Samlaingik is is Sanskrit word that roughly means attracted or oriented to ones own gender suggesting that a millennium (or more) ago, Indian society recognized the existence of such a biological phenomenon. The Kamasutra, sculptures in temples and palaces all across India depict same-gender intimacy. But todays ruling suggests that there are many judges who are not only ignorant or willfully blind to this legacy of acceptance of a very natural (albeit less common) phenomenon. Recent biological research only reinforces the claim that same-gender intimacy is observed in a very wide variety of animal species. The argument that gay culture is alien to India ignores both Indias own civilizational legacy but also modern science. Those who are upset by the invasion of Western Culture in this regard ought to know that there is acceptance of same-gender relationships in the East as well - in Thailand, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Does India wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with the more developed modern nations of the world or with its socially backward and regressive Islamic neighbors - such as Pakistan (or worse) in this respect? Prejudice and animus ought not to be the foundation of any modern legal system. Of course, we know that judges are promoted not based on their commitment to the constitution or to any advanced notions of human justice - they are promoted for political reasons - and in this respect the hypocrisy of the Congress leadership stands exposed. And while homophobic demagogues like Baba Ramdev may be needed by the BJP to win votes, in the long run it would behoove the BJP leadership to transcend the petty prejudices of vain and haughty guardians of social morality - and instead focus on the pressing needs of modernizing the Indian economy - developing Indias much needed urban infrastructure - expanding and strengthening Indias science and technology institutions and security structures. India needs good governance and serious efforts at genuine crime prevention and fair and just law enforcement. In a modern India, there should be no place for petty and irrational prejudices that hurt not just individuals but also their parents, their families and possibly even their friends. Rather than endorsing such regressive court judgements, Indias opinion makers, political leaders and law makers need to focus more on what is truly fair and just - rather than giving way to self-serving and prejudicial moral policing.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 04:06:26 +0000
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