The White Rose Club, Gargi’s queer-straight alliance, celebrates pride through campus-wide march, flash mob and zine launch
The White Rose Club (WRC), Gargi College’s official queer-straight alliance operating under the Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, organised its annual Pride Parade on 29 October 2025. Established in 2017 and formally recognised in 2020, the WRC aims to make Gargi College a safe, inclusive, and informed environment for LGBTQIA+ students by fostering dialogue through its programs and initiatives.
The parade, held from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, began at the Arts Quad and moved across the Auditorium, Main Arch, and academic blocks of the South Campus College. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation by students, faculty, and allies. Slogans such as “Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has to go!”, “We resist, we persist, we exist!” and “Desh ke rang anek hai, pride unme se ek hai” echoed through the halls, encapsulating the primary resolve for inclusivity and dignity for the LGBTQ + community..
A highlight of this year’s parade was an interactive flash mob by Team WRC, which drew widespread engagement. Additionally, the face and hand painting stall, a WRC tradition, remained one of the most popular attractions before and after the parade.
The White Rose Club also released its second zine, “What Queerness Looks Like in Gargi”, featuring contributions in the form of poems, illustrations, and personal reflections from students across the college.
Reflecting on the event, Disha Barwal, the WRC convenor, shared with us, “..I felt just as electric and vibrant, if not more. It is an incredible feeling to see people from all corners of our college come together to celebrate this community. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Anjum Kaushal, Design Head for WRC, added, “Attending my first pride parade made me feel a sense of belonging, and seeing others experience that now is truly phenomenal.”
Other members of the club spoke on what the parade meant for a queer student who has been isolated for much of their life: “Being queer as an Indian is quite isolating sometimes, and this parade is just one of WRC’s efforts to help the students feel like they belong here just as anyone else does. It’s showing up that matters, and WRC shows up each year.”
Read Also: Rainbows on Chhatra Marg: Fourth Campus Pride Parade Takes Place in Full Force
Image Credits : gargicollege.in
Anjali Paruvu