Now that Section 377 has been finally been legally recognised to be trampling upon human dignity (besides violating several of the fundamental rights that the Constitution allows its people), we have gone a step forward toward achieving the true essence of democracy - liberalism. Social inhibitions and taboos are sure to remain for some time, but at least no one now can threaten a person with legal action just because of his/her sexual orientation. The government needs to amend the aforesaid section some time soon. Untouchability was a widespread social practice even some eight decades back and while significant traces of it remain even in today's India, it has become extinct in an overbearing oppressive manner (you jump into the Ganges no more if a sweeper's shadow falls on you!) at least in most parts of the country. Take an opinion poll and at least 80 out 100 persons are likely to dismiss untouchability as a disgusting shame for civil society. I hope that the taboo regarding homosexuality erodes away similarly.
Why is punishing homosexuality objectionable? For the same reason a physically handicapped child should not be held guilty for his condition (though lamentably, he is at times): he/she is born that way! Or has been shaped over the years by countless psychological and emotional undercurrents. Sexual orientation is natural (how really could "carnal intercourse against the laws of nature" be interpreted and turned upon homosexuals?). Moreover, it has no victim - we are talking of consensual intercourse in this matter. What has one got to be offended by? Say, if homosexuality were the "law of nature" and it had a biological result - children - and if it were the norm, would not heterosexuality be a taboo then? And under those circumstances, would it not be wrong to punish anybody for being attracted to the opposite sex?
As for our religious leaders, counter-activists and countless ordinary people worried about the threat posed to our culture and religions, I propose some measures that should work towards that objective in a far more logical and efficient manner:
1.) Stop heckling innocent people about things that are perfectly harmless to others. No burning of V-day cards and embarrassing lovers, no Mangalore-pub routs, no stupid court petitions for scratching off 'Barber' from a film's name either.
2.) Next time you see someone publicly relieving himself/herself, make it a point to politely request him/her to use a toilet. (If the need be, we can have more public toilets constructed and maintained.) On similar lines, no spitting and littering around. Be so kind as to follow these yourself before guiding others.
3.) Preserve heritage sites. If the government is apathetic towards maintenance, go through the bureaucratic and legal grind. If it still fails, go for independently raised public funds. I know it is thankless hard work; but if you are really concerned about culture, that should be the correct course. Many Indian lovers, in the admirable fashion of Shahjahan and Mumtaz, want to engrave their love immortal on stone. They may be politely requested to abstain from such ambitions. I am inclined to believe that a stern but polite request does the trick almost always.
4.) Behave well in public. Few things are as degrading to culture than watch thousands of people arguing openly on the streets about matters trivial and gargantuan. Things can be sorted out in private, preferably in peace. If such an option does not work, bad luck! No amount of shouting in public can solve deadlocks anyway. Also, remember to extend your help to people who need it: old people, children, physically handicapped, clueless foreigners...
5.) Take an active interest in art, read good books, watch good movies and listen to good music; if possible try your hand at writing. (This is subjective but not completely.) Nothing better at reviving culture! No need of banning Karan Johar and his ilk, just stop fattening his wallet by ignoring his latest floss (no need to picket theatres or harass devoted fans, all the same). Go fish out some RV Shantaram or Satyajit Ray. Keep the cultural economy open: allow influx and outflow.
6.) Ban censorship (haha!). One can and must decide what he/she wants to do, read, listen or watch unless it does not cause anyone any harm.
7.) Discourage mob politics. A crowd can get away with what three individuals cannot. It is badly reflective of our culture.
8.) Do away with religious and regional bias. An innocent Muslim should not be clubbed together with the irrational jihadi. Similarly, a Hindu murderer and rapist is as guilty as his Muslim counterpart. Also, Maharashtra is not only for Marathis.
Sounds impossible? Maybe. But criminalizing homosexuals in the name of preserving culture and religion surely is.
3 comments:
This law surely has surely upheld the status of our country as a liberal, equalitarian state in practice and not just on paper....
however, it remains to be seen that how our so called "guardians of Indian culture" interpret this law.... will they be ready to modify their bigoted ideals, or will they, with traditional ferocity, engage in another mindless campaign to overturn this ruliing.......if the second option is chosen, then i'm afraid that the very individuals who are supposed to be protected by this law, will be subjected to acute cases of unprecedented social ostracization....
Some of the religious leaders of important sects have already denounced the ruling, saying that it is against "nature"...I really feel like asking them, who appointed them to decide as to what is in conformation with "nature" and what is not...
And regarding the points which are mentioned regarding the upholding and refinement of the culture, I really do hope that those so called guardians apply some of their common senses instead of being led astray by narrow-minded,misguided idealists.....their so called reformatory actions have the opposite effect-they portray our country as a land of zero-tolerance, narrow minded bigots who resort to violence to justify their crooked ideals.....
and that link in the censorship part was excellent.....
Thanks for commenting. :)
I think it improbable that conservationist backlash will overturn the Delhi HC ruling.
Homosexuals already face a good deal of social ostracization - many of them who just discover their orientation are really confused as if there is something quite wrong with them. Just because they are raised up in an environment that condemns deviations from the established sexual norm. Law can go a good way in removing this taboo (as in the case of practices like child-marriage, sati, untouchability). Many people simply accept the law of the land as the ultimate truth without weighing alternate options (too much load for feeble brains?); so there remains both an attached advantage and disadvantage. Within the span of a couple of generations, I assume that the tide of majority opinion with gradually embrace homosexuality as nothing quite different from its more 'conventional' counterpart.
As for the self-appointed guardians of culture: if only they understood that one of the first signs of a culture decaying is the paranoia of it being attacked by foreign elements. Little do they acknowledge that cultural and religious decomposition is an internal process, not affected much by external invasions. A society that has collectively decided to retain its roots while accepting change has slim chance of suffering from disintegration.
You are asking for sanity and decency, Sudipto: the two things that are most scarce in this country, and getting scarcer by the day!
Still, I pray that your tribe may increase.
Sir
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