How a group of Mumbai teens started a city magazine

The very name of the magazine conveys its individuality. The editorial team of The Flipside magazine comprises of school and college students between the ages of 16 and 17 years. Their optimism is refreshing in a society which has become cynical about the condition of women in India today. They represent the youth of India that have had a privileged upbringing; but are nonetheless determined to make a change in the system for those who have not and will not. For them it is time to look at the flipside of things.

In an exclusive interview, dna speaks to The Flipside team about womens rights and how 16-year-olds can bring about change.

How did the idea of The Flipside come up?

One day I (the editor of the magazine- Ananya Jalan) was flicking through TV channels and every single news channel was showcasing the same morose, negative news. I switched the TV off. Why? I wondered why our country was being shown in such poor light? If we ourselves aren't proud of what is good we will never find it in us to change what is not. This is how the idea of Flipside was conceived. We wanted to bring to you a new side, a happy side, a positive side.

What is the main focus of the magazine? How is it different from other magazines for women?

Read any newspaper or magazine today and you will find the pages filled with all the heinous crimes being committed across our nation. In the aftermath of the sudden awareness and anger that swept through our country, we wanted to voice our opinions and focus on not only the bad, but also all the good that is more often than not hidden. Our magazine also focuses on the active involvement of our readers and gives them a platform through which they can express their views. ‘The Flipside Forums' held every month, are also an active center for the propagation and debate of new ideas. The magazine is about women; but it is for men and women.

Is a change in perspective needed in society today, or a change in the laws and their implementation?

A change in the perspective of society and a change in the implementation of laws are not mutually exclusive, they are both very necessary. Indian society is a patriarchal one, and people are hardwired to think in a manner degrading to women. It is almost as if society has resigned the fate of women to specified gender roles, and those who do not toe the line are ostracized. The common understanding that this is limited to the lower uneducated classes of society is a glaring misconception. Crimes against women begin with the twisted idea in the depraved minds of the perpetrators that women are weaker, and are meant to be oppressed. Changing the mindset of these individuals will prove to be just as challenging as changing the mindset of society at large to truly, not just superficially, accept women as an equal sex. However, changing the perspective of society is a very idealistic concept and along with it better implementation of laws is the need of the hour. As for changing the laws; they already exist their impact depends on their implementation.

Which celebrities, social workers, entrepreneurs, politicians etc. would you like to interview in the future?

We would like to meet and interview women from all walks of society. We want to shed light on passionate women, interesting women, but above all women with a voice that has made a change. Our team was extremely fortunate to be able to interview Shaheen Mistri (CEO of Teach for India and Akanksha) as well as the founder of Priyadarshini cab service for women. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to interview several women with inspiring stories such as theirs.

The Flipside is run by 16 year old students. Did you encounter any difficulties with sponsors and financial backing?

Obviously it wasn't very easy to garner financial support as understandably, the credibility of a group of 16-year-olds trying to start a magazine was not very high. Having said, that there were those who believed in us and backed us financially, which was why after a lot of hard work we were able to publish the first issue.

What plans do you have for the magazine, say over the next five years?

We have just published our first issue; the first rung of a very long ladder. We want it to evolve into being more than just a magazine; we want it to become a movement. We want it to be a forum for people like you and I to be able to express our views and ideas; and work towards finding solutions. As for the next step, we are in the process of setting up a website to supplement the magazine as it is only quarterly and we would like something more regular.

Can 16-year-old students really make a difference in today's society?

Anyone can make a difference to society today, as long as you have conviction in your cause. Whether we can make a difference or not, we are yet to see. As we're just starting out, we aren't really in the position to give advice; however we should have faith in ourselves and in our beliefs and be courageous enough to take the first step forward.

Your magazine is about women. In the 21st century India, do you believe women need provisions such as reservations? Or can women uplift themselves?

This was the topic of discussion at one of our forums and there was great debate about it, we were divided between empowering women and allowing them to stand on their own two feet and giving them that extra support and push that would make the difference. However we came to the conclusion that India is at a very raw stage the word empowering women is in itself idealistic and reservation with its correct implementation would be needed to give them that extra boost to put them at par with their male counterparts.