An Indian Tale on Homosexuality

Mitrachi Goshta: A Friend's Story

  • Radhika Aggarwal Student
Keywords: Homosexuality, Vijay Tendulkar, homosexuality literature, Vijay Tendulkar’s view on homosexuality, Indian literature, homosexuality in Indian literature, homosexuality and society, Vijay Tendulkar playwright

Abstract

This is a review of one of the earliest literatures from Independent India written on homosexuality. Mitrachi Goshta, a Marathi (a local language from the state of Maharashtra, India) play, is one of the few Indian literatures that does not portray homosexuality as a disease or as an object of comedy. The author, Vijay Tendulkar, has exhibited sensitivity while dealing with the subject, which is laudable, considering the time period when he wrote it. Even now, homosexuality is considered a taboo and something to be ashamed of in the Indian society. Although, things are changing for the better, there is a lot left to be desired, even in the present 21st century. The researcher, while reviewing the play, has also connected it with the present-day society, and checking if the situation today is any different from the one portrayed in the play.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Radhika Aggarwal, Student

Radhika Aggarwal is a law student who is currently nineteen years old. She is enrolled in Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala and is in her third year of study as of now. She has completed her schooling from Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad.  Reading has been one of her favourite hobbies since childhood. She has read multiple plays, novels and stories both, for academic purposes and for leisure.  

References

1. Vijay Tendulkar, Collected Plays in Translation, Oxford University Press, 2003.
2. Sri Ram Memorial Lecture, ‘The Play is The Thing’, Lecture 1, 1997.
3. Suprita Mitter, ‘Play it Like Vijay Tendulkar’, Mid-Day, 1 July 2016, Play it like Vijay Tendulkar (mid-day.com)
4. Preface of A Friend’s Story, Oxford University Press, 2001.
5. Vishakaha Avachat, DNA, 5 August 2008, But homosexuality is not taboo (dnaindia.com)
6. Jain Rupam, “Parents use 'corrective rape' to 'straight'en gays”, Times of India, 1 June 2005, Parents use 'corrective rape' to 'straight'en gays - Times of India (indiatimes.com)
7. Saafi Michael, Singh Aarti, “‘There are few gay people in India’: stigma lingers despite legal victory”, The Guardian, 13 March 2019, ‘There are few gay people in India’: stigma lingers despite legal victory | Human rights | The Guardian
8. Press Trust of India, “Delhi high court orders police protection for same sex couple”, 1 October,2018, Hindustan Times, https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-high-court-orders-police-protection-for-same-sex-couple/story-F0U7VYCWzEXlqTtvubZ4PL.html
9. Giri Sagrika, “Allahabad High Court Orders Police Protection To Same-sex Couple”, 4 November 2020, https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/allahabad-high-court-orders-police-protection-same-sex-couple/
10. Chandrababu Divya, “Madras HC judge seeks session with psychologist to understand same-sex relationships”, Hindustan Times, 29 April 2021, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madras-hc-judge-seeks-session-with-psychologist-to-understand-same-sex-relationships-101619685222088.html
Published
2023-02-10
How to Cite
Aggarwal, R. “An Indian Tale on Homosexuality”. Contemporary Literary Review India, Vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 116-41, https://literaryjournal.in/index.php/clri/article/view/951.
Section
Research Papers