Why is that any time a guy hugging a guy for “too long” is considered inappropriate in India? Why is that despite movies from Hollywood on homosexuality are played in India, we are still uncomfortable talking about it? Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code reads: Of Unnatural Offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine. Who decides that homosexuality is ‘against the order of man?’
The marriage of Wendell Rodericks, one of India’s prominent fashion designers and his French gay partner Jerome was solemnized at the French Consulate in Goa according to the Pact Civil de Solidarite (PACS). This is the French Law that gives legal recognition to homosexual unions and also bestows upon them the rights, duties and the status a heterosexual married couple get. The first question that popped in my mind was why did India have to wait so long to witness a homosexual union? And why is it that we had to use the assistance of another country’s law to solemnize this marriage?
The answer to questions like this is that India still views homosexuality as a appalling crime and giving two men the status of being married like a heterosexual couple is considered to be sacrilegious. While the whole world has started recognizing and respecting homosexuals and granting them all legal rights due in today’s era to any human being, our Country treats consensual adult love between people of the same sex as sodomy, and refuses to grant same sex relationships the sanctity that is due to them. We considered it to be the negative influences of the west that are spoiling the young generation. But, if one were to look at the history of India, we would see that these influences are not foreign after all.
The Indian Penal Code, drafted in 1860, was influenced by the Victorian ideas and prejudices; therefore, sexuality was dealt with as being a pathological issue rather than an expression of natural desire. Hence, for Indians to imagine sexual intercourse between people of the same sex was unthinkable.
The above view is incongruent with our past considering the fact that ancient Hindu scriptures, such as Rig Veda make clear mention to sexual acts between women. Further the carvings and depictions in the famous temples of Khajuraho, Konark, Puri are proof of the same.
Stories of Muslim Nawabs and Hindu noblemen with habits such as maintaining a harem full of young boys also point towards the existence of the notion of same sex relationships. Not to overlook the fact that India is also the birthplace of the Vatsayan’s Kamasutra, which is hailed as the bible of intimate acts, which includes a complete chapter referring to homosexuality.
It is human tendency to highlight differences than realize similarities, which is why Gods diversity in creation instead of being glorified is shunned, feared and despised. Society has become nothing but a manifestation of our dislikes and disagreements and we claim that we don’t judge or disagree with those differences but in actuality the society does and we follow its example. There is no cure to a darkness that refuses the light of the day.
The marriage of Wendell Rodericks, one of India’s prominent fashion designers and his French gay partner Jerome was solemnized at the French Consulate in Goa according to the Pact Civil de Solidarite (PACS). This is the French Law that gives legal recognition to homosexual unions and also bestows upon them the rights, duties and the status a heterosexual married couple get. The first question that popped in my mind was why did India have to wait so long to witness a homosexual union? And why is it that we had to use the assistance of another country’s law to solemnize this marriage?
The answer to questions like this is that India still views homosexuality as a appalling crime and giving two men the status of being married like a heterosexual couple is considered to be sacrilegious. While the whole world has started recognizing and respecting homosexuals and granting them all legal rights due in today’s era to any human being, our Country treats consensual adult love between people of the same sex as sodomy, and refuses to grant same sex relationships the sanctity that is due to them. We considered it to be the negative influences of the west that are spoiling the young generation. But, if one were to look at the history of India, we would see that these influences are not foreign after all.
The Indian Penal Code, drafted in 1860, was influenced by the Victorian ideas and prejudices; therefore, sexuality was dealt with as being a pathological issue rather than an expression of natural desire. Hence, for Indians to imagine sexual intercourse between people of the same sex was unthinkable.
The above view is incongruent with our past considering the fact that ancient Hindu scriptures, such as Rig Veda make clear mention to sexual acts between women. Further the carvings and depictions in the famous temples of Khajuraho, Konark, Puri are proof of the same.
Stories of Muslim Nawabs and Hindu noblemen with habits such as maintaining a harem full of young boys also point towards the existence of the notion of same sex relationships. Not to overlook the fact that India is also the birthplace of the Vatsayan’s Kamasutra, which is hailed as the bible of intimate acts, which includes a complete chapter referring to homosexuality.
It is human tendency to highlight differences than realize similarities, which is why Gods diversity in creation instead of being glorified is shunned, feared and despised. Society has become nothing but a manifestation of our dislikes and disagreements and we claim that we don’t judge or disagree with those differences but in actuality the society does and we follow its example. There is no cure to a darkness that refuses the light of the day.
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