R.N Ghosh यांचे वाचनीय विचार ,
The weekend has surely seen a lot of gay-rights activity with eminent personalities like
Vikram Set writing an open letter to the govermment asking to strike down artical
377 of the Indian Penal Code that makes Homosexuality illegal in this country.The
letter was singed by over a hundred people included the linght of Amartya Sen,Arundhati
Roy and Shyam Benegal. It denounced the colonial era of law as being draconian and archaic
and fundamentally against human rights. It called for the law's repealment,which it said,
had been used to rerrorise and marginalize sexual minorities in the country.
Let me tell you right at the beginning that I am not against
homosexuality. I believe that it is a matter of personal choice and should be respected.
Therefore principally I am staunchly aginst this law. But it is fact that the majority in this
country is still not willing to accepet homosexuality or even talk about it. It a part of the
reson why homosexuals in society have to live a hiddn life. For it you are homosexual living
in India and if you are open about it, you will be discriminated by someone .And this
discrimination could range from a derogatory comment, to people feeling uncomfortable
around you, to cops bullying an harassing you to make a quick buck. I agree that is
monstrous and totally inhumane but it also reflects what the society at large thinks about
the issu . We all know that the law against homosexuality in this country is discriminatory
but what we need look at is whether a simple change in the law will dramatically change
the living conditions for homosexuals in society.
Lets say that tomorrow the govermment dose strikes down this law, will
homosexual be automatically accepeted by the society? There will sitll be people who
would be uncomfrotable with homosexual person in their midst. There will still be
people who would make the odd discrimination comment. And there will be cops looking
to make a quick buck,even though they do not actual need a reason to harass and bully
you but you being a homosexual will serve as a good excuse. So the point is that a simple
change in the law will do nothing to change the soluation for homosexuals on the ground.
Discrimination will still persist because the govermment will not be able to potect
homosexuals since the mojority opinion is still biased anginst them.
On the contrary what what could happen by a change in the law is that many
homosexuals might labour under the misconception that things have become better for
them and minght want to come put of the closet. But this will lead to nothing but more
discrimination.Once you come out of the closet it is as if you walk around with a huge
target painted across your chest. Threr is no way the govermment can protect you and
in fact I doubt whether many within the govrmment would want to protect you . This
brings me to my second argument that even though there might be some legistators who
would favour a change in the law but they are a miniscule minority. So I very much doubt
whether there is any political will to change the law. And the govermment jas already
told the Supreme Court that the majority opinion is still against homosexuals in this country.
Thus, dut to lack of both,political an social will ,a change in the law in not only
impossible but will simply amount to noting. I know that this is inhumane and being a homosexual in this country is a curse when it shoudn't be but living a hidden life is better
than livingno life at all. The only way that one could bring about a change is by talking
about it. Make people feel comforable about the subject. Talk about homosexual sex and
include it in the campaing angainst " AIDS". This is very important given the rate at which
the disease is spreading and the fact that since all this while homosexual have been kept out
ots purview,they fall under the high-risk category of the disease. The idea here is crate an
enviormnment in which people would thing homosexuality to be normal and a matter of on
personal choice. Once such an envioronment is created then can we talk about changing the
law are changing the law than would make sense . Only then can we enforce and
implement the change. But till that time happens we must stive to bring about this change
in the socieal environment.
Lastly, I would like to tell the homosexual community to be brave and hold
fort and to continue striving for the betterment of their lives. But most of all do not be
afraid to be who you are, you are not less than anyone..
R.N. Ghosh यांचा हा माझ्या वाचन्यात आलेल्या सुन्दर आर्टिकल
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