Homosexuality in
Contemporary Indian Literature: Issues and Challenges
Available
on
FOREWORD
Until the turn of the century the Indian
heteropatriarchal society at large made tidy attempts to set aside issues like
homosexuality in dusty cupboards for ages. The society adopted strategies
of silencing the sexual identities which did not fit into the male/female
heteronormative binary. Barring some exceptions, the Indian academia also did
not have the courage to dwell upon the sexual identities beyond the
heterosexual male/female double. There was little effort in the academic circle
to foreground these issues, on the contrary, there were conscious
attempts to invisibilize these subjects. Presentation of homosexuality in
literary texts was considered rather offensive.
Since the last decade
of twentieth century the attitude of the society towards these subjects
started changing. The discourse of hegemonic power of heteronormativity was
gradually facing challenges as poets like Hoshang Merchant, Kamala Das, Suniti
Namjoshi and dramatists like Mahesh Dattani were voicing candidly their
protests against the heterosexist attitude through their poems and plays. The
credit of these writers lies in their efforts to include in their works these
apparently tabooed subjects against the subtle politics of exclusion of these
debated issues, thereby keeping a harmonious heteronormative façade. The
marginalization of alternate sexualities in Indian societies had become the
general norm and any deviation from this was considered outrageous by the
‘genteel’ society.
If we examine the
corpus of Indian English Literature carefully, we can locate many examples of
sexually ‘deviant’ characters. India of the mythic past was tolerant
of different sexual identities. We can refer to the character of Shikhandi who
was born as a girl and was named Shikhandini. One can also cite the example
of Ardhanarisvara, who is an example of the androgynous self where
the male and the female coexist in perfect unison. But for the heterocentric
society such a person is often considered as the ‘other’, as a ‘deviant’
character. By labeling them as ‘other’ the society ignores the reality that all
human beings are basically androgynous and the qualities of a man and a woman
are not mutually exclusive. And what is more disturbing is that this
attitude is often legitimized by law, religion, and at times by questionable
medical practice. In the twenty first century a welcome change is noticed
when we find the discourses of gendered subalterns and their negotiation
with heteronormative ideology are reflected in Indian English
Literature. Today there are texts which challenge the cultural constructs
of sexuality and gender roles. Foucault’s theorization on alternate sexualities
and Queer theory significantly paved the way for re-reading of texts dealing
with deviant characters.
Alternate sexuality is
also becoming a popular subject for Indian cinema. The film Chitrangada: The
Crowning Wish, directed by Rituparno Ghosh, may be mentioned in this
connection where the story ends with the words, “Be what you wish to be”,
giving a sanction to choose the gender identity one prefers. Another film Memories
in March, directed by Sanjoy Nag, can also be mentioned in this context. In
both these films the superb acting of Rituparno Ghosh adds an extra dimension
to the films.
R. Raj Rao in the
‘Introduction’ to Whistling in the Dark: Twenty-one Queer Interviews (Ed.
R. Raj Rao and Dibyajoti Sharma. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2009, ix-xxxiii)
observes:
In a scenario where homosexuality is criminalized by law,
where heterosexism thrives, and where society insists on marriage and
procreation, gay love is but likely to rely on chance and casual encounters
that do not blossom into permanent relationship on account of the odds. The
heterosexual mainstream accuses homosexuals of not being committed to the idea
of love…. (xxix)
In this
connection it would not be out of place to mention the legal battle centering
on same sex relationship in the recent past. The verdict of Delhi High Court in
2009 decriminalized part of article 377 of IPC and gave its approval for
consensual sex between partners of the same sex. This verdict, however, was set
aside by the Supreme Court in 2013. Later, following submission of petitions by
gay rights activists, a five-member constitution bench of Supreme Court in 2018
unanimously decriminalized same sex relation and observed that to regard gay
sex as a criminal offence would go against the fundamental rights of an
individual. Today when one reads texts which openly deal with issues related to
LGBTQ the verdict of Supreme Court certainly adds a different dimension in
appreciating those texts.
The book,
entitled Homosexuality in Contemporary Indian Literature: Issues and
Challenges, edited by Dipak Giri, includes articles on a number of issues
covering some important writers of Indian English Literature. Many of these
writers are incorporated in the syllabi of different universities and colleges.
This edition, therefore, is going to be helpful to students and scholars by
offering them new perspectives to read the texts. While the book incorporates
articles on authors who have attained a canonical status, it has a number of
articles on authors, mainly fiction writers, who have made their presence felt
in Indian English Literature of the present century. R. Raj Rao, Mala Kumar,
Mayur Patel, Abha Daweswar, Rita Garg are names familiar to Indian readers
today and the Indian academia is showing interest in the works of these writers.
The critical essays on these writers are thus going to help the young readers
negotiate their works from the perspective of LGBTQ studies. One can
justifiably hope that an edition like this will be well received by both the
readers of academic institutions as well as scholars and researchers interested
in the particular field.
Goutam Buddha Sural
Professor, Department of
English & Culture Studies
Bankura University, Bankura
West Bengal
BLURBS
_______________FROM DEBASHIS BANDYOPADHYAY
"This book, edited by Dipak Giri, is a
timely and apt intervention into the literary studies of sexuality and human
relationship. In the context of the epochal verdict coming from the country's
apex court, the conventional ideas of sexual propriety were shaken. The
conflict between natural propensities and civil laws was problematised as never
before. Critical discourses on literary representations of sexual normativity
in human relationship underwent a paradigm shift. Literatures written in the
past and those being written today in the Indian context are now being
re-appraised in the light of the new developments in the history of the
liberalisation process. Understanding Indian literature, especially Indian
writings in English, will never be the same again. This anthology of twenty six
critical essays is a substantial review of the literary affect concerning the
East-West binary in the wake of a major socio-cultural upheaval."
Debashis
Bandyopadhyay,
Professor
of English,
Vidyasagar
University,
West
Bengal
___________________________FROM ANGSHUMAN KAR
“This anthology is a timely one. I consider this as a part of the
country-wide celebration of the verdict of Supreme Court on Section 377 in the
Indian Penal Code. I have been teaching a gay play, “On a Muggy Night in
Mumbai,” at the M Phil and PG levels for the last twelve years. This play has
been received well by my students who come from different places (including
remote villages) and backgrounds. While teaching gay play, I have been convinced
of the fact that literature is the best tool to sensitize people about gender.
This is exactly what this anthology is designed to do. I have read some of the
essays of the book and am also convinced of their societal impact. I wish all
success to Dipak Giri, the editor of the book.”
Angshuman Kar
Professor
of English
Burdwan University
West Bengal
"Homosexuality
in Indian Literature: Issues and Challenges is a bold attempt to
recapture an old and controversial issue from a contemporary perspective. All
the 26 essays in the volume throw some new meaning to the subject of, not just
homosexuality but human sexual preference itself. Mr. Giri has, without any doubt,
successfully generated more curious discourses to the issue in the contemporary
Indian context.”
Manojit Mandal
Professor of English
Jadavpur University
West Bengal
APPRECIATIONS
______________________________FROM SALIM KIDWAI
Any
attempt to study the challenges faced by contemporary writers when dealing with
the complex issue of homosexuality in the Indian context by contemporary
writers now that the Supreme Court of India has decriminalised of what is
a normal aspect of human sexuality, is most welcome. Hopefully this volume will
break the academic silence that still lingers on this sensitive subject.
Saleem Kidwai
Medieval historian, Gay Rights
Activist and Translator
His Work on Homosexuality: Same-Sex
Love in India: Readings from Literature and History (Co-edited with
Ruth Vanita)
___________________________FROM MAYUR PATEL
When I had
written Vivek and I I had little knowledge of how would it be
received in a country like India where same sex is still considered a social
stigma. Now when the Supreme Court has decriminalized homosexuality Indian
society has started to talk about it. It was 2011 when my book was released so
my apprehension was valid. However, to my surprise, the book was well received
by the readers and the reviewers alike. Since then, many scholars have taken
its reference in several ways, and Mr. Dipak Giri is one of them. A Teacher in
School at Cooch Behar, West Bengal, Mr. Giri has taken an initiative of
preparing a study on the subject of "Homosexuality in Indian
Literature". I feel honoured that he has considered my book as one of the
study materials. Believing that this noble project will have its own
positive effects on the Indian mindset, I wish him best for the publication of
this unique book.
Mayur
Patel
Indian
Novelist and Story Writer
His
Work on Homosexuality: Novel: Vivek and I
___________________________FROM RITA GARG
To forget self and delve deep into the
creation of a writer is as divine as the art of poetry. Be fully justified and
also produce innovative interpretation is unique. A serious critic scholar
without any bias recreates on his part. Judging the work of others is as tough
a task as creating one's own magical web of words
Critics
and publishers make a writer is as truthful as the brightness over the
darkness. Associated is a fear also if a word goes amiss on the part of a
critic, there would be no end to the havoc played and replayed.
Such
a devotee is Dipak Giri who edits Indian Women Novelists in English:
Art and Vision. The multifaceted effort is a genuine research work in
appreciating/ analysing the works of many creative luminaries, Anita Desai,
Shashi Deshpande, Sarah Joseph, Meena Alexander- a recent loss to the literary
world- Anita Nair, Kiran Desai, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nayeema Mahjoor, Githa
Hariharan, Chitra Banerjee, Divyakaruni, Quarratulain Hyder, Arundhati Roy,
Mahashweta Devi, Manju Kapur, Shobha De and Rita Garg. The abundance of gems in
a string pleases the reader.
Specifically,
the book in hand leads a researcher to a well-defined, crystal clear, and
scholarly opinionated brook enough to submerge into the wit and passion of the
novelists.
Some
of the above authors are not much explored but the study of all is unfailing as
such, nowhere does any sign of reconciliation peep out. Rather the level of a
full length critical book is feasibly achieved.
As
usual, after following novelists and their creations, I question self about the
factor that provokes me to write. I realize: When winds go awry, suffocation
darkens the brightest rays of the sun and the moon, mind transpires to catch
the flame to enlighten the dimness.
It
was long back that as a teacher I had insinuation of the lesbian mentality or
attitude or acceptance of such a relationship to make or to mar.
What
is not nature accepted is not a gift to mankind but on this, the Difference of
Opinion is Always WELCOME. For this purpose, I have created this plot of, Precursor
of Love. Here is the negation of lesbianism and the names of the
characters suggest that. Through the central character, Amilya, a relevant
issue is raised that a woman cannot have the same manly strength as a man has.
As required, a lesbian woman may not be able to go to a strange destination in
the dark night. On the contrary, a man, if willing might. Her refusal to the
proposal of the Girl is based not only on this fear but also on the
improbability of reproduction. Thus her nomenclature signifies-not meeting. The
Girl implies the commonality of her type- a common woman without moral values.
She hardly requires a name. The third big name in the novel is of Dr. Surya
Narayan. He symbolizes manly strength. In the Mahabharat, Surya and Kunti begot
the son Karna, the great sacrificer. Srishti, also represents the class of
those woman who look forward to own children and for this she deserts the Girl.
Last
but not the least, reading, writing and editing on a controversial issue call
for a hypothetical approach to reach the conclusive note. Undoubtedly, this
anthology shall eliminate dust of confusion from each and every iota of
uncertainty on the topic. The editor, Dipak Giri, as a column of the edifice on
lesbianism shall carve a niche for self. For certain, his effort on
lesbian studies shall not be lost in the jungle of books. Lots of best
wishes are his right.
Dr.
Rita Garg
Indian Novelist
Her work on Homosexuality:
Novel: Precursor of Love
CONTENTS
Foreword
Appreciation
---From Salim Kidwai
---From Mayur Patel
---From Rita Garg
Introduction
1. Uncommon Paths: A
Study of Mala Kumar’s The Paths of
Marriage as a
Lesbian Text -Sabuj Sarkar & Farida Parvin
2.
Hoshang
Merchant: A Doyen in Homosexual Indian Literature –Falguni Bharateeya
3.
The Beast in the Sandal Woods:
Searching for a Norm of the Lesbian in Kamala Das’The Sandal Trees -Thulasi Das B.
4.
In
Search of Lesbianism: Revisiting the Writings of Kamala Das -Dr. Priyalekha N. S.
5.
Reconciliation of Dichotomies in Sex and Gendered Paradigms:
A Reading of Shobhaa De's Strange
Obsession and Vivek And I by Mayur Patel in Indian English
Fiction -Sreetanwi Chakraborty
6.
The
Agential Fire- Exploring the Repressed in Chugtai and Mehta -Shaoni Dasgupta
7.
Connotation
of Lesbianism in Ismat Chughtai’s The Quilt and Manju Kapur’s The Married Woman –Dr. Manjiree Vaidya
8. Social
Acceptance and Legal Inclusion of Homosexual Community: A Study of Mahesh
Dattani’s On a Muggy Night in Mumbai -Neha
& Dr. Geeta Phogat
9. Homosexuality in Mahesh Dattani’s On a Muggy Night in Mumbai: A Critical
Reading -Anamitra Chatterjee
10. A Study on Sexual Degradation in Weight Loss by Upamanyu Chatterjee - Dr.
B. Visalakshi
11. A Staunchly Feminist Writer: Ismat Chughtai -Dr.
Brajesh Kumar Gupta “Mewadev”
12. Marxo-lesbian Approach to Rita Garg’s Precursor of Love - Dr. Pinki Arora
13. Sexual Tansgression in Begum Jaan: A Lesbian
Study of Ismat Chughtai’s The Quilt -Rajib Das
14. The Idea of Feminist
Sensibility in Lihaaf (The Quilt) by
Ismat Chughtai -Ragini
Kapoor
15. Homosexuality as an Escape: Revisiting the Theme of Homosexuality in
Ismat Chugtai’s Lihaaf (The Quilt) –Shazia Qadri
16. Transgression and Homosexuality in Mala
Kumar’s The Paths of Marriage -Neha Chatterjee
17. Lesbian Sliding into Post-Queer in Manju Kapur’s A
Married Woman -Abhisek
Ghosal
18. The Queer Flight of Migratory Birds:
Searching the Lesbian Continuum in
Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost
Happiness and P. Padmarajan’s Movie Desatanakkili
Karayarilla (Migratory Bird
NeverCries) -Drishya Jayaprakash
19. The Theme of Otherness: A Study of Kamala Das’s My Story -Sabari Sengupta
20. Scintillations of Lesbian Romance: A Study of
Manju Kapur’s A Married Woman -Jayasree
Jayagopal
21.
Lesbian Echo in Abha
Daweswar’s Babyji –Anindita Datta
22. A
Study of Suniti Namjoshi’s Select Poems through the lens of Cultural Feminism -Rabindra Sutradhar
23. Intricacies of Religion, Caste and Class
Casting Shadow over Homosexualities : A
Study of Raja Rao’s The Boy Friend -Tinku Das
24. Mahesh Dattani’s On a Muggy Night in Mumbai as an Odyssey of Indian Homosexuals: A
Queer Reading – Saurabh Debnath
25. Breaking the Barriers of Heterosexual Love and
Converting into Homosexual Love; Creating Homosexual Identity through Mahesh
Dattani’s Bravely Fought the Queen and Manju Kapur’s A Married Woman -
Achyut
Tilavat
26. Sense of Insecurity and Guilt Arising out of
Social and Familial Tension: A Psychological Study of Lesbian Protagonist in
Vijay Tendulkar’s A Friend’s Story – Dipak Giri
NOTES ON THE CONTRIBUTORS
1.
Sabuj
Sarkar is an Assistant Professor, Department of English, University
of Gour Banga, West Bengal, India.
2.
Farida Parvin
is
a Guest Lecturer,
Department of English, Gazole
Mahavidyalaya, University of Gour Banga, West Bengal, India and
an M. Phil. Research Scholar, Raiganj University, Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, West
Bengal.
3.
Falguni
Bharateeya is an Associate Professor of English at Nalini-
Arvind & T.V. Patel Arts College,VallabhVidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat.
4.
Thulasi
Das B. is an Assistant Professor, Department of Studies in
English, Kannur University, Kerala.
5. Dr.
Priyalekha N S is an Assistant Professor, Centre for Comparative
Literature, Sree Sanakarachara University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala.
6. Sreetanwi Chakraborty is an Assistant
Professor, Department of
English, Amity University, Kolkata.
7. Shaoni
Dasgupta is an Assistant
Professor, Department of English, Amity
University, Kolkata.
8. Dr.
Manjiree Vaidya is a
Head of the Institution, Amity School of Languages, Amity University, Mumbai.
9. Neha
Chaudhary is an Assistant
Professor, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, Punjab.
10. Dr.
Geeta Phogat is an Assistant
Professor, Bhagat Phool Singh Women's
University, Khanpur Kalan, Sonipat, Haryana.
11. Anamitra
Chatterjee is an Asssistant
Professor, Department of English, Maulana Azad Government College, West Bengal.
12. Dr.
B.Visalakshi is an
Assistant Professor, Department of English, E.R.K Arts & Science College,
Erumiyampatti, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu.
13. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta
“Mewadev” is
the Head and Assistant Professor, Department of English, Eklavya Mahavidyalaya,
Banda (U.P.).
14. Dr.
Pinki Arora is presently Chairperson,
South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Georgia State University, Atlanta,
United States along with the member of the F Scott Fitzgerald Society,
Minneapolis, United States.
15. Rajib
Das is a Guest Lecturer, Department of English,
P.K. College, Contai, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.
16. Ragini Kapoor is a Ph.
D. Research Scholar, Department of Modern Indian Languages and
Literary Studies, Delhi University.
17. Shazia Qadri is a Research
Scholar, Department of English, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri,
J&K.
18. Neha
Chatterjee is an M.Phil.
Research Scholar, Department of English and Culture Studies, University of
Burdwan, West Bengal.
19. Abhisek
Ghosal is an M.Phil.
Research Scholar, Department of English and Culture Studies, University of
Burdwan, West Bengal.
20. Drishya
Jayaprakash is an
M.Phil. Research Scholar, Kannur University, Kerala.
21. Sabari
Sengupta is a postgraduate, Department of English, Madras University, Tamil Nadu.
22. Jayasree Jayagopal
is a Postgraduate, Department of English, Little Flower College Guruvayur,
Kerala. She was formerly a Guest Lecturer, Little Flower College, Guruvayur, Kerala.
23.
Anindita Datta is a Guest Lecturer, Department of English, Cooch
Behar College, Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
24.
Rabindra
Sutradhar is an Assistant Teacher, Khirerkote
High School (H.S.), Alipurduar, West Bengal.
25. Tinku Das is an Assistant Teacher,
Uttar Khapaidanga High School, Cooch Behar, West Bengal. He
is an Academic Counsellor, Netaji Subhash Open University, Cooch Behar College
Study Centre, Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
26. Saurabh Debnath is an Assistant
Teacher in Pundibari Ramgopal Lakhotia High School (H.S.), Cooch Behar, West
Bengal. He is an Academic Counsellor, Netaji Subhash Open
University, Cooch Behar College Study Centre, Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
27. Achyut
Tilavat is an Assistant Professor,
Department of English, Diu College, Diu, Gujarat.
28. Dipak
Giri is an Assistant Teacher, Katamari
High School (H.S.), Cooch Behar, West Bengal and a Ph. D. Research Scholar,
Raiganj University, Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal. Besides he is an
Academic Counsellor, Netaji Subhas Open University, Cooch Behar College Study
Centre, Cooch Behar, West Bengal.