I couldn't come up with a better name for my post other than this. An amalgamation of the two of the hottest material that has caught the imagination of the Indian media and public in the last couple of months. The first part is a word which had a more happy meaning when we were kids, is now a reference to a homosexual, gaining iconic word status after Dostana.The other part acquired from the now famous song "Jai Ho", soundtrack from the Academy Award winning "Slumdog Millionaire". A movie many claim marks India's entry into the unconquered bastions of the Oscars, though it is actually a British Movie. But to tell you the truth , i indulged myself into a bit of plagiarism and used the words coined by some Twitterati after the pre historic section 377 of the IPC was amended by the Delhi High court.
What is Article 377
Section 377 of Indian Penal Code imposes a maximum penalty of a life sentence on anybody who has “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” with any man, woman or animal
So, the question arises what has the Delhi HC said or done which has brought so many of the few self proclaimed gay people to the streets in celebration. The decision means that no longer it is criminal offence to have a physical relationship with a person of the same sex. The gays will no longer be deprived of the fundamental rights to personal liberty and equality. It may also make the society more open to gay unions and get rid of the social taboo.
It makes me wonder, what changes we can see in the near future as a result of this verdict. One thing is certain , and it is that we will see more people coming out in the open and declaring their sexual preferences without any fear of being harassed. We may come to see new celebrity gay unions here as well, similar to the likes of Elton John. Better on screen depiction of gay relationships something like My Brother Nikhil and not in a usual comic sense preferred by the Indian movie makers catering to the peanut size brains of the general cinema goers. Also a distance possibility is that it may solve India's biggest problem of ever growing population.
But, there is a long way to go before any of the above possibilities becomes a reality. A country where religion plays such an important role, it will be tough for the government to act on this judgement without inviting the wrath of the religious priests and leaders. And how will it not ignite the moral policing which tries its best to push India to medieval times. With the pattern followed in the Indian judicial system there are very high chances that the case will appealed again in the higher courts. So there is a long time to go before the amendment is passed by the Indian parliament and becomes a law.
Nevertheless its a historic decision, ushering a new era in Indian society hopefully moving ahead in a positive direction. So if you are Happy and you are Gay....clap your hands....stomp your feet...bang your heads. Do as you wish as its your day...Cheers
