Why is homosexuality against Indian culture?
Homosexuality is basically the attraction towards one’s own sex or gender. Although it is a widely known and recognized type of sexuality all over the world and people are well versed with it, India is yet to cope with it. India is famous for it’s culture and heritage but the society says homosexuality is against Indian culture. There is no proof or evidence that it really is, but its just the people talking in the name of ‘culture.’ It is also said homosexuality came to India as a disorder or disease when the British came to India. As far as it is concerned, I do not believe it to be any sort of a disease or mental disorder and a number of medical and psychiatric associations and organizations have agreed on the same. People in India are just afraid and doubtful of the society’s reaction to their actions in aspect of homosexuality which is why they all say it is against Indian culture, even though it is not. Where is it even written? Indians have also been attempting to ‘cure’ people of homosexuality through various psychological, emotional and physical and spiritual methods called the conversion therapy. That too has been proven by medical associations and organizations from all over the world to be ineffective and absolutely harmful as it leaves ill-effects and scars people, resulting into innumerable people taking their lives. As we say, “Love is love,” homosexuality is love too. Where does Indian culture say that love is wrong? It does not. In fact, opposite to that, Hindi scriptures and epics have spoken of non-heterosexual sexualities through a lot of characters in them. A lot of Hindu deities and heroes, also demons have showed bisexual, homosexual and transgender characteristics. Kama Sutra, the ancient text on sexuality, emotional life and eroticism has identified lesbian women and gay men, calling them ‘swarinis’ and ‘klibas’ respectively, stating that they would marry and raise children too. They were accepted and respected by the society back then. Also the sculptures in the Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh are known to reflect homosexual imagery with enough clarity on the intimacy between homosexual couples, even more than just two in number sometimes, called polyamory. This clearly shows it is not against Indian culture as it is included in the Hindu scriptures and Vedas, making it pure and stating that it was widely accepted and respected by the society. If it could be respected back then, then why not anymore? We must stop demeaning and ostracizing homosexuality and homosexuals in the name of culture to drop a cover on our narrow-mindedness, lack of knowledge and stereotypicality. Homosexuals deserve acceptance and respect so they shall have it.
An ally and supporter,
Shubhangini Shaktawat