping to ensure that our planet’s most vulnerable species continue to thrive for generations to come.

The Importance of Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation is more than just a noble cause; it is essential for maintaining the balance of our ecosystems. Every species plays a unique role in its environment, and the loss of even a single species can have far-reaching consequences. From pollination to seed dispersal, natural pest control to water purification, wildlife contributes to the health and stability of our planet. Conserving wildlife ensures that these ecological processes continue to function, supporting biodiversity and the well-being of all life forms, including humans.

About Global Wildlife Fair

Global Wildlife Fair is a globally recognized organization dedicated to protecting endangered species and preserving their habitats. Founded on the principle that conservation should be sustainable and community-driven, GWF partners with ecotour operators, officials, and local conservationists around the world, networking them together to coordinate the support and resources they need to implement effective conservation strategies.

GWF’s unique approach focuses on long-term solutions that involve local communities, ensuring that conservation efforts are both impactful and sustainable. By empowering local conservationists, WCN helps to create a sense of ownership and stewardship within communities, fostering a deeper commitment to protecting their natural heritage.

Why Join Global Wildlife Fair?

Joining Global Wildlife Fair is one of the most effective ways to contribute to global conservation efforts. Here’s why your support is crucial:

Direct Impact: Your donation and the proceeds from our fair go directly to the field, supporting conservationists who are on the ground, working tirelessly to protect endangered species and their habitats. GWF ensures that the funds are used efficiently and effectively, maximizing the impact of every dollar donated.

Supporting Local Conservationists: By partnering with local conservationists, GWF helps to build capacity and expertise within communities. This approach not only addresses immediate conservation needs but also ensures that local conservation efforts are sustainable and self-sufficient in the long run.

Comprehensive Conservation Programs: GWF supports a wide range of conservation programs, from anti-poaching initiatives to habitat restoration, community education to wildlife research. This comprehensive approach addresses the complex challenges facing wildlife conservation, ensuring that all aspects of the problem are tackled effectively.

Transparency and Accountability: GWF is committed to transparency and accountability, providing regular updates and reports on how donations are being used. Donors can be confident that their contributions are making a real difference in the fight to protect endangered species.

How to Join

Joining and supporting the Global Wildlife Fair is easy and can make a profound difference. One can join through our secure online platform, where you can choose to exhibit at our upcoming fair, network with natural history professionals, or even support a specific project or give to the general fund. Monthly giving options are also available, providing ongoing support to critical conservation efforts.

Conclusion

Global Wildlife Fair offers a unique and effective way to contribute to global Wildlife Conservation Network. By joining GWF, you join a community of passionate individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving the planet’s biodiversity. Your support can help save endangered species, protect vital habitats, and ensure a sustainable future for wildlife and people alike. Make a difference today by joining the Global Wildlife Fair and become a part of the solution to one of the most pressing challenges of our time

[rrhasija]

Sustainable Tourism In India | Sustainable Tourism Consultant

Discover sustainable tourism in India with RR Hasija, a dedicated sustainable tourism consultant advocating responsible travel practices. Explore initiatives and insights aimed at promoting eco-friendly tourism experiences across India. Learn more about sustainable tourism in India and how you can contribute to preserving its natural and cultural heritage. Click here to delve into the principles and benefits of sustainable travel with RR Hasija.

[newsfeed2023]

Japan Airlines is encouraging passengers not to carry clothes to reduce carbon emissions

highlights The aim of Japan Airlines is to reduce the weight of passengers’ luggage. This scheme can bring many benefits to the environment at the same time. If the plan is successful, other airline companies will also adopt it. The less the luggage in the journey, the more the fun of the journey. But many times the restriction of weight of luggage in the journey bothers. Especially when you are…

[determinate-negation]

“Prior to October 7th, between 170-200,000 Palestinians worked in Israel (roughly 75% with work permits—with around 90% of these permits going to Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank). After October 7th, nearly all Palestinian workers were fired, their work permits revoked, and their range of movement, already limited, restricted even further. The economic damage has been immense particularly in construction and agriculture, where the majority of Palestinians had been employed (it is an aspect of Zionist cruelty that Palestinians—a highly educated people—should be confined to low-wage manual labor employment in two of the primary economic sectors which have been used to advance their dispossession). To provide the starkest example: the construction industry, which accounts for 6-7% of Israeli GDP was, as of December 2023, operating at only 30% of its pre-October capacity, and fully half of all building projects were on hold.

Although business interests were able to pressure the government to allow a paltry 8–10,000 Palestinians back to work in December, the short- and long-term solutions to the problem of Israeli dependence on Palestinian labor (and, indeed, for the Zionist it has always been a problem) appears to be the increasing importation of foreign workers from Asia and Eastern Europe, particularly Thailand and India. It should be noted that Israel has used debt—the result of exorbitant “placement fees” charged by recruiters in workers’ home countries—to trap many foreign workers in hyper-exploitative working conditions enforced by geographic isolation. This is the paradigmatic form of modern slavery. Even if cheap imported labor were to get the construction industry back on track, the war has also resulted in the downgrading of Israel’s credit rating, a sharp decline in imports and exports, the almost complete pause of its tourism industry, a snowballing cancelation of arms deals the world over and, in the case of Turkey, trade relations as well, yielding an almost 20% contraction of its annualized GDP.

With these numbers, it could be said that Israel’s present genocide against the Palestinians harms both its short-term and long-term economic interests, sacrificed for the drive to extermination. But the enforced economic obsolescence of the Palestinians must be understood as integral to the drive for their extermination. Employing the brute force of siege, Israel has succeeded in cutting many Palestinians off from much of the global economy—now, entirely in the case of Gaza, and increasingly so in the case of the West Bank. Even those who are able to run businesses with international clientele face delays or de facto bans from cash-transfer sites like PayPal, and imports, exports, and access to certain goods are all controlled and restricted by Israel. These restrictions limit access to raw materials, affecting the types of industry Palestine is capable of sustaining, and limiting prospects for economic development.

Palestinians' limited access to the global economy in turn nurtures a dependency on Israeli goods and employment. But this dependency cuts both ways—Israel has grown dependent on Palestinian labor, which renders Palestinians necessary to the functioning of the Israeli economy and also creates barriers against their total social exclusion (not only in the sense that this labor requires social interaction with the Israeli populace). As Bataille writes in The Psychological Structure of Fascism, “money serves to measure all work and makes man a function of measurable products. According to the judgment of homogenous society, each man is worth what he produces.” In capitalist society, productivity becomes the prerequisite to admittance to social life. To totalize race-based social exclusion, then, the target population must be rendered economically obsolete. “As early as 1895,” Fayez Sayegh notes, “Herzl was busy devising a plan to ‘spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment.’”

Nazi Germany understood this as well: the 1938 “Regulation for the Elimination of the Jews from the Economic Life of Germany” completed the work begun three years prior by the Nuremberg Laws, which stripped Jews and other groups of their citizenship and enshrined racial classification and separation into law. “The Jewish middleman,” Adorno and Horkheimer write, “fully becomes the image of the devil only when economically he has ceased to exist.” In apartheid society, in which the target population is seen as subhuman, or at least undeserving of rights or consideration, the wage remains one of the last means of verifying their humanity: beasts may be productive, but they do not earn a wage. The attempted elimination of Palestinian labor from the Israeli economy marks one of the final steps on the way to their full dehumanization in the Zionists’ eyes, one that prepared the way for the present mass extermination.

Zionism is not, then, a race-based system of economic exploitation at its core, though it does benefit from such exploitation: it is, first and foremost, a program of land acquisition. We can see the dual attack on Palestinian economic self-determination and land ownership in Israel’s routine destruction of Palestinian olive groves. Settlers, often armed or otherwise protected by armed agents of the state, uproot, burn, or cut down olive trees, with increasing frequency since 2019. The aim is to drive Palestinians from their land by destroying the subsistence produced by the land itself and nurtured over centuries by Palestinian farmers, in an effort to “Judaize” the area. As Palestinians flee from unchecked violence, forced from their land at the barrel of a gun, Jewish settlements appear in their wake, strictly illegal but in practice facilitated by the state until they are eventually recognized and assimilated into the legally regulated regime of property. (The whole cycle of legalizing illegal settlements, in any event, is something of a formality as their existence and proliferation is the entire raison d’être of the Zionist project.) When Palestinians refuse to leave and cannot be forced, they are murdered.”

Jake Romm, Elements of Anti-Semitism: The Limits of Zionism in Parapraxis Mag

[neuroticbookworm]

Engagement of QL Fandom in Indian Queer Media

I was tagged by @lurkingshan and invited to respond to an ask she received from @impala124 that noted the absence of India in the Asian queer media spaces and discussions, and questioned the reasons behind it. @starryalpacasstuff has also responded to it in a great post (check out the reblog additions for a treasure trove of Indian queer media recs), discussing, among many things, Korea’s culture export aiding their queer media ventures, access to Indian queer media, and the quality of Indian queer media. @twig-tea’s addition discussed the ease of access of Thai BLs via YouTube and how it prompted Korea and Japan to re-enter the genre.

My thoughts on Indian queer media are complicated and involve several detours to understand Indian media culture, its economic power, and how it navigates international viewership. For context, I am an Indian cinephile who grew up watching a wide variety of Indian media in terms of both language and genre. I naturally transitioned into watching Western content as globalization of the 2010s brought HBO and Comedy Central to Indian screens, and later sought out queer media, Asian media and Asian queer media on the internet.

Indian Media Industry - A Primer

I know there are a lot of countries right now that produce QL media, so I am gonna mainly consider Thailand, Japan, and Korea, the three countries most prolific with ql, for the purpose of this discussion. All of these countries, while regionally diverse, have managed to considerably homogenize in language and culture over the course of history and colonization. India, on the other hand, is still significantly and distinctly diverse in language, culture, religion, food, media styles, social norms, and on and on. India has 22 official languages and thousands of regional ones that are used in various capacities everyday. This diversity is then reflected in the media produced by India, with multiple powerhouse film industries dominating box offices simultaneously. Bollywood is the biggest one and obviously well known internationally, but Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Bengali-language film industries are successful in their own right and consistently produce box office hits and self-sustain in the larger Indian media landscape. This makes domestic media highly regional in India. Even today, in the age of social media, it takes a box office success to the tune of hundreds of millions of rupees for a film to break out of its domestic audience and cross over into other Indian states.

This diversity has also led to the different industries developing media styles unique to them. I watched this video a while ago of a creator documenting his experience of dipping toes into Indian Cinema for the first time, and he ends up covering three movies from three different industries, because the pathos of each of them is so fundamentally different yet effective in their own ways. This diversity also applies to the television industry, both traditional cable TV soaps, and the modern shows made for streaming sites. And all of this, *waves hands*, presents a set of challenges like no other country faces for both Indian queer creators and Indian queer media audiences.

The Challenges for Creators

Since the Indian media industry is not a big monolith and is made up of multiple film industries, queer creators who are trying to get their foot in the door will face a unique uphill battle in whichever regional industry they’re trying to break into. And trying to research, learn, and understand each and every single one of them will take me and my non-existent research team years, so the simpler thing to do would be listing the factors that have worked for other countries to foster their media industries to produce QL content, and discuss if India could replicate them. The list goes like this:

Japan’s rich history in yaoi

Thailand’s use of BL as a soft power to promote tourism

Korea’s culture export via kpop and other media

While India does have religious mythology that discusses sex, gender and queerness, it is often subtext with a lot of intersectionality. Does Ardhanarishvara represent fluid gender, or a symbol of harmony, or both? The debates are endless. Japan’s yaoi roots are as deep as they are explicit. And this rich history could be why the Japanese domestic audience is open to queer media even when the country is still conservative.

Thailand’s rise as a major player in the QL industry is remarkable, but there is a case to be made that the country’s media industry was directly and indirectly boosted by the government’s interest in establishing revenue from tourism, and exporting culture to international audiences via food and media. While the revenue from tourism in India is substantial, the Indian economy is not built on it. And the Indian media industry is thriving and regularly makes bank with their already established content models, so the producers have a pretty low incentive to deviate and fund queer media.

I bet every coin I own that not a single one of us on this hellsite have successfully eluded the allure of Korean media in our lives. The Korean media industry is a well-calibrated machine that shall and will target every single human into funneling their time, attention and money into the Korean culture and economy. And I think queer creators looking to make queer content in Korea would’ve had good incubation in an industry that was looking to make as much content as possible. And once again, while Indian movies have significant international box office collections, that is not where the Indian media industry, and just India in general, makes its money. The priorities are just not the same. And to be perfectly honest, India is nowhere near the level of Korea at producing and exporting television shows to international audiences.

All of this is a long winded way of saying that the conditions required to foster a QL industry in India are not the same as what we have seen work so far from the other major players. And sadly no one has really figured out the winning formula yet.

These are just a few reasons, and I haven’t even discussed nepotism and how painful class mobility is in India, making it even harder for new queer creators to break into the industry. There’s a reason why movies with queer representation like Badhaai Do, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, and Kapoor & Sons all feature characters in the upper middle class or above. Hell, they’re even played by actors whose portfolio is already filled with daring and experimental roles, or by first- or second-gen nepo babies who would literally have nothing to lose from the potential backlash for playing a queer character. Poor, queer characters in Indian media have never been a part of a fluffy romance as far as I know. They are reserved for the gritty dramas where intersectionality of queerness, poverty, class and caste could be examined.

The Challenges for the Audience

And once again, all of this, *aggressively waves hands*, makes things harder for even the domestic audience to engage with Indian queer media, let alone international audiences. Kathaal - The Core, a 2023 Malayalam movie about a queer man in his fifties coming out of the closet and contesting in his village body elections, was a box office success in Kerala, and I can tell y’all with complete certainty that not many people outside of Kerala would’ve even heard of it. And this was not some small indie venture – in fact, the lead characters were played by Mammootty and Jyothika, who are both absolute legends in their own right in the South Indian film industry.

Super Deluxe was a 2019 Tamil-language black comedy film that tells four interwoven stories that run in parallel, and one of the stories is about a trans woman who, pre-transition, was married and had a son. She returns to her family as her post-transition self after years of disappearance, and the film engages in conversation around sex and gender, through the innocent questions of her young son. The movie is gorgeously made, and outrageously sharp and witty in its commentary on society’s views on sex, morality, religion and family. And once again, I don’t think it is well-known outside of the domestic and international award-circuit audiences it was promoted to (last I checked, it was available to domestic audiences on Netflix).

Sometimes, even the domestic audience might miss the queer representation in their regional media when it is indie enough to not get aggressively promoted. The Hindi-language anthology movie from Netflix, Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), featured a story where two women from different caste and social class meet at the workplace (the sapphic story, Geeli Pucchi, starts at 1:17:05, if anyone wants to check it out). It served biting commentary on the intersectionality of queerness, misogyny, caste and class. And once again, I’ve never found a person with whom I could discuss it with (other than my mom, with whom I watched it).

And sometimes, even when a massive show with queer representation is well promoted and well received by critics, it still manages to fly under the radar in Indian queer fandom spaces. Amazon Prime India spent a lot of coin on the show Made in Heaven (2019) – and it was worth it. The show follows the lives of two wedding planners, Tara and Karan. Karan is closeted (except to his close friends) for most of the show, but after he makes some powerful enemies in his line of work, he gets publicly outed, which puts him on the path of dealing with his family’s shades of acceptance, queer rights activism, and reconciling with an old friend. The car scene in episode 9 made me cry, and yet I’ve never read a word about this show from Indian QL fan blogs here on Tumblr.

Following every film and TV show that releases in one language, across all modes and platforms, and keeping an eye out for queer representation is hard enough. Doing it in multiple languages is downright impossible. And then personal preferences come into play. Personally, I enjoy nearly all genres of media, but I am primarily an angst monster, so I seek out and watch sad shit on the regular. All four examples I’ve listed in this section are good queer representations, but they are deeply sad, rage-inducing, heartbreaking and realistic. If one wanted to watch an Indian queer romance that’s inside the bubble, I’m not sure if they can even find one – I have certainly not come across any. Even the queer Bollywood movies designed for a box office run, paying homage to iconic Bollywood romance sequences, were still outside the bubble. When a niche audience like the QL fandom collides with a complex media-churning machine like the Indian media industry that is fundamentally not designed to cater to them, all we get is a lot of puzzled looks and question marks.

A Thought Experiment On The Future Of Indian QLs

Now that I have established the challenges, I want to engage in a little thought experiment – if we were to receive a steady stream of Indian QL content, what would it look like, and how can the fandom engage with it?

If we are looking for content from a stable production entity for Indian queer media, like Thailand’s GMMTV, Japan’s MBS Drama Shower, and Korea’s Strongberry, we would be waiting for a long time, at the very least a decade or two. What we could get are small indie queer shows like Romil and Jugal, squirreled away in a streaming platform exclusive to India and only accessible internationally via VPN. Another example is the list of sapphic shows @twig-tea shared with us a while ago, here. These are gonna be low budget, probably-not-great-quality shows reminiscent of early GMMTV.

Another variety of QL content we could get are the Bollywood queer romance films and TV shows. They will be cheesy and tropey and romantic, and might interact with the bubble, but probably mostly from the safety of an upper middle class setting. This means they would eventually run out of fresh perspectives they could tune into in their limited scope and the stories might turn stale and repetitive (I’m deriving this from the general state of things in the Indian media landscape over the last couple years). International access might be a little easier than the previous case, but not as easy as going to YouTube and hitting play.

The third and final variety are the gritty dramas with heavy social, cultural, religious, gender and class commentary that Indian cinema industry has always made, and has upgraded in the recent years to include queerness. Once again, the access will be hard, but if we are looking for queer stories that also show the audience what it is like being queer in India, beyond the glitz, the glam and the colors of pre-packaged Indian experience often sold to the West, this is where we will find it. Most of it will be sad, but we are a sad bunch who constantly make sad shit, so it will be on brand for us.

And all of these different varieties of content are gonna need to be picked up and promoted by the Indian folks in the QL fandom who are tuned into these regional industries. India not being a cultural monolith that is easy to package and ship is precisely why we have all these beautiful and crazy and sometimes even contradictory styles of media that are offered for us to explore. And therefore, the fandom engagement on Indian QL content would also vastly differ from the fandom engagement for Japan, Thailand and Korea. A dedicated fandom captain might not emerge, but rather, a collective group of folks tuning into and promoting finds from their regional industries would be the way to go. In addition, if this content is not available in English, we would need fan subbers to provide translation expertise to even make it accessible, something we see often for Japanese media on Tumblr.

I know from observation that watching media in a different regional language could sometimes be as foreign to Indian audiences as watching media from other countries. The language, traditions, mannerisms, social mores and food would all be different from region to region, but I guess it would be a good litmus test to observe how well the fandom acclimates to a culture that is so eye-wateringly diverse and not as constantly promoted to them.

When I was texting @waitmyturtles discussing how we can approach answering this question (remember when this all started with a question, some two thousand-ish words ago? Yes, that question), at a point in our conversation I exclaimed "Ugh, everything in India is too complicated!" This long-ass post of mine is in no way the complete account of why things are the way they are in the Indian queer media landscape. But all I know for sure is that it’s not simple. And I really do not want anything related to India to be simple, because being unbearably frustrating and complicated is not a bug, but a feature of India. The road to Indian QLs is unique, but I will do my best to check the paths and share and recommend them to my friends whenever possible. And I invite my fellow Indian QL fans to do the same.

[rideboomindia]

Another milestone will be added in RideBoom journey of launching its bike taxi in the Indian city of Agra.

Agra, India, 23rd October 2023, ZEX PR WIRE, RideBoom, a leading transportation network company, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its innovative bike taxi service in the city of Agra. With this new addition to its portfolio of services, RideBoom aims to provide convenient, efficient, and eco-friendly transportation options for residents and visitors of Agra.

The bike taxi service offered by RideBoom will utilize a fleet of well-maintained motorcycles operated by trained and professional drivers. Customers will be able to book a bike taxi through the RideBoom mobile application, which will connect them to the nearest available driver. The service is designed to offer a fast and affordable mode of transportation, particularly for short-distance trips within the city.

RideBoom’s bike taxi service brings numerous benefits to the local community. Firstly, it provides an alternative transportation option that reduces road congestion and promotes cleaner air quality. Additionally, the service offers flexible employment opportunities for individuals who own motorcycles and wish to earn a livelihood by partnering with RideBoom.

“We are thrilled to introduce our bike taxi service in Agra,” said Mr. Harminder Malhi known as Harry Malhi, CEO of RideBoom. “Agra is a city known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant tourism industry. By launching the bike taxi service, we aim to enhance the overall transportation experience for both residents and tourists, while also contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.”

To ensure the safety and security of passengers, RideBoom has implemented comprehensive safety protocols for its bike taxi service. All drivers undergo a thorough background check, and the motorcycles are regularly inspected and maintained to meet stringent safety standards. Furthermore, riders will have access to a 24/7 customer support team, allowing them to address any concerns or queries they may have during their journey.

The launch of RideBoom’s bike taxi service in Agra is scheduled for 12 November 2023. The service will be available to residents and visitors throughout the city, allowing them to conveniently navigate through Agra’s bustling streets and explore its many attractions.

For more information about RideBoom and its services, please visit https://rideboom.com/india/ or download the RideBoom mobile application, available on iOS/Android.

About RideBoom:

RideBoom is a leading transportation network company committed to revolutionizing mobility solutions across various cities. With a focus on convenience, safety, and sustainability, RideBoom offers a range of transportation services, including ride-hailing, bike taxis, and more. The company strives to create a seamless and enjoyable transportation experience for its customers while contributing to the development of smart cities.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from The Revelator:

Ladakh, India’s cold desert, is located to the east of Jammu and Kashmir at altitudes between 8,800 and 18,000 feet. This mountain enclave is geographically distinct, with unique climatic and ecological characteristics fostering a rich culture amidst towering peaks. Ladakh is marked by steep cliffs, deep valleys, arid plains, salt flats, and sparse vegetation. Situated between Pakistan and China, it nurtures a population of around 275,000 people, as well as rare and beautiful wildlife such as snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes.

The people and wildlife here depend on the Hindu Kush ranges to the northwest for essential resources. The other mountain ranges surrounding the Ladakh, the Karakoram to the north and the Himalayan to the south, are some of the highest in the world. Together known as the Hindu Kush Himalaya, these ranges are often referred to as the “Third Pole.” They feature the world’s most renowned peaks, clad in over 30,000 square miles of glacial ice — the largest concentration of glaciers outside the Arctic and Antarctic.

High-altitude regions have fragile ecosystems and experience the effects of climate change more acutely and earlier, which also makes them indicators of broader climate trends. This allows scientists to study shifts in weather phenomena, migration, and ecosystem responses along with the tectonic processes involved in the region’s varied geology.

A rich diversity of medicinal plants can be found here, such as Himalayan yew, known for cancer-fighting properties; ashwagandha, used for stress relief; and ginger, valued for anti-inflammatory benefits. Protecting these unique environments is essential to sustaining traditional medicine practices and preserving these invaluable resources.

The area’s unique wildlife play essential roles in nutrient cycling and maintaining ecological balance: Himalayan blue sheep, also known as bharal, graze on alpine meadows, while Himalayan marmots aerate the soil and serve as prey for other species.

The local ecosystems in Ladakh, and the more than 1.2 billion people downstream, depend on glaciers for their freshwater supply. As the permafrost thaws, concerns about potential pandemics from viral spillover have surfaced.

Recently a collaborative effort of Ohio State’s Byrd Center and Chinese Academy of Sciences isolated 33 viruses from ice samples in the Tibetan Plateau, 28 of which were novel and estimated to be approximately 15,000 years old. The runoff from glacier melt has furthered the risk of introducing diseases into vulnerable communities.

Recent examples of mega-scale flash floods and landslides underscore the impact of man-made disasters and the urgent need for new policies.

Militarization has occurred in Ladakh due to its strategic location and geopolitical conflicts. Unregulated tourism, construction, global warming, and various forms of pollution are worsening the situation. Snow in the glaciers melts faster as black soot from fossil fuels settle on the snow and ice and absorb the sunlight they would normally reflect.