Outlook's Valentine's Day 2025 issue is on love and loneliness in the era of technology. You can read more from the latest issue here.
As Valentine’s Day draws near, Outlook revisits its August 2023 issue, ‘Radical Love𓂃,’ which delved into the diverse, evolving understanding of love and intimacy in modern India. The magazine stories, touching on concepts of polyamory, asexuality, kink and relationships, gave a voice to people who were redefining love through their unique relationships everyday. Radical Love offers a glimpse into a more inclusive, liberated future where all forms of love are valid and celebrated.
The issue featured an account by editor Chinki Sinha, about a group of women coming together after experiencing heartbreaks and navigating their own journeys towards liberation. The ‘Liberation Club’♉, a metaphor for reclaiming spaces of independence, reflected on the new terrains of relationships in a changing world.
Another story, ‘I Am Polyamorous’🔯 by Arundhati Ghosh, provided an insight into the struggles of being polyamorous, with being labelled as unconventional, being misunderstood and stigmatised.
⛦‘Beyond The Body: Asexual Dilemma of Love and Romance’൲ by Abhik Bhattacharya explored the challenges faced by the asexual community. It emphasised that love and connection are not defined by sexual attraction.
🐈The story highlighted the spectrum of asexuality, which includes terms like demisexuality and greysexuality, and how asexual individuals can still experience deep emotional connections, demonstrating that love transcends physical intimacy.
‘Spectrum of Connections’ by Duha𓆉 questioned today's dating rules, saying they often limit real connections. The story urged people to see relationships in a broader way, embracing all kinds of intimacy beyond society's norms.
A story by Rakhi Boseꦫ brings to light the story of a married couple challenging traditional ideas of love and marriage by embracing non-monogamy. The couple who have been in an open relationship for years, believe honesty and communication make their bond stronger. They reject the idea that loving multiple people weakens a relationship, instead seeing it as enriching.
While ‘Let’s Talk About Love, Please’💙 by Pruthu Parab explored the role of kink and sex-positive relationships in today’s world. It discussed concepts of consent and communication which are at the heart of a healthy relationship, but ironically are often ignored.
