Remembering Priya Thangarajah Queer Feminist Festschrift Bengaluru Event – Tribute to Activism

Celebrate Priya Thangarajah’s legacy at the Queer Feminist Festschrift Bengaluru event by QAMRA, focusing on queer activism, mental health, and human rights.

The Remembering Priya Thangarajah queer feminist festschrift Bengaluru event brought together scholars, activists, and students to honour the life and impactful work of Priya Thangarajah, a distinguished queer feminist and human rights advocate. Hosted by the Queer Archive for Memory, Reflection and Activism (QAMRA) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, this festschrift offered a platform to reflect on Priya’s significant contributions to gender, sexuality, and minority rights across India and Sri Lanka.

Priya Thangarajah: A Life Dedicated to Justice and Equality

Priya Thangarajah, a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Georgetown University alumna, was a pioneering voice in queer activism and feminist scholarship. A Fulbright scholar, she worked relentlessly on issues relating to gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and human rights. Her advocacy extended across India and her native Sri Lanka, where she championed the cause of marginalized communities.

Priya’s untimely demise a decade ago left a void in the queer activist and academic community. The QAMRA NLSIU queer archive human rights day 2025 festschrift commemorated her contributions and continued the dialogue she had initiated on queer rights, mental health, and legal reforms.

Event Highlights and Discussions

The festschrift took place at the Ground Floor Conference Hall, Training Centre, NLSIU Bengaluru, in a hybrid format allowing participants to join both in-person and virtually. Key discussions included:

• Queer rights and legal protections in Sri Lanka: Scholars explored contemporary legal frameworks and gaps in policies protecting queer individuals.
• Mental health and queer activism: A focused panel addressed the intersection of queerness and mental health, emphasizing suicide prevention and support systems.
• Ethnicity, religion, and gender violence: Experts analyzed the impact of socio-political conflicts, particularly on Tamil Muslim communities in Sri Lanka.
• Archival activism: The significance of preserving queer histories and documenting grassroots activism was a recurring theme, reinforcing QAMRA’s mission.

Dr. Rina Sen, a prominent human rights scholar, remarked, “Priya’s work transcends borders and generations, reminding us that activism is not just about policy but about lived experiences and memory.”

Expert Insights: The Importance of Archival Work

Archiving queer histories is crucial for sustaining activism. QAMRA’s initiative highlights the need to remember and document the struggles and victories of marginalized communities. According to the organisers, such archives not only preserve memory but also serve as resources for research, education, and advocacy.

Priya’s life and legacy underscore the importance of documenting lived experiences of queer individuals and creating platforms for dialogue on intersectional issues like gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and mental health.

Connecting Education, Law, and Activism

Educational institutions play a pivotal role in fostering awareness on human rights and queer issues. NLSIU’s initiative in hosting the Remembering Priya Thangarajah queer feminist festschrift Bengaluru event exemplifies how academia can intersect with activism to bring about social change.

For students and researchers interested in further exploring queer rights, mental health, and archival activism, NCERT resources and courses offer valuable insights:

• NCERT Courses: Explore Here
• Current Affairs Updates: Latest News
• Study Notes & MCQs: Notes | MCQs
• Video Resources & Syllabus: Videos | Syllabus
• Free NCERT PDFs & Mind Maps: Downloads

The Role of Legal Frameworks in Supporting Queer Communities

Panel discussions during the festschrift emphasized that legal recognition and protection are essential for promoting equality. Experts debated how India and Sri Lanka can strengthen policies protecting queer individuals and ensure access to mental health services.

• Legal reforms in India have progressed, yet there is a continuous need for education and awareness.
• Mental health support, especially for queer youth, remains a critical challenge globally.
• Collaboration between academia, civil society, and government is key for sustained change.

Advocate Priya Menon, a participant, noted, “Archival activism ensures that the struggles of queer communities are remembered, celebrated, and inform future policies.”

Commemorating Priya Through Archival Activism

QAMRA’s archives document activism in its rawest forms, capturing narratives that are often excluded from mainstream history. The Tamil Muslim relations Sri Lanka queer activism report discussion highlighted how intersectionality shapes advocacy strategies, a focus central to Priya’s work.

By commemorating her contributions, this festschrift aims to:

1. Inspire current and future generations of activists.
2. Promote research in queer studies and feminist scholarship.
3. Strengthen networks between Indian and Sri Lankan human rights communities.

Event Takeaways: Learning from Priya’s Legacy

• Intersectional Approach: Priya’s activism highlighted that queer advocacy cannot be isolated from broader issues of ethnicity, religion, and gender.
• Mental Health Awareness: Addressing mental health crises among queer populations is vital, especially in academic and social spaces.
• Archival Preservation: Documenting activism and lived experiences ensures that histories are accessible to all.
• Global Collaboration: Cross-border initiatives between India and Sri Lanka demonstrate the importance of transnational solidarity.

How Students and Activists Can Engage

• Join online and local queer archives and activism groups.
• Participate in workshops, panel discussions, and seminars focused on human rights.
• Advocate for mental health programs in educational institutions.
• Utilize resources like NCERT courses, PDFs, and mind maps to deepen understanding of gender, sexuality, and social justice.

External Collaboration and Authoritative Insights

External organisations such as Mart Ind Infotech provide technical and research support for educational institutions. Collaborative initiatives help amplify voices, strengthen documentation, and ensure better dissemination of queer histories.

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10 FAQs About the Festschrift and Priya Thangarajah

1. What is the Remembering Priya Thangarajah queer feminist festschrift Bengaluru event?
   A commemoration organized by QAMRA at NLSIU to honor Priya’s activism and scholarship.
2. Who was Priya Thangarajah?
   A queer feminist, Fulbright scholar, and human rights activist from India and Sri Lanka.
3. When and where was the festschrift held?
   December 10, 2025, at the Ground Floor Conference Hall, Training Centre, NLSIU Bengaluru.
4. What topics were discussed during the event?
   Queer rights, legal protections in Sri Lanka, mental health, archival activism, and intersectionality.
5. What is QAMRA?
   Queer Archive for Memory, Reflection and Activism, dedicated to preserving queer histories.
6. How does archival activism help queer communities?
   By documenting narratives, it informs research, policy-making, and awareness programs.
7. How can students access related NCERT resources?
   Through NCERT courses, notes, PDFs, videos, and mind maps for gender and social studies topics.
8. Why was Priya Thangarajah’s work important for Sri Lanka?
   She highlighted issues of ethnicity, religion, and gender-based violence affecting queer and minority groups.
9. How can mental health support be integrated into queer activism?
   Through awareness programs, workshops, and institutional support for vulnerable communities.
10. Where can one collaborate or learn more about archival activism?
    Engage with QAMRA, local queer archives, and educational platforms that support human rights research.