There’s no 'PRIDE' in prejudice

‘I am not sure that I am a man,’ said Yuvanashva. ‘I have created a life outside me as men do. But I have also created life inside me, as women do. What does that make me? Will a body such as mine fetter or free me?’

These lines carry the essense of the book "The pregnant king"?by Devdutt. The idea of human rights rests on the central premise that all humans are equal. It follows that all humans have dignity and all humans should be treated as equal. Anything that undermines that dignity is a violation, for it violates the principle of equality and paves the way for discrimination. The human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) are coming into sharper focus around the world, with important advances in many countries in recent years, including the adoption of new legal protections. The preamble to the Indian Constitution mandates justice — social, economic, and political equality of status for all.?

Indian literature and epics are some of the most complex pieces of literature that exist in this genre. Whether you believe in the tales or consider them folklores, one thing is undeniable. They represent, to a large extent, certain aspects of the world’s socio-cultural-political backcloth that have remained constant over the years. Within this category, along with many other metaphysical concepts, lie the ideas of LGBTQ. Indian culture has constantly displayed elements of gender-fluidity, intersexuality, homo-eroticism and many other identities that do not fall under the typical gender or sexual expression.

The actual gender of Shikhandi is anybody’s guess because all the mentions and inclusions of LGBT variances are either in the form of subtle hints or come with a subtext of a sacred ritual than a choice.?However, there is no doubt that Shikhandi is one of the brightest examples of LGBT references in history. After being abducted by Bhishma and rejected by him in marriage, Princess Amba took her life and swore to take her revenge like a man. She is later born to King Drupada and named Shikhandini, but is raised as a son by her father upon divine intervention. Shikhandi is one of those rare characters whose is not only accepted as an intersex warrior, but it is the gender ambiguity that makes Shikhandi so very significant.

Arjuna, too, receives a curse from the apsara Urvashi when he spurns her and the Pandava prince has to live his exile for a year as the eunuch Brihannala, the dance tutor to Princess Uttara of the Matsya kingdom. King Bhagiratha is said to be responsible in bringing Ganga from heaven as a river on Earth. Born to two mothers, the widowed queens of King Dilipa, his birth is considered a blessing and was socially approved. The homoerotic subtext and other abovementioned instances and characters, operate within a distinct worldview yet accommodating gender and sexual variance, generally accepted and woven into the narrative of the epics and the ancient texts as typically occurring or done.

Being from Kerala, i grew up listening to folklores of 'The Sabarimala temple. The diety Lord "Ayyappa" is another wise known as "Hari-Hara". Hari - Male (Vishnu) and Hara - Male (Shiva).?Mohini is the only female avatar of Vishnu, who exhibits gender variability, in one case even becoming pregnant (Vishnu as Mohini and the Preserver even procreates with Shiva, the designated Destroyer to give birth to Lord Ayyappa). Each time Vishnu, in his role as the protector of the universe, took the feminine form of the divine enchantress Mohini, the world got saved. Vishnu becomes Mohini when gender-adaptability (here it’s not masculinity but femininity)?is called for, to solve a problem. Beyond the role of the saviour, the implications in dual-genderism and fluid sexuality is more analogical, wherein in each person lies in the male and the female.?

Ardhnarishwar Temple is a sacred temple of Hindus and is highly revered by the devotees. Situated in Mandi Himachal Pradesh, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The name “Ardhnarishwaer” means a person or a deity that is half man and half woman. The right half of the stone image in the temple represents Lord Shiva and the left half his consort Parvati. Shiva has his typical knotted hair and wearing a garland of skulls, an entwined serpent, a musical instrument in one hand and a Damru or drum in the other. The divine consort Parvati is shown wearing a diadem, a pair of earrings and a ring on the nose. The icon is well executed from all standards.With Parvati being the Progenitor of the cosmos and Shiva being the Destroyer, their consortship is the absolute truth considered by the mythology. And while Shiva is the embodiment of masculinity and Parvati for femininity, the integration of their physical and spiritual selves is an androgynous composite, known as Ardhanarishwara – a manifestation where the male and female coexists in one.A similar union happens between Vishnu and his consort Laxmi, which we know as Laxmi-Narayan.

Our culture is the biggest testimony of our inclusivity. While the world celebrates 28th June as "Pride Day" we as a country have imbibed the same in our culture since time immortal. Access to a decent livelihood and equal opportunities is critical to fostering equality in India’s developing economy and society at large. For this, organisations need to embrace the identity of all people and their fundamental rights. These conversations yield best results when driven from 'Top' and delivered at 'Bottom" bridging the gaps between so-called 'Queer of differentiation between a "Top & Bottom"

Few question that we need to ask ourselves

What is more euphoric – being called as a mother or as a father or as both?

What is meant to be a man or a woman?

What is more difficult - being a man or being a woman?

Can a man have a heart of woman and a body of a man?

Can a woman have a heart of a man and a body of a woman?

What is more significant – Destiny or Desire?

Which is more potent – Destiny or Desire?

Is sexual identity so necessary to be considered as a person in a society?

Can a man choose to marry a man or a woman to a woman?

Can a man be a woman or woman be a man? What if one chooses to be other?

Are we ready to accept the truth that a male can show womanhood and a female can show manhood?

What comes first – Physical Projection of self or Mental Manifestation of self?

Can a person go with Desire over Destiny or vice versa?

What is matter? What is soul (energy)? Which one has more significance? Matter is a holder of soul. Soul is creator of matter. Both are interconnected. Then why to choose one over other? Can't they be one, single, unison??

What is TRUTH? Why can't people accept TRUTH? What is poisonous – TRUTH or our inability to handle the TRUTH?