People stop to listen when he begins to speak. He is one of only four scholars doing his research on queer culture and literature in India. The elite Indian academia has opened its doors to embrace his intelligence and ideologies. His hands move gracefully during conversation, testimony to two decades of Bharatnatyam practice and performance. His voice booms loud and clear, even in a bustling Chinese restaurant. He learnt voice inflection while training for the theatre.

“Monogamy is violence to human nature,” Aniruddhan Vasudevan declares, banging the dark polished wooden table. The china trembles, the glass of water wobbles on its leather coaster. “Monogamy is just a functional asylum, but monoamoury is too much to expect.” Another bang. A girl at the adjacent table jumps and clutches her lover’s hands. The petite Asian waitress discreetly shakes her head. Aniruddh grins impishly; he is used to being disapproved. His actions have evoked the similar reactions throughout his life.

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1 Comment | In: People Watching | tags: homophobia, homosexuality, India, Karnataka, People Watching, queer politics, Tamil Nadu. | #

Delhi. For the longest time, I couldn’t wait to get away. Now, I am away and can’t wait for the airplane to touch down in dear old, dreadful Delhi.

People argue passionately that Delhi is characterized by contradictions of wealth. But to me, the supreme contradiction lies in the seasons that inevitably become the subject of frustrated conversations.

Summer for the sweaty millions is torturous anywhere in India but Delhi has the most sweltering summer of all.

Hordes of people scramble for every patch of sinewy shade. The parched lips of child beggars open in an eternal cry for ‘paisa’. The rich cool themselves in their air-conditioned cars and air-conditioned homes and air-conditioned restaurants. Groups of lanky teenagers in unbuttoned shirts whistle at girls passing by; the girls gaze downwards, pulling their prickly synthetic dupattas closer to their bare necks. Couples crouch behind bushes in the overgrown gardens of Humayun’s tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage Center), touching urgently, knowing the only spies here are the pitiable eunuchs begging for money. At night, the newly weds throng to India Gate to cool themselves with neon ice-lollies and gaze at the shimmering lights of Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s mansion).

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No Comments | In: India | tags: delhi, heat, humayun's tomb, India, momos, summer, weddings, winter. | #