NicoleLombardo at 09:35, 15 March 2026

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{{short description|Indian poet and feminist (born 1998)}}
{{notability|Bio|date=June 2019}}
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{{Infobox writer
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| name = Aranya Johar
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| occupation = Poet
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| nationality = Indian
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'''Aranya Johar''' (born September 7, 1998) is an Indian poet. She uses social media to address issues like [[gender equality]], mental health and body positivity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BdzOB-WlZV6/|title=Aranya Johar on Instagram: "Feature in this month's @bazaarindia ! So grateful! 🙆💕"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> She uses [[Poetry slam|slam poetry]] to confront beauty standards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/07/162838/aranya-johar-brown-girls-guide-to-beauty-slam-poetry|title=This Indian Teenager Is Using Slam Poetry To Confront Beauty Standards|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref> Aranya's first released piece, “A Brown Girls’s Guide to Gender” became a viral sensation and hit 1 million views within two days of its upload.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/brown-girl-guide-to-gender-speaks-for-all-women-who-cant-poetry-gender-discrimination|title='Brown Girl's Guide to Gender' Strikes a Note with Every Woman|work=The Quint|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref> She integrated [[spoken word]] in [[Bollywood]] for the first time through her collaboration with [[Akshay Kumar]] for the movie ‘[[Pad Man (film)|Padman]]’.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theindianfeed.in/akshay-kumar-with-aranya-johar-tapes-the-menstrual-poetry-bleeding-rani/|title=Akshay kumar with Aranya Johar Tears Apart Our Society's Notion About Periods In This Slam Poem !|date=2018-02-03|work=The Indian Feed|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930161554/https://www.theindianfeed.in/akshay-kumar-with-aranya-johar-tapes-the-menstrual-poetry-bleeding-rani/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Aranya was a speaker at TEDxICTMumbai in April 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/21679|title=TEDxICTMumbai {{!}} TED|website=www.ted.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> She has been invited and praised by various poets and foundations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2017/07/refinery-29-introduces-aranya-johar|title=Refinery 29 Introduces Aranya Johar by Harriet Staff|date=2018-11-01|website=Poetry Foundation|language=en-us|others=Poetry Foundation|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

Aranya was born on 7 September 1998 and is raised in [[Mumbai]]. She did her schooling from [[Lilavatibai Podar High School|Lilavati Podar High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lilavatibaipodarschool.com/newsletters/julymarch2016/achievers.html|title= Lilavatibai Podar School - Newsletter |website=www.lilavatibaipodarschool.com|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> She uses [[Poetry slam|slam poetry]] to express her ideas. Slam poets use [[spoken word]]s to perform, express identity and connect with their audience.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/slam-poetry|title=slam poetry {{!}} Definition, History, & Facts|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Aranya started writing down poems on [[misogyny]] issues from her teenage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/07/162838/aranya-johar-brown-girls-guide-to-beauty-slam-poetry|title=This Indian Teenager Is Using Slam Poetry To Confront Beauty Standards|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref> Aranya performed for the first time in front of an audience when she was 12 years old. “A group used to conduct open- mic sessions at a local resto-bar, and the performer would get a cocktail shot after their performance.” She admitted that she lied about her age to get in and her mother would accompany her. She was diagnosed with [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)]] when she was in Class VII.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lilavatibaipodarschool.com/newsletters/julymarch2016/achievers.html|title= Lilavatibai Podar School - Newsletter |website=www.lilavatibaipodarschool.com|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> So she uses the medium to create awareness about mental health. She researches on mental condition and writes about it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://millionreasonstoinspire.com/aranya-johar/|title=The Rhymer who stole our hearts with her fantastic poetry- Aranya Johar|date=2017-11-05|work=Million Reasons to Inspire|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During one of her performances, when she was a teen, she remembers moving a 47-year-old man to tears. The lines that made the man cry were, “As you stare at that vein kissing that knife/ think of all the things you’ll miss if you end this life/ If I were you I’d wait for the scars to fade/ if I were you I’d put down that blade.”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/from-better-to-verse/articleshow/56844893.cms|title=From better to verse|work=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

Aranya along with her 17-year-old friend Prachee Mashru are the force behind More Than Mics, an organization set to curate creative platforms for performance arts (poetry, music, comedy etc.).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.umangfoundationtrust.org/esperance/2017/04/28/aranya-johar/|title=Aranya Johar|date=2017-04-28|work=Espérance|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218194337/http://www.umangfoundationtrust.org/esperance/2017/04/28/aranya-johar/|archive-date=2018-02-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mashru attends a school in Vile Parle (W) but they got to know each other online and bonded over their love for Canadian rapper [[Drake (musician)|Drake]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/from-better-to-verse/articleshow/56844893.cms|title=From better to verse|work=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

Aranya is also the curator of Blind Poetry Sessions, a series of poetry nights. Unlike other gigs, the Blind Poetry night takes place in a dark room, and the poets are anonymous.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.umangfoundationtrust.org/esperance/2017/04/28/aranya-johar/|title=Aranya Johar|date=2017-04-28|work=Espérance|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218194337/http://www.umangfoundationtrust.org/esperance/2017/04/28/aranya-johar/|archive-date=2018-02-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is also the co-curator of another poetry event in the city, titled Throwback Thursday, wherein she asks poets to read out their first work as well as their most recent writing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/meet-the-mumbai-based-poet-whose-piece-on-gender-discrimination-has-gone-viral/story-UgWuVih9qmB2pYLx8LRf7H_amp.html|title=Meet the Mumbai-based poet whose piece on gender discrimination has gone viral|work=hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref> She also supported and presented a poem for Gender equality, Know your rights by Vivel in association with [[Aaj Tak|Aaj tak]] and [[India Today (TV channel)|India Today]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Vivel|title=Aranya Johar supports Gender Equality. Know Your Rights #AbSamjhautaNahin|date=2017-08-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k63tDDfTrlQ|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> Aranya's video, 'To Bleed Without Violence' was a collaborative piece with [[WASH United]] which hit 7 million views over the weekend of the upload.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiawebfest.com/jury/aranya-johar|title=Aranya Johar - India Web Fest|work=India Web Fest|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US}}</ref> She has also recited her poem for young enthusiasts of Harvard Model United Nations in 2017 at Hyderabad International Convocation Centre.<ref>{{Citation|last=Worldview Education|title=The MUN Anthem {{!}} Aranya Johar {{!}} HMUN India 2017 {{!}} Poetry|date=2017-10-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GICgUAQknPA|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

Aranya Johar has been featured on [[Rolling Stone]] and [[Harper's Bazaar|Harper Bazaar]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiawebfest.com/jury/aranya-johar|title=Aranya Johar - India Web Fest|work=India Web Fest|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US}}</ref> She also performed at the [[SRCC Youth Conference]] on 22 September 2017. She has also been featured in the May edition of [[Teen Vogue]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/slam-poet-aranya-johar-brown-girls-guide-to-beauty|title=This Teen Just SMASHED Beauty Stereotypes With Poetry|last=Wu|first=Sarah|work=Teen Vogue|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref> She has performed at the event of We The Women in association with [[UN Women]] on 9th and 10 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/WeTheWomenAsia/videos/aranya-johar/570319606643369/|title=We The Women|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

She became a part of Goalkeepers New York city 2018. She spoke at Goalkeepers in New York alongside names like [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Melinda Gates]], [[Bill Gates]], [[Stephen Fry]] and many more<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/about-event/speakers|title=Goalkeepers 2018|website=www.gatesfoundation.org|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> organized by the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|Gates Foundation]] and #ProjectEveryone.<ref>{{Citation|last=GatesFoundation|title=We the Goalkeepers|date=2018-09-12|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TZSPNsXiY|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref> She has also been a part of SHEROES Summit 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sheroes.com/articles/what-we-did-in-sheroes-summit-2017/NzIzMA==|title=Get Ready For SHEROES Summit 2018, Here's What We Did In 2017|website=sheroes.com|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

=== Works ===
*“A Brown Girl’s Guide to Gender” (First performed on 6 March 2017 at Tuning Fork)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teluguking.download/video?v=a_brown_girls_guide_to_gender_aranya_johar_womens_day_special|title=A Brown Girls Guide To Gender Aranya Johar Womens Day Special|website=teluguking.download|access-date=2018-11-01|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218180811/https://teluguking.download/video%3Fv%3Da_brown_girls_guide_to_gender_aranya_johar_womens_day_special|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*“A Brown Girl’s Guide to Beauty” (published on 7 July 2017 and was presented by [[Shaadi.com]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/shaadicom/videos/vb.92727749188/1889167574682299/?type=3&theater|title=Shaadi.com|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>
*“A Brown Girl’s Guide” – A Better Tomorrow (published by Rise by [[TLC (group)|TLC]] on 1 January 2018)<ref>{{Citation|last=Rise by TLC|title=Heroes by Aranya Johar {{!}} "A Brown Girl's Guide" - A Better Tomorrow {{!}} Spoken Word Poetry|date=2018-01-01|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Tw-JEHJOs&t=28s|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>
*“To Bleed Without Violence” (published by Dasra India on 28 June 2017)<ref>{{Citation|last=Dasra India|title=To Bleed Without Violence: Aranya Johar|date=2017-06-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW8G_IyxbaA&t=4s|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>
*“BleedingRani” – with [[Akshay Kumar]] (Published on 1 February 2018 by Peeping Moon)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theindianfeed.in/akshay-kumar-with-aranya-johar-tapes-the-menstrual-poetry-bleeding-rani/|title=Akshay kumar with Aranya Johar Tears Apart Our Society's Notion About Periods In This Slam Poem !|date=2018-02-03|work=The Indian Feed|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en-US|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930161554/https://www.theindianfeed.in/akshay-kumar-with-aranya-johar-tapes-the-menstrual-poetry-bleeding-rani/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*“To India: With Love” (Published on 29 September 2017)
*“Women Will” (Published on 29 March 2018)
*“Buy Now or Panic Later” (Published on 9 April 2017 by Airline poetry movement).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtRiieU5kiB43H2LLByYSg5Ug0Tg8c2Qv|title=The Best Of Aranya Johar - YouTube|last=|first=|date=|website=YouTube|language=en|access-date=2018-11-01}}</ref>

==Recognition==
She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-10-15 |title=BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list this year? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-50042279 |access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref>

== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johar, Aranya}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian feminists]]
[[Category:1998 births]]
[[Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian writers with disabilities]]
[[Category:Poets with disabilities]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women poets]]

Aranya Johar - Revision history

NicoleLombardo at 09:35, 15 March 2026