Vikram Kolmannskog

Last updated

Vikram Kolmannskog (born September 6, 1980) is an Indian-Norwegian writer, psychotherapist, and jurist. [1] His work explores themes of identity, sexuality, spirituality, and cultural hybridity. His writings often combine elements of fiction, memoir, and poetry, addressing topics such as queerness, religion, and migration. Kolmannskog’s works are noted for their candid explorations of intimacy and human connection, often challenging societal norms and expectations. [2]

Contents

Early Life and Education

Kolmannskog was born to a Norwegian father and an Indian mother, and his multicultural background has significantly influenced his work. [2] He studied law and human rights before transitioning into psychotherapy and writing. His academic work often addresses intersections of migration, queerness, and mental health, reflecting both his professional expertise and personal experiences. [3]


Climate refugees

In 2008, as a legal adviser working with the Norwegian Refugee Council, Kolmannskog wrote Future Floods of Refugees: A Comment on Climate Change, Conflict, and Forced Migration. This became the starting point for the work that he and the Norwegian Refugee Council did to improve the rights of so-called climate refugees. [4] [5] Kolmannskog was acknowledged for his 'outstanding work' in this field by António Guterres, who was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at the time. [6]

In 2014, Kolmannskog was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Oslo on the basis of his sociolegal research on the needs and rights of so-called climate refugees. [7] [8]

Gestalt therapy

Kolmannskog has practiced as a gestalt therapist since 2012. In this field too he has been particularly concerned with research related to marginalised groups, including trans folks. [9] [10] Since 2015, he has held a part-time teaching and research position at the Norwegian Gestalt Institute. In March 2022, on the basis of his research and pedagogical work and competence within the field, he became the world's first professor of gestalt therapy. [11]

Literature

Kolmannskog has published a range of works, including fiction, poetry, and academic writing. His literary style blends introspection with social commentary, creating a unique voice that resonates with readers across different cultures and identities. In 2018, Routledge published The Empty Chair: Tales from Gestalt Therapy. This book is an introduction to gestalt therapy as well as a collection of clinical tales, and Kolmannskog has been compared to Irvin D. Yalom. [12]

Much of his work explores the intersections of queerness, sexuality, and spirituality. With Taste and See: A Queer Prayer, published in 2018 by Mohini Books, he became known as an author who 'reconciles religiosity, spirituality and being queer'. [13] His work was described as 'a spiritual and sensual prayer' [14] and 'a lyrical study of passion, both religious and carnal'. [15]

Many of his poems and short stories have been written during, and as part of, the Indian LGBTQ mobilisation, and he has been a regular contributor to Indian LGBTQ magazines such as Gaylaxy . [16] On 6 September 2019, on the one-year anniversary of the Indian decriminalisation of homosexuality, a collection of his short stories Lord of the Senses was published by queer-of-colour–centric press Team Angelica. [17] [18] [19] In March 2020, Lord of the Senses was announced as one of the Lambda Literary Award finalists in Oprah Magazine. [20] The Lord of Senses delves into themes of spirituality, desire, and self-discovery. The story follows a protagonist navigating complex relationships and grappling with the boundaries between physical pleasure and emotional fulfillment. Critics have praised the work for its poetic prose and its ability to explore sensitive topics with vulnerability. The novella also reflects Kolmannskog’s broader interest in integrating spiritual practices into everyday life. Drawing on his background in psychotherapy, the narrative examines how individuals reconcile conflicting aspects of their identity, including sexuality and cultural expectations.


In connection with the poetry collection The Garden Tantra (Red River, 2023), Ruth Vanita described Vikram as 'one of the twenty-first century heirs of Walt Whitman'. [21] The Garden Tantra is a compelling exploration of queer intimacy and spirituality, presented through a series of evocative vignettes. The work delves into the intersections of desire, vulnerability, and connection, portraying intimate moments that transcend conventional narratives of love and relationships. While it is explicit in its depiction of physical and emotional intimacy, the book prioritizes the profound emotional bonds between individuals, highlighting the sacredness of these connections. By challenging heteronormative frameworks, The Garden Tantra invites readers to reimagine spirituality and intimacy beyond traditional binaries, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant reflection on the human experience. [22]


In 2024, Rhyheim: A Porn Poem was published by Broken Sleep Books. [23] [24] According to Diriye Osman, 'Vikram Kolmannskog understands the syntax of the spiritual and the sensual, and this devotional to Rhyheim Shabazz is spellbinding. Kolmannskog remains a rare talent.' [25]


Further, His poetry collection, Gentle Warrior (2021), delves into themes of grief, healing, and resilience, reflecting his professional insights as a psychotherapist. [26] The poems are marked by a deep sensitivity to human emotions, blending therapeutic understanding with artistic expression. Through this collection, Kolmannskog not only demonstrates his versatility as a writer but also bridges his literary work with his commitment to emotional and mental well-being, exploring how art can serve as a pathway to healing. [27]

Themes and Influence

Kolmannskog’s writing often engages with themes of queerness, spirituality, and hybridity. As a queer man of mixed heritage, he uses his work to challenge normative narratives and create space for alternative perspectives. His approach is influenced by his psychotherapy practice, which emphasizes the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Kolmannskog has been described as a key voice in contemporary queer literature, particularly in Scandinavia, where his works contribute to broader discussions on identity, belonging, and social justice.


Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Democratic Party (Norway)</span> Christian-democratic political party in Norway

The Christian Democratic Party is a Christian-democratic political party in Norway founded in 1933. The party is an observer member of the European People's Party (EPP). It currently holds three seats in the Parliament, having won 3.8% of the vote in the 2021 parliamentary election. The current leader of the party is Dag Inge Ulstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vikram Seth</span> Indian novelist and poet

Vikram Seth is an Indian novelist and poet. He has written several novels and poetry books. He has won several awards such as Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award. Seth's collections of poetry such as Mappings and Beastly Tales are notable contributions to the Indian English language poetry canon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emanuel Xavier</span> American poet

Emanuel Xavier, is an American poet, spoken word artist, author, editor, screenwriter, and LGBTQ activist born and raised in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn. Associated with the East Village, Manhattan arts scene in New York City, he emerged from the ball culture scene to become one of the first openly gay poets from the Nuyorican movement as a successful writer and advocate for gay youth programs and Latino gay literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental migrant</span> People forced to leave their home region due to changes to their local environment

Environmental migrants are people who are forced to leave their home region due to sudden or long-term changes to their local or regional environment. These changes compromise their well-being or livelihood, and include increased drought, desertification, sea level rise, and disruption of seasonal weather patterns. Though there is no uniform, clear-cut definition of environmental migration, the idea is gaining attention as policy-makers and environmental and social scientists attempt to conceptualize the potential social effects of climate change and other environmental degradation, such a deforestation or overexploitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allama Prabhu</span> Indian writer

Allamaprabhu was a 12th-century mystic-saint and Vachana poet of the Kannada language, propagating the unitary consciousness of Self and Shiva. Allamaprabhu is one of the celebrated poets and the patron saint of the Lingayata movement that reshaped medieval Karnataka society and popular Kannada literature. He is included among the "Trinity of Lingayathism", along with Basavanna, the founder of the movement, and Akka Mahadevi, the most prominent woman poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El-Farouk Khaki</span> Canadian politician

El-Farouk Khaki is a Tanzanian-born Muslim Canadian of Indian origin who is a refugee and immigration lawyer, and human rights activist on issues including gender equality, sexual orientation, and progressive Islam. He was the New Democratic Party's candidate for the House of Commons in the riding of Toronto Centre in a March 17, 2008 by-election. Khaki came in second with 13.8% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratiksha Apurv</span> Indian painter

Pratiksha Apurv is an Indian painter, whose work is based on her uncle Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho)' teachings. Before moving to painting, she was a successful fashion designer. Apurv won the National Award 2015-16 given by the Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture for her painting 'Cosmic Balance', and has exhibited her artwork across the country. Her artwork has featured in books and magazines, and in 2018 she wrote and illustrated her own book, The Mystic and Her Colours.

Rayaprolu Subbarao (1892–1984) was among the pioneers of modern Telugu literature. He is known as Abhinava Nannaya. He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers for his poetic work Misra Manjari in 1965. He was inspired by the Western literary movement and brought romanticism into Telugu literature by breaking away from the traditional translations of Sanskrit literature. He introduced the concept of "Amalina Shringara Tatvamu" into Telugu literature.

Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride March, also called Queer Azaadi March and Mumbai pride march, is an annual LGBTQIA pride parade that is held in the city of Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra, India. It usually begins from Gowalia Tank ending at Girgaum Chowpatty. It, along with the Pride Week, is organized by Queer Azaadi Mumbai, a collective of organizations and individuals working for the rights of LGBTQIA community. The participants of the march include people from the LGBTQIH community as well their "straight allies", from India and outside. In addition to being a celebration of queer pride, the pride march and related events are a platform to ask for equal rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delhi Queer Pride Parade</span> Annual LGBT event in Delhi

Delhi Queer Pride Parade is organised by members of the Delhi Queer Pride Committee every last Sunday of November since 2008. The queer pride parade is a yearly festival to honour and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and their supporters. The parade usually runs from Barakhamba Road to Tolstoy Marg to Jantar Mantar.

Gaylaxy is an Indian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) magazine. The magazine is based in Kolkata.

Charles Muir is a tantra teacher described as "one of the originators of the modern tantra movement" in the United States. He has taught tantra since the 1980s under the title "The Art of Conscious Loving". His first book was Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving (1989). He developed the method "sacred spot massage". In addition to Red Tantra practices, Charles teaches a method of White Tantra, which is the grandfather of Hatha Yoga, with extended holds, meditation, and chakra focus. He has trained a few hundred Certified Tantric Educators (CTEs).

TT Takemoto is an American artist and associate professor of visual studies and dean of Humanities & Sciences at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Takemoto's work explores issues of race and queer identity. They have presented work internationally, and received numerous grants for their work, notably from ART Matters, the James Irvine Foundation and the San Francisco Arts Commission. Their film Looking for Jiro received Best Experimental Film Jury Award at the Austin LGBT International Film Festival, and opened MIX 24: New York’s Queer Experimental Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orinam</span>

Orinam is a non-funded, social, and activist collective that works to enhance understanding of alternate sexualities and gender identities among families, communities and society. It was founded in 2003 in Chennai under the name MovenPick and is one of the oldest collective of its kind in India. People affiliated with Orinam are from or trace their ancestry to the following geo-cultural: People of Tamil Origin from Tamil Nadu, India. Orinam provides a platform for creative expression, personal and social commentary by Queer people of Tamil Origin and of Indian Origin primarily. Orinam also acts as a local support group in Chennai for the queer community. Orinam also partners with the city-, state- and national initiatives around decriminalisation of homosexuality by amending Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and LGBTQ rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anwesh Sahoo</span> Indian artist, blogger

Anwesh Kumar Sahoo is an Indian artist, blogger, writer, model, actor and a TEDx speaker. He was crowned Mr. Gay World India 2016, becoming the youngest winner of the crown at the age of 20. He represented India at the Mr. Gay World 2016 pageant held in Malta, Europe and made it to the Top 12. He is a recipient of the Troy Perry Award for compassionate activism, making him the first Indian to be honored with the award. He's a graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from IIIT Delhi, and secured a Master of Design degree from NIFT, New Delhi in 2020. Anwesh went on to work for Aristocrat Gaming as a Technical Artist, and is now pursuing a Master of Science at University College Cork.

Shobhna S. Kumar, an Indian female entrepreneur, established Queer Ink, India’s first online bookstore for the queer community. What started as an online bookstore has now evolved into an organisation that publishes works by queer authors, offers writing mentorship and publication guidance to queer authors, creates documentaries about queer lives and conducts events by and for the queer community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Zinker</span> Jewish-American therapist (b. 1934)

Joseph Chaim Zinker is a therapist who has contributed to the growth and development of Gestalt theory and also Gestalt methodology. He co-founded the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aditya Tiwari</span> Indian poet and activist

Aditya Tiwari is an Indian poet and LGBT rights activist. He has also worked as a journalist and producer at the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vera Felicidade de Almeida Campos</span> Brazilian psychologist

Vera Felicidade de Almeida Campos is a Brazilian psychologist who founded Gestalt Psychotherapy, a psychotherapeutic theory based on Gestalt Psychology. From gestalt and phenomenology she developed a clinical practice and a theory that supports it, breaking with psychoanalytic concepts that influence most other approaches to clinical psychology, even gestalt approaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Garriga Bacardí</span> Spanish psychotherapist

Joan Garriga Bacardí is a Gestalt and humanistic psychologist and psychotherapist. He is known for working on family constellation approach, and also for applying the technique to couples’ relationship problems, mainly in Spanish-speaking countries.

References

  1. ↑ "Gods, Books and Cocks – Vikram Kolmannskog about Writing, Sex, Spirituality and Cosmopolitanism.", Gaylaxy , 25 August 2019, retrieved 25 March 2020
  2. 1 2 "Vikram Kolmannskog Official Website" . Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Vikram Kolmannskog". LawTransform. Centre on Law & Social Transformation. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "Klimaendringer årsak til flukt.", Stavanger Aftenblad , 22 April 2008, retrieved 25 March 2020
  5. ↑ "What about Climate Refugees? Efforts to Help the Displaced Bog Down in Copenhagen.", Spiegel International , 17 December 2009, retrieved 25 March 2020
  6. ↑ Climate Changed: People Displaced., Norwegian Refugee Council, 15 April 2009, p. 3, retrieved 25 March 2020
  7. ↑ "Climate refugees hard hit by unclear laws.", Science Norway , 14 May 2014, retrieved 25 March 2020
  8. ↑ "Klimaflyktning i lov og praksis.", Morgenbladet , 24 January 2014, archived from the original on 25 March 2020, retrieved 25 March 2020
  9. ↑ "Samtalegruppe for trans.", Blikk , 3 January 2013, retrieved 25 March 2020
  10. ↑ "VIKRAM VIL SPRENGE KJØNNSBÅSENE.", Erlik , January 2016, archived from the original on 25 March 2020, retrieved 25 March 2020
  11. ↑ NGI har fått verdens første professor i gestaltterapi (in Norwegian), Norsk Gestaltinstitutt, retrieved 11 March 2022
  12. ↑ "Gripende debut.", Deichman Litteraturbloggen , retrieved 25 March 2020
  13. ↑ "Why should we give the church or temple the power to define who is a religious person?", The Hindu , 3 April 2014, retrieved 25 March 2020
  14. ↑ "A spiritual and sensual prayer.", Bangalore Mirror , 4 March 2018, retrieved 25 March 2020
  15. ↑ "Taste and See.", Kirkus Reviews , 8 December 2017, retrieved 25 March 2020
  16. ↑ "Vikram Kolmannskog", Gaylaxy , retrieved 25 March 2020
  17. ↑ "Gods, Books and Cocks – Vikram Kolmannskog about Writing, Sex, Spirituality and Cosmopolitanism.", Gaylaxy , 25 August 2019, retrieved 25 March 2020
  18. ↑ "All These Write, Not I Alone: A Conversation with Vikram Kolmannskog.", PEN Transmissions, English PEN, 10 September 2019, retrieved 25 March 2020
  19. ↑ "Vikram Kolmannskog's 'Lord of the Senses' Delves Deep into the Indian Queer Experience.", News18 , 22 January 2020, retrieved 25 March 2020
  20. ↑ "These Are The Finalists for the 2020 Lambda Literary Awards, Announced Exclusively on OprahMag.com.", Oprah Magazine , 10 March 2020, retrieved 25 March 2020
  21. ↑ "The Garden Tantra". Goodreads. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  22. ↑ Kolmannskog, Vikram Odedra. The Garden Tantra. Bangalore: Tara Press, 2017.
  23. ↑ Kolmannskog, Vikram (2024-01-31). Rhyheim: A Porn Poem. Broken Sleep Books. ISBN   978-1-915760-59-3.
  24. ↑ Engesbak, Reidar (2024-02-06). "Pornodikt". www.blikk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  25. ↑ "Vikram Kolmannskog- Rhyheim". Broken Sleep Books. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  26. ↑ Kolmannskog, Vikram Odedra. Gentle Warrior. Bangalore: Tara Press, 2021.
  27. ↑ "‘Why Should We Give the Church or Temple the Power to Define Who Is a Religious Person?’: An Interview with Vikram Kolmannskog." The Hindu, April 13, 2018. Accessed November 29, 2024. (https://www.thehindu.com/books/why-should-we-give-the-church-or-temple-the-power-to-define-who-is-a-religious-person-an-interview-with-vikram-kolmannskog/article23527908.ece).


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.