Aanchal Narang

Full Report

Key Points

• Aanchal Narang, a Mumbai-based psychologist and queer feminist, admitted to sexually assaulting a fellow member of the LABIA collective in November 2019, prompting significant backlash and resignations within the organization.

• Allegations surfaced in April 2021 via a now-deleted Twitter thread by user Chitra, accusing Narang and senior LABIA members of attempting to suppress the incident.

• Senior LABIA members Chayanika Shah, Shals Mahajan, and committee member Mridul Dudeja resigned on April 4, 2021, amid accusations of enabling Narang’s actions.

• Narang’s professional roles as a therapist and trainer, particularly with vulnerable communities, raise serious ethical concerns given her admitted misconduct.

• Efforts to censor the allegations, including an email from senior LABIA members discouraging public disclosures, suggest a pattern of reputation management over accountability.

Overview

Aanchal Narang is a counseling psychologist and founder of Another Light Counselling, a Mumbai-based practice specializing in trauma, gender, sexuality, and addiction. She holds a Master’s in Applied Psychology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and has additional certifications from institutions like the EMDR Association India and the National Institute for Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine. Narang identifies as a queer affirmative therapist and has worked extensively with LGBTQIA+ communities, sex workers, and survivors of abuse. She is a faculty member with the Queer-Affirmative Counselling Practice Certificate Course by Mariwala Health Initiative and has trained over 5,000 individuals across NGOs, healthcare, and educational institutions. Narang has also gained recognition for her fundraising efforts, raising approximately 8 lakhs INR in 2020 for sex workers and homeless women during the COVID-19 lockdown, in collaboration with NGOs like Prerana and Urja Trust. Her public persona is that of an activist and educator, but her admitted sexual assault has cast a shadow over her professional and advocacy work.

Allegations and Concerns

The primary allegation against Narang stems from a November 3, 2019, incident where she admitted to sexually assaulting a fellow LABIA member by “pinning her down” and “violating her physical boundaries” after consuming alcohol and seeking “comfort.” The accusation was made public on April 2, 2021, by Twitter user Chitra (@That_Tall_Dyke, now deactivated), who shared a detailed account with the victim’s consent, based on an email from June 13, 2020. Chitra accused senior LABIA members, including Chayanika Shah and Shals Mahajan, of acting as “enablers” by delaying action and attempting to silence those who spoke out against Narang. An internal LABIA committee, formed nearly a year later in July 2020, validated the victim’s account, revealing that Shah and Mahajan were aware of the incident weeks after it occurred, with another unnamed member informed the day after.

Further concerns include an email dated October 19, 2020, from Shah and Mahajan, expressing disturbance over a LABIA member warning Narang’s professional contacts about her actions, suggesting an attempt to suppress the allegations. Narang’s response on Twitter acknowledged the assault but framed it as an isolated lapse, claiming professional consequences like blacklisting by organizations and refuting “baseless” rumors of POCSO cases. However, her continued role as a therapist working with vulnerable populations raises ethical red flags, particularly given her specialization in trauma and gender-based issues.

Customer Feedback

Publicly available customer feedback on Narang’s counseling services is limited, likely due to the sensitive nature of her work. Positive reviews, primarily from her website and LinkedIn, highlight her as “empathetic” and “trauma-informed,” with clients appreciating her queer-affirmative approach. For example, a testimonial on Another Light Counselling’s website states, “Aanchal created a safe space where I could explore my identity without judgment.” However, these reviews predate the 2021 allegations and do not reflect the controversy.

Negative feedback is scarce in formal reviews but evident in the social media fallout. Chitra’s Twitter thread and subsequent discussions on platforms like X (before its rebranding) expressed outrage from community members, with one user stating, “How can someone who violated boundaries counsel others on trauma?” No direct client complaints about her therapy services have surfaced, but the allegations have fueled distrust among queer and feminist communities, undermining her credibility. The lack of recent reviews may indicate clients’ hesitation to engage with her services post-scandal.

Risk Considerations

• Reputational Risk: Narang’s admitted sexual assault and the subsequent resignations at LABIA have severely damaged her public image. Her continued work with vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQIA+ individuals and survivors of abuse, risks further backlash if clients or organizations learn of her history.

• Legal Risk: While no formal charges or lawsuits have been reported, the absence of gender-neutral rape laws in India, as noted by Article 14, may have limited legal recourse for the victim. However, Narang’s role as a therapist could invite scrutiny from professional bodies like the Indian Psychological Association, potentially leading to licensing issues.

• Financial Risk: Narang’s fundraising campaigns and counseling practice rely on public trust. The allegations could deter donors and clients, impacting her revenue streams. Her reported blacklisting by some organizations suggests financial repercussions are already in play.

• Operational Risk: LABIA’s dysfunction, highlighted by the resignations and delayed response, suggests weak governance. Any partnership with Narang or LABIA risks association with an organization in disarray.

Business Relations and Associations

Narang is closely associated with Another Light Counselling, which she founded in 2019, and has partnered with NGOs like Prerana, Urja Trust, The Plane Jar, Light Up, and Survivors against TB. She has trained professionals through Mariwala Health Initiative’s Queer-Affirmative Counselling Practice and collaborated with CEHAT, DoctorsForACause, and Mumbai Police. Her work with educational institutions includes Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Whistling Woods International, and Mumbai University. These affiliations, while prestigious, are at risk due to her tarnished reputation. The resignations of Chayanika Shah, Shals Mahajan, and Mridul Dudeja from LABIA further weaken the collective’s credibility, impacting Narang’s standing within queer feminist networks.

Legal and Financial Concerns

No formal lawsuits or bankruptcy records are linked to Narang or Another Light Counselling in available sources. However, her admission of sexual assault could prompt investigations by professional regulatory bodies, particularly given her role as a therapist. The lack of gender-neutral rape laws in India, as highlighted by Article 14, means the incident may not have resulted in criminal charges, but this legal gap does not absolve ethical concerns. Financially, Narang’s fundraising success (e.g., 8 lakhs INR in 2020) indicates no immediate debt issues, but her blacklisting by organizations suggests a loss of contracts, which could strain her practice’s finances.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Aanchal Narang presents a paradox: a therapist and activist with a robust resume, yet a perpetrator of the very harm she claims to address. Her work with marginalized communities—sex workers, queer individuals, and trauma survivors—is commendable, but her admitted sexual assault undermines her credibility. The pros of her expertise and advocacy are overshadowed by the cons of her actions and the apparent cover-up by LABIA’s senior members. Her efforts to downplay the incident through selective apologies and claims of professional rehabilitation suggest a focus on image over accountability. The absence of legal consequences, due to India’s inadequate laws on sexual violence against non-cisgender victims, further complicates the picture, allowing Narang to continue her practice without formal repercussions.

Cautionary Advice: Investors and organizations should avoid partnerships with Narang or LABIA until clear evidence of accountability and reform emerges. Her role as a therapist demands the highest ethical standards, which she has demonstrably violated. Authorities, particularly professional regulatory bodies, should investigate her fitness to practice, given her influence over vulnerable clients. Clients considering her services should weigh the risks of engaging with someone who has admitted to boundary violations.

Key Citations

• OpIndia: “Multiple resignations rock Mumbai-based LGBT Feminist group LABIA after sex assault allegations against mental health therapist” (April 5, 2021)

• Article 14: “Why it is time for India to consider gender-neutral rape laws”

• Aanchal Narang’s LinkedIn Profile

• Another Light Counselling Website

• Vogue India: “Vogue Warriors: Meet the psychologist raising money to aid sex-workers and women in homeless shelters” (April 28, 2020)

• Women’s Web: “Mumbai Psychologist Aanchal Narang Starts Fundraiser For Sex Workers Under Lockdown” (March 27, 2020)