By Ananya Bhardwaj

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between homosexuality and Indian culture, challenging the widespread belief that homosexuality is alien to Indian traditions. Through an analysis of ancient Indian texts, scriptures, and cultural practices, the article demonstrates that non-heteronormative relationships have existed and been recognized in India for centuries. It argues that the demonization of homosexuality is largely a product of British colonial influence and Victorian morality. The piece also discusses the contemporary struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community in India, despite historic acceptance, and highlights the ongoing need for societal change and acceptance.

Introduction: Homosexuality and Indian Culture

In Contemporary India, Homosexuality & Culture are two words that never go together. The LGBTQ+ Community in India has often struggled with being a ‘part’ of the society because they go against the so-called “pious values and culture”. Homosexuality has been looked at as something wrong or oftentimes as a mental illness. Often texts like the Manusmirti, there are mentioned western punishments against non-heterosexual sex. “For instance, the punishment given to an older woman for having a relationship with a virgin woman was to get her head shaved or cut two of her fingers and ride on a donkey through the town.” However there exists several other historical documents stating the contrary as well. Many Indians also see homosexuality as a foreign concept, however whether supportive or oppositional, homosexuality often appears in our scriptures and older texts. At a very early age, kids are taught things like ‘ a man should only be with a woman ’ and anything else would result in them being banished from society and falling in the eyes of God. For example, when the movie “Fire (1996)” was released, which was a lesbian love story, it faced heavy backlash including the burning of theatres, posters and mass protests because it was considered to be against Indian culture. Young children are made to be aware that anything besides the ideal male-female relationship is a sin, and words like gay or lesbian are often used as abuse and swear words. There exists internalised hate and feelings of indifference toward Homosexuality. This is extremely problematic as the LGBTQ+ community is often socially excluded and thought of as being inferior to everyone else. Although the common belief is that Homosexuality is against Indian culture,  the article argues that homosexuality is very much a part of Indian culture.

Homosexuality in Ancient Indian Texts and Traditions

In ancient and mediaeval India Homosexuality was never looked down upon, rather it was pretty normalised. Homosexuality has a place in primaeval texts such as the Manusmriti, Rig Veda, Upanishads, Kamasutra, and Puranas. “There were Harems of Young Boys kept by Hindu Aristocrats and Muslim Nawabs which shows that there was a place for homosexuality in Indian Muslim History.” “Concurring to different accounts of the Mahabharata, certain characters, such as Shikhandi, who is in some cases claimed to be born as a female but recognizes as male and weds a lady, alters sexual orientations” The Kama Sutra also talks about male-male relations and so do many ancient epics. Stories in the Bengal folklore showcase woman-woman relations and the intricacies of their love. The Koovagam festival  celebrated in Tamil Nadu, celebrates Lord Krishna taking the form of a woman named ‘Mohini’, to become the warrior Aravan’s bride for a day, as he had wished to marry before sacrificing himself. Also, Bhakti saints would often dress up as women to please God Vishnu. “Lord Krishna took on a female form to conquer the demon Araka, and Shiva is said to have taken a woman’s form to please the consort Parvati.” Indian scriptures talked openly about sex and homosexuality, especially in The Kama Sutra. The temples of Khajuraho and Orchha feature erotic art which represents both heterosexual and homosexual figurines carved inside and outside the temple. These temples were constructed around 950 AD to 1050 AD and illustrated tantric sexual practices. The concept that Homosexuality was something wrong or against human values and morals did not originate from the traditional Indian society. Many such examples represent that though instances like these may be sparse, they still existed and were not instinctively opposed by society. Such stories and mythological concepts also suggest that this is not a concept we’ve taken up from the west and that it has always been part of Indian culture. A country’s culture is a reflection of its age-old stories and ancient literature, and thus the Indian society was well aware of Homosexuality 

The Influence of British Colonialism on Indian Sexuality

India’s relationship with homosexuality was an open one, which was soiled by the introduction of the Britishs’ idea of a modest society. “Then came British Colonialism, and the Crown’s puritanical views decided that Homosexuality was pornographic and evil, and ‘unnatural’.” The British were of the view that same-sex relations were a moral wrong. The British regime introduced Section 377 of The Indian Penal Code (1862), drafted by Thomas Babington Macaulay who was the head of the first Law Commission. Section 377 was based on Britain’s own former anti-sodomy laws and archaic 19th-century Victorian morality. They believed that homosexuality was against the order of nature. Victorian sensibilities were aghast when they saw India’s openness or broadmindedness towards sex. This is one of the ways how the British Justified India as a backward society. So, chastity and modesty were a symbol of class. Homosexual relations were ridiculed and thought of as something dirty or disgusting. Modesty became a sign of belonging to a good  This was further aggravated when Gandhi and other freedom fighters started to associate prudish attitudes toward sex as being part of the glorious Indian culture. Then came the concept of Bharat Mata. She wore a modest sari and represented the purest form of women. This way chastity and rigid ideas about sexuality became the norm and a sign of being Indian. With the West becoming a more progressive society, Indians went backwards because now modesty and chastity became a sign of the pious Indian values. Thus as homosexuality became more acceptable in the west over the years it became more regressed in the Indian context because Indians held strong opinions that western values and culture were flawed.

The Hijra Community: Integration and Exclusion

The integration of LGBTQ+ people in Indian society can be seen through the Hijra community. Cis-male-to-female transgender people in India have traditionally organised themselves into Jamaat communities. A matriarchal structure has an older Hijra or Aravani as a guru. According to the 2011 Indian Census, there are approximately 500,000 people in India who identify as the third gender. Tracing back their historical roots, it is said that when Lord Ram was banished to the forest for 14 years while leaving “The whole city followed him because they loved him so much. As Ram came to the banks of the river at the edge of the forest, he turned to the people and said, ‘Ladies and gents, please wipe away your tears and go away.’ But those people who were not men and women did not know what to do. So they stayed there because Ram did not ask them to go,”.  So they were consecrated by Lord Ram that all their blessings would always come true. This is one of the reasons why people from the Hijra community are often called to weddings and after childbirth to get their blessings. However, the attitude towards them by the general public remains to be incongruous. During the period of Mughal Rule, the Kings would keep people from the Hijra community as guards for their Queens and women because of their sexuality and men-like core strength. This proves to show that they weren’t excluded from being part of society. They were accepted as they were and given responsibilities and roles to play accordingly. The Hijra community continues to exist even today. They still haven’t gotten the much-needed acceptance from society. Although some positive changes have taken place like job opportunities for them or better access to education and more awareness. Still, a majority of people do not give them the respect they deserve as individuals and continue to frown upon their existence.

Contemporary Attitudes and The Way Forward

Homosexuality and India have had a complicated relationship, from it being a part of our culture to being thought of as something immoral and dirty. From being part of a community to being the outcasts, the LGBTQ+ community has always suffered at the hands of the ever-changing mindset of society. Some instances represent openness and modernity yet others show rigidity and deleterious attitudes. Yet they have always existed and will continue to exist regardless of whether society acknowledges them or not. From the time of the Vedas to the current modern society a lot has happened but not much has changed. The problem remains the same, The continued view of society that homosexuality is something alien and unnatural therefore treating it ignorantly and inappropriately. The LGBTQ+ community has always been repressed and deprived of basic regard and courtesy. The first thing to combat this is to accept. The acceptance that people can have different sexual preferences and still be considered normal. Acceptance automatically makes it less of a taboo. This results in ending the process of social exclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. The only way to begin this process is by spreading awareness, to teach children, and to change our mindsets about how we as people and members of society view homosexuality. Schools and parents need to make kids more aware and homosexuality should not be a hush-hush topic that everyone is scared to discuss. We need to enlighten our coming generation about the history of homosexuality, and about its existence in our Puranas and ancient texts. What is natural and what is unnatural should not be ours to decide. Everything around us that exists happens to be natural. The day Homosexuality is truly accepted as part of the Indian Culture and society will be the day we can be truly liberated.

About the Author:

Ananya Bhardwaj, a student at Jindal Global Law School in her third year of BBA. LLB (Hons)

Image Source:

https://victoryinstitute.org/india-decriminalizes-homosexuality-in-historic-ruling/