1 day ago
Gazra Café Turns LGBTQI Inclusion Into Dignity in Vadodara
Gazra is a café in Vadodara that gives people from the LGBTQI community jobs and respect.
One worker, Tanvi, moved away from home after her family struggled to understand her identity.
At Gazra, she could work openly and confidently.
The café is led by Radhikaraje Gaekwad and is housed in an old royal women’s trust building.
Its name comes from Maharani Chimnabai II, a reformer who supported women’s rights.
Gazra serves local foods in a carefully designed setting.
Money from the café and related fundraisers helps pay for surgery and other support.
The café hopes its workers will eventually gain education, skills and independent livelihoods outside segregated spaces.
Gazra Café in Vadara employs about 20 people, roughly half from the LGBTQI community.
Transwoman Tanvi Parmar worked at Gazra for three years and is preparing for gender-affirming surgery funded by the café.
Founded by Radhikaraje Gaekwad, Gazra operates from the historic Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalay overlooking Sursagar Lake.
The café serves refined versions of local foods such as vada pav, bhakri nachos and bhungra bateta.
Gazra’s profits and fundraising support gender-affirming surgery, HIV-affected families, legal aid and mental-health resources.
- Who
- Gazra Café, founded by Radhikaraje Gaekwad, and its LGBTQI and other employees, including Tanvi Parmar.
- What
- A café is providing inclusive employment and funding social-support services for LGBTQI people and others in need.
- Where
- At the Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalay building overlooking Sursagar Lake in central Vadodara, Gujarat.
- When
- Gazra completed three years shortly before the article was published; Tanvi worked there for three years.
- Why
- To create dignified employment and support LGBTQI people through surgery funding, training, legal aid, mental-health resources and family assistance.
Key facts
- Café name
- Gazra, named after Gajarabai, the birth name of Maharani Chimnabai II.
- Location
- Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalay, overlooking Sursagar Lake in Vadodara.
- Operating history
- Gazra completed three years.
- Workforce
- About 20 employees, approximately half of whom belong to the LGBTQI community.
- Support funded
- Gender-affirming surgery, assistance for families living with HIV, legal aid and mental-health resources.
- Food
- Local dishes including vada pav, bhakri nachos and bhungra bateta.
- Related initiative
- The same trust also houses Tarabai, an inclusive beauty parlour.
Quotes
Radhikaraje Gaekwad
Founder of Gazra and titular Maharani of the erstwhile Baroda State
“I had kept their phone numbers blocked for a long time because the conversations were hurtful. But as I grew in confidence at Gazra, I began to reconnect with my family, aunts, uncles”
indianexpress.com
“I didn’t want to get into it until I was very sure, because I knew that it was a social experiment.”
indianexpress.com
Gazra chef
A 46-year-old married chef and mother of two daughters who works at Gazra
“I am Dharmendra at home and Sridevi at Gazra”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Rajasthan Shelter Sets Guinness Record With 3,295 Women
Indian Entrepreneur Builds 12-Restaurant Life After Dependent Visa
Gaggan Anand Returns to India With Delhi’s Raga
How Mumbai’s The Table Grew Into A Food Empire
From Irani Chai to Specialty Coffee: Hyderabad's Taste Evolves
Kalamandir Jewellers Opens Grand Flagship Showroom in Vadodara
Taliban Marks 5 Years in Power Amid Rights Groups Alarm
Five Years On: How Afghanistan Changed Under Taliban Rule
Taliban's five years: more security, but jobs, education, rights crisis
UN urges continued funding for Afghan women amid Taliban curbs
