New Delhi: Over 600 members of the artistic community have issued a statement in solidarity with cartoonist Rachita Taneja, the creator of webcomic Sanitary Panels.
“We believe this is an attack on her right to free speech and expression and, by extension, an attack on us all,” the statement said and demanded that contempt proceedings against Sanitary Panels be dropped.
Last week, the Attorney General for India, K.K. Venugopal, approved contempt proceedings against Taneja over drawings that she uploaded on her page Sanitary Panels that were critical of the Supreme Court.
The statement, which has been endorsed by members of the comics and creative community condemned the clearance granted by the attorney general and urged the court to uphold debate, dissent and dialogue. The statement also said that as artists, the signatories were compelled to “raise questions about the social and political context we live in, which includes the functioning of the Supreme Court”.
The signatories also held that art and cartooning had a specific role in society “which is rooted in the possibilities of creative and critical debate” and said that Taneja’s sketches were part of a tradition that had kept the culture of debate and dialogue on governance and politics alive through peaceful and creative means.
Also read: ‘Sanitary Panels’, Contempt and Arrests: A Brief History of Political Cartoons in India
“We believe that our government and our judiciary should be capable of accepting criticism and responding to it in a spirit of self-assessment and self-reflection rather than pouncing on it and stifling it,” the signatories said and held that art was a crucial medium that kept society from becoming a “servile citizenry”.
The recent contempt proceedings initiated against Prashant Bhushan and Kunal Kamra, the artists said, revealed an inclination to “censor those who are outspoken against the ruling dispensation” and further added that the Supreme court was obliged to protect the rights of citizens. “Instead it is creating an atmosphere of fear in which anything can be deemed contempt of court,” it said.
“Such authoritarian actions are unacceptable to us as artists and members of the creative community of India,” the artists said.
Full text of the statement is reproduced below.
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Statement in Solidarity with Sanitary Panels by the Comics and Creative Community
We, the undersigned members of the comics and creative community, strongly condemn the clearance granted by the Attorney General to initiate contempt proceedings against Rachita Taneja, creator of Sanitary Panels. We believe this is an attack on her right to free speech and expression and, by extension, an attack on us all.
We are compelled as artists to raise questions about the social and political context we live in, which includes the functioning of the Supreme Court – as Rachita has done in her work. Art, and especially cartooning, has had a relationship with society which is rooted in the possibilities of creative and critical debate. Rachita Taneja’s art practice is situated in a long tradition of cartooning which has kept alive this culture of debate and dialogue on contemporary governance, court cases and anti-people policies through peaceful and creative means. We believe that our government and our judiciary should be capable of accepting criticism and responding to it in a spirit of self-assessment and self-reflection rather than pouncing on it and stifling it. This power of art is crucial in keeping us from slipping into becoming a servile citizenry.
The pattern of criminal contempt proceedings against dissenters like Prashant Bhushan, Kunal Kamra and, now, Rachita Taneja reveals a desire to censor those who are outspoken against the ruling dispensation. This misuse of law undermines the fundamental rights of anyone raising questions. The Supreme Court should be protecting the rights of citizens to do so, instead it is creating an atmosphere of fear in which anything can be deemed contempt of court. Such authoritarian actions are unacceptable to us as artists and members of the creative community of India.
We demand that these proceedings against Sanitary Panels be dropped, and that the Court instead uphold debate, dissent and dialogue which are at the heart of any democracy.
List of Signatories to the Statement in Solidarity With Sanitary Panels by the Comics and Creative Community
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Student |
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Fine art student |
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Freelance illustrator and Comics creator |
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Architect/ Photographer |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student, Faculty of Fine Arts, Vadodara |
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Designer |
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Self employed |
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Private Service |
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Student |
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Advocate |
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Musician |
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Filmmaker |
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_ |
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Digital Marketer |
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Screenwriter |
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Human |
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Scholar |
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Student |
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Graphic designer |
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Sr. Art director |
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Dentist |
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Animator |
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Architect |
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Designer |
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Artist |
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Writer |
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Art Student |
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Student |
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Visual artist |
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Children’s book illustrator |
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Illustrator and theatre practitioner |
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Student |
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I stand by Sanitary Panels |
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Filmmaker |
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Mechanical Engineer |
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Student |
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Freelance Legal editor |
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Citizen of India |
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Citizen |
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Student |
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Housewife |
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Student |
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Visual artist |
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Illustrator |
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Musician |
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Artist and art educator |
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Artist |
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Artist Collective |
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Student |
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Student |
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Writer |
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Comic Artist |
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Architect |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Student of Literature. |
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Student |
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Independent |
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Student |
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Teacher |
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TGT Science (KVS) |
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Student |
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Fine arts student |
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Teacher |
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Visual art practitioner |
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Writer, illustrator |
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Ph.D Scholar |
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Indian citizen |
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Freelance |
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Artist |
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Artist, (B.tech. IIT Roorkee) |
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Designer |
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Freelance |
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Yoga teacher |
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Actor Clown |
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Writer |
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Student |
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Artist |
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IT engineer, trainer and artist |
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Psychologist |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Animation TD |
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Visual Artist |
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Student |
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Illustration artist |
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Researcher |
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Assistant Professor |
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Student |
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Arko Saha |
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Student |
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Academic, curator |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Communication designer |
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Comic Book Archivist |
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Comic Book Archivist |
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Comic Book Archivist |
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Graphic designer |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Independent Artist |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Animator/ student |
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Design Student |
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Editor, artist |
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Artist |
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Filmmaker |
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Social Media Manager |
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Student |
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Accounts Assistant |
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Bharatiya |
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Cartoonist |
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Illustrator |
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Production Designer |
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Artist |
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Kerala |
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Illustrator |
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Visual Artist |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Artist and Teacher |
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Researcher |
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Artist |
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ARTIST, ART EDUCATOR |
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Concept Artist |
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Comic writer |
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Architect |
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Bandra |
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Curator at Brainded India |
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Zinester, artist and lecturer |
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Registered arts & culture support group |
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Artist |
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house wife |
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Animator and Comic artist |
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Research Scholar |
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Student |
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Assistant Professor |
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Practicing Artist |
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Animation filmmaker |
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UX Designer |
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Graphic Designer |
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Manager |
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2D Digital Artist |
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academic |
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2D Artist |
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Student |
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Owner |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Student |
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PhD Scholar |
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Student |
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Drop the charges against the writers |
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Ecologist |
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NA |
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Animator, illustrator |
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Student |
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Assistant Professor |
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NA |
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Accountant |
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Doctor |
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Artist |
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Consultant |
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Researcher at Technical University Munich |
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Editor, Writer, Content Creator |
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Sr Engineer |
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Engineer |
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Engineer |
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Dr |
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Artist |
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Designer |
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We, the undersigned members of the comics and creative community, strongly condemn the clearance granted by the Attorney General to initiate contempt proceedings against Rachita Taneja, creator of Sanitary Panels. |
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Software Engineer |
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Animator |
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Illustrator |
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Data Analyst |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Employee at consulting firm |
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Category Marketing Manager |
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Content Creator |
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Student |
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Designer & Educator |
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Designer |
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Artist |
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Chartered accountant |
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Student |
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Auditor |
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Industrial Designer |
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Accountant |
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Marketing graduate |
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Visual Artist |
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Student |
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Illustrator |
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Director and Partnership Manager |
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Self employed |
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Film maker |
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Student |
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NGO worker |
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Artist |
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Entrepreneur and consultant |
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N/A |
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Artist |
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Marketing |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Comics Creator and Professor of Science & Social Science |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Shah |
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Patent analyst |
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Photographer |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Doctor |
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Water management consultant |
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Graphic Designer |
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Artist |
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Visual Artist |
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Student |
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IT professional |
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Artist |
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Engineer. |
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Animator |
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Student |
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Student |
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student |
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Head of Product |
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Designer |
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Illustrator + Art Director |
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Student |
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Design student |
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Ind |
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Student |
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Student |
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IT Professional |
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Student |
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Concerned Citizen |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Independent illustrator, comic maker |
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– |
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Photographer |
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PhD Research Scholar |
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Designer |
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Graphic Journalist, IndiaSpend |
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Student |
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Comics Artist |
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Bhopal |
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Procrastinator |
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Quality engineer |
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Illustrator |
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Architect |
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Artist Poetess |
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Designer |
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Student |
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Social Entrepreneur |
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Visual Artist |
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Student |
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Employee |
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Choreographer |
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Senior software engineer |
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Artist |
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Fellow artist |
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Student |
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Corporate executive |
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Home maker |
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Indian |
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Cad operator |
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Student |
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Editor, Delhi |
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Student |
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Interior designer |
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Editor |
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UGIII Student, Presidency University, Kolkata |
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NA |
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Researcher |
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Student |
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Sculptor |
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Business |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Freelance Writer |
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Scientist |
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Graphic designer |
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Student |
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College Student |
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Graphic designer |
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Student |
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Illustrator |
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Comic book artist |
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I write |
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Artist |
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Student |
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MBA student, IIM Calcutta |
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Assistant professor |
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Artist |
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Illustrator and designer |
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Children’s Media Producer and Curator |
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Artist |
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Senior designer |
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Private employee |
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Analyst |
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Animator, pre-production artist |
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Visual designer |
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Animator/illustrator |
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Freelance illustrator and artist |
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Artist |
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Potter |
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Engineer |
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Artist/Architect (pastiche.in) |
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Design Editor |
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Content creator |
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Artist |
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Curator |
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Book editor |
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Student |
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Architecture student |
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Research Scholar |
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The proceedings should be dropped. As a country, instead of moving towards tolerance, we are going the opposite direction and that will bring nothing but destruction. |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Architect |
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In complete solidarity with Sanitary panels. The actual work of art is not to please but to evoke. Freedom is only possible if opinions are shared freely. |
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Independent comics creator and researcher |
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Graphic Designer, Professor |
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Architect |
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Partnerships Manager |
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Home chef |
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Designer |
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Artist and CA |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Unemployed |
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Student |
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Student |
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Freelancer |
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Photographer |
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Content Writer & Photographer |
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Artist |
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Curator |
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Children’s book illustrator |
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Student |
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Student |
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Vice President, AIESEC in Kolkata |
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Animator |
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Artist |
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Poet/Arts journalist |
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Filmmaker, designer |
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Student |
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Assistant professor |
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Software Developer |
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Artist, Educator and scholar. |
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Student |
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Citizen of India |
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Artist |
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College Student |
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Director, Blaft Publications |
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Student |
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Business Consultant |
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.. |
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Student |
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Visual artist |
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Editor |
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Visual artist |
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Student |
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Law Student |
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Artist |
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Lead, Brand |
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Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow |
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Artist |
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Instructional Designer |
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Writer |
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Activist |
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User researcher |
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Writer |
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Scholar |
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Architect, writer |
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Artist |
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PR executive |
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Student |
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Freelance Illustrator |
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Student |
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Teacher |
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Illustrator |
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Engineer |
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Cartoonist |
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Writer |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Copywriter |
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Self employed |
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Design Consultant |
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Comic artist |
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Producer |
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Sa |
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Art director |
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Design student |
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PhD Scholar, K.U. |
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Student |
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Urban Designer |
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Student |
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Student / freelance illustrator |
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Content writer |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Freelance Writer and Illustrator |
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Self employed |
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Software Engineer |
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Artist |
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Artist |
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Writer |
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Associate Professor |
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Student |
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Student |
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New Delhi |
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Trivandrum |
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Designer |
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Cartoonist and Comics artist |
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Student |
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Student |
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Animator , Illustrator, Filmmaker |
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Design Student |
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PhD student |
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Designer |
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Sound engineer |
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Artivist |
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Teacher |
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Senior manager |
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Senior UI Artist |
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Student |
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Digital Marketing Manager |
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Art director |
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Artist |
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Writer |
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Visual designer |
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Design consultant |
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Student |
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Associate Professor |
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Independent Researcher |
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Artist |
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Content creation |
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Writer |
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Category Manager |
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Designer |
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student |
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Comic Artist |
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freelance artist |
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Writer |
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Designer |
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Animator |
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Student |
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Writer |
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Executive Editor |
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Student |
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Artist and Writer, Raqs Media Collective |
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Artist and academic |
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COO |
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Designer |
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Student |
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Content marketer |
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Freelance Writer |
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Student |
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Journalist / content writer |
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Freelance communication designer |
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Visual designer |
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Artist |
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Finance professional |
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Creative Director |
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Artist |
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Union karyakarta, Bihar |
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Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist, educator |
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Animator |
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Post Graduate Student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Junior Designer |
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Freelance artist |
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Miss |
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Self-employed |
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Branding and communications consultant |
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Student |
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Product Manager, Adobe |
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Student |
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Student |
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Ph.D. Research Scholar, EFL University Hyderabad |
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Operation manager |
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Artist |
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Social worker |
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PhD Student |
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Copywriter |
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Freelance Artist |
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Independent artist |
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Artist |
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Film Curator |
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Professional |
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Self Employed |
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Student |
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Mathematician |
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Architect |
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Freelance Copywriter |
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Artist |
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Student |
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Student |
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Illustrator |
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Artist |
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Freelance Artist |
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Visual Artist |
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Student |
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Co-founders, Kokaachi |
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Student |
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Student |
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Artist and designer |
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Artist and designer |
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Service |
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Illustrator |
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Animator |
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Editorial Analyst |
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Self employed |
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Student |
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Visual artist |
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I support sanitary panels as they have raised voice against things which need to be discussed and criticized |
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Art student |
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Student |
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Student |
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Undergrad student |
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Content Writer |
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Artist |
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Artist and Art historian |
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Artist |
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Illustrator |
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Visual artist |
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Illustrator |
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Illustrator |
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Artist |
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Executive |
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College student |
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Designer |
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Student |
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Businessman |
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Student |
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Visual Artist |
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Independent Creator |
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Documentarian |
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Photographer |
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None |
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Student |
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Doctor |
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Visual Artist |
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Product Manager |
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Student |
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Illustrator/Artist |
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Illustration artist |