Some of my closest friends are gay. I’ve never had a problem with their sexual orientation. Or given thought to what they do behind their bedroom doors. I’ve been too busy enjoying their friendship. Gays make warm, sensitive and caring friends. Also entertaining company. They’re outrageously talented and creative. And inevitably, they excel at whatever they do and are top of the heap. I could give you examples, but that would be betraying confidences, which isn’t such a good idea. For to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or a transgender in this country is a crime. You could get arrested. Never mind that their sexuality is of the closet variety. Not blatant. Or in your face. It’s bad, and considered dark as well as a sin here.
This is a pity because the LGBT community is one of absolutely delightful people with rollicking lifestyles. To think that the freedom of their sexual expression will be considered by judges and decided by politicians is appalling. The opinion here is that homosexuality comes down to a matter of choice; it’s got nothing to do with genetics. Scientific evidence says otherwise; it points to a strong biological origin. How does it matter either ways to everybody who is heterosexual, I’ve never figured out. Nor have I understood the repressive Section 377 that criminalizes gay sex and punishes it with imprisonment for up to life. It’s been that way since 1860. Which is when we got the IPC from the British. A more subservient example of ass-kissing than this I have yet to see.
Hope..
But there’s hope for us yet. In the spirit of Gandhi’s being the change you want to see, National Award-winning director Hansal Mehta’s release tomorrow is ‘Aligarh’ – a Bollywood film based on the true life story of Prof. Ramchandra Siras. He was suspended by the Aligarh Muslim University where he was one of the leading lights for being gay. But Prof. Siras challenged his suspension in court and was reinstated because in the India then, which was as recent as 2009, consensual gay sex was not a crime. Shortly after resuming work, Prof. Siras died of mysterious circumstances. The death was unnatural. It had to be suicide or murder. But the university and police of Aligarh didn’t bother investigating it. The film ‘Aligarh’ is on the incident and delves on the conversations between Prof. Siras and a journalist Deepu Sebastian. Brilliantly and inspiringly played by that outstanding actor Manoj Bajpai, I’m told, and Rajkummar Rao who is a few films old but already has a National Best Actor Award at home.
I worry..
I worry about the box office success of films like this in Bollywood. What leads directors like Hansal Mehta to make them? The Indian audience is one that wants to be entertained. Not left thinking. It demands paisa vasool. And if it has to see a film on gay relations then it would pick a naughty spoof on homosexuality like ‘Dostana’ rather than go in for thought-provoking cinema like ‘Aligarh’. The film has got standing ovations in Busan and London. Which means nothing. The attendees at film festivals there notoriously enjoy the worst bilge. ‘Aligarh’s’ acid test will be at home. Hansal Mehta is already realistically saying, “Things won’t change with just one film.” I’m afraid he’s right. ‘Aligarh’ will undoubtedly get critical acclaim. But whether it will be declared a box office hit is iffy. I don’t want it to be rejected by the audience for want of entertainment. Which might be misinterpreted as a damning indictment of gay sexuality in the country. And will only encourage the court and parliament to justifiably and triumphantly say, “See, we told you so!”
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, as well as columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, as well as Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, as well as Network 18. He has interviewed almost every famous person. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.
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