If we were in their place, would we tolerate what they are doing?

Today, I am raising my voice for those people of our society who are as normal as you and I are. We remember them only one day out of the 365 days of the year, on which we demand equal existence and justice for them in society. I am neither hesitant nor can wait for that one day of the year to speak my mind.

These people are those who are suffering from HIV. We hate and condemn them for the 364 days of the year, and on the 365th day, we fight for their justice and respect in society. We hate them because the physical relationship through which we get the virtue of becoming a parent becomes a sacred relationship for us. And when a person gets infected with HIV, then the same relationship becomes impure for us and, the infected person gets known as ill-fated and sinner in society.

Fulfilling a bodily need is not a sin or misfortune. Before calling HIV victims sinners, we need to ask ourselves that have we never committed any sins? Even if we have done it knowingly or unknowingly, we ignore them. So why only these victims are being cursed in our society? No person infects himself with this virus of his own free will. Many people become victims of some accident or betrayal. Ignoring the fact our society has given HIV infection the status of punishment for sins. If, in our opinion, these victims deserve punishment, then what about those who have been infected through rape? What about innocent children who have been infected by physical abuse at a minor age?

HIV today is not as dangerous and deadly as it was in the 80s. The infected person is leading a healthy and safe life through treatment. Despite this, people having cancer, diabetes, TB, hepatitis are considered normal in our society and, HIV victims are considered abnormal and stigmatized. Why? Why do they have to bear our hatred and condemnation?

Today many people are not testing for HIV. Those who got their tests done and found the virus in the body, among them many are not getting their treatment done. People who do not test do not know whether they are infected or not. And those who are not treating themselves are putting their lives in danger and, the spread of infection through them to other people is undeniable. People living with HIV cannot share their reality openly with anyone in society. The reason for all this is only one, and that is the fear of social stigma. You and I are also responsible for these people not doing their HIV tests or treating themselves. They may have accepted to live in this condition, but society has been denying them until this very day.

Today, in the whole world, on the one hand, the coronavirus is infecting humans by touching each other, yet neither we are afraid of corona nor do we avoid touching each other. On the other hand, HIV infection does not spread by human touch. Despite this, our society has been treating them like untouchables for decades. What can be more ironic than this of the human psyche?

Each year the world marks the first day of December as the global HIV Day. Only on this day do we feel pity for these victims; otherwise, we spare no effort to humiliate them for the remaining 364 days of the year. There are such countries, leaders-actors, social service organizations exist in the world who do hypocrisy on social media to prove themselves, great souls. But in reality, all of them are at the top in discriminating against people living with HIV.

People living with HIV neither need any help from such hypocrites nor do they need my and your sympathy of one day. Their immune system may have been weakened due to virus infection, but their tolerance can never become weak. Today, therefore, they are able to tolerate the fact to such an extent that their existence is not acceptable to society. We might hate their existence, but they feel sorry for our immature mindset.

HIV infected people are not abnormal. They have as much right to live with dignity as you and I have. Therefore, we must step forward and hold their hands instead of pointing fingers at them. May God gives wisdom and courage to me and you all. With this thought, I bid adieu.

By the way, do not forget.

HIV infection is an accident, not a sin.

HIV infection is a condition, not a death sentence.

The Humsafar Trust Naaz Foundation UNAIDS World Health Organization (WHO) India HIV / AIDS Alliance Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India