Integrated communications firm Avian has released the Marathi adaptation of Consciously Speaking – ‘Jaanivpoorvak Boltana‘ at The Rainbow Lit Fest, in New Delhi.
Kass Sells CEO International, WE Communications, launched the book with Nitin Mantri, Regional Managing Director – APAC, WE Communications; Sharmistha Ghosh, Sr. Vice President – Social Impact, Avian WE, Amrita Tripathi, Content Consultant – Social Impact, Avian WE and Sharif D. Rangnekar, Festival Director, Rainbow Lit Fest.
Translated by QKnit, the book aims to create a resource that could be used to understand the vocabulary used in the discourse on LGBTQIA+ issues. In consultation with gender experts and LGBTQIA+ rights advocates, Avian WE conceptualised Consciously Speaking in 2021, followed by Satrangi Bhasha (the Hindi adaptation in 2023), and now the Marathi translation explaining the meanings, usage and contexts of 34 terms related to gender, sex and sexuality.
In 2023, The Press Council of India recognised Consciously Speaking as a crucial resource in their guidelines for covering news on LGBTQIA+ individuals, communities and issues. This acknowledgement establishes the book’s significance in promoting informed, respectful, and accurate representation of the community in public discourse.
Marathi holds profound cultural and social significance and is spoken by over 84 million people across India. As the primary language of Maharashtra—a state known for its progressive social movements and rich literary tradition—Marathi provides a critical pathway to making LGBTQIA+ discourse more accessible and meaningful. With Jaanipoorvak Boltana, Avian WE has ensured that critical conversations about gender, identity, and sexuality reach communities in their most comfortable linguistic space, breaking down barriers of understanding and promoting genuine inclusivity.
The 34 terminologies in the book explain the context of terms such as femininity, masculinity, assigned gender, LGBTQIA+, and sexual orientation.
Sharmistha Ghosh, Vice President, Social Impact and Healthcare Practice, Avian WE, said, “Jaanivpoorvak Boltana extends our mission to transform language from a barrier to a pathway of genuine connection. By bringing these vital conversations to Marathi, we are breaking down linguistic walls that have traditionally isolated individuals and communities. From its inception as a resource book in English and subsequent renderings in Hindi to now Marathi, Consciously Speaking has become a purposeful journey for Avian WE. As we look ahead and try to reach more people, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to QKnit for the adaptation, and Rainbow Lit Fest for their continued support.”
Building upon the success of Satrangi Bhasha, the Hindi adaptation launched at the 2023 World Book Fair in New Delhi, this Marathi edition continues Avian WE’s commitment to making LGBTQIA+ terminology accessible across India’s linguistic landscape. By providing precise, sensitive terminology in a language deeply connected to people’s lived experiences, the book promotes widespread education and understanding by extending the reach of critical conversations beyond English-speaking spaces.
The journey of Consciously Speaking demonstrates that language is more than a means of communication – it is a powerful instrument of social change, understanding, and empowerment. As the Marathi edition takes its place alongside the original and the Hindi translation, it carries forward a critical mission: to ensure that every individual, regardless of their linguistic background, has access to the vocabulary of respect, understanding, and self-expression.
