PRIDE not prejudice!

A decade long struggle!

On Sunday June 24, 2018, I participated in my first  PRIDE March. That it had been taking place in conservative Chennai for the last ten years, was an eye opener in itself - I had not heard about the event in Chennai ever. It was also a reflection of the lack of my knowledge and awareness of the LGBTIQA+ scene in Chennai. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Collective, this year's March drew crowds in excess of 500, a record of sorts, I believe.

The March itself had a tentative start with permission from the police authorities coming at the nth hour. Starting at the Rajarathnam Stadium in Egmore, the route of the March was through a nondescript bylane filled with abandoned cars and grubby garages, dotted with run down hostels and slum dwellings, along the southern bank of filthy Cooum river. It was most ironical - I felt that it was a reflection of the lives of the LGBTIQA+ - mostly ignored, closeted, alienated, discriminated, victims of hate, violence and harassment. 

Human pin up board!

In contrast, the March was all colour. The bright shades of PRIDE were fully on show with many participants draped in colourful costumes. There was glitter and shine to add to the attraction with flags, umbrellas, banners and pompoms. Many hid their faces behind masks, struggling to come out fearing rejection and discrimination. The mood was festive and felt like a carnival, with participants singing, dancing and enjoying themselves along the way. The banners carried interesting slogans that emphasized the themes of acceptance and inclusion besides spreading love.

Team from Ford - photo courtesy: Sathish Vasudevan

There was heavy police presence for the March and many of the cops that I spoke to were curious to know why I was attending the event and inquired if my family was aware and supported my participation. A few of them wondered aloud if the parents/ family of the March participants "knew" they were there. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code came in for much criticism with slogans calling for repealing the same. Posters and banners also carried messages seeking review of its constitutional validity.

Gay abandon! Photo courtesy: The Hindu

The PRIDE March attempts to build a sense of community while allowing a safe space for members of the LGBTIQA+ fraternity to feel comfortable with their own identities and sexual preferences. 

I must admit that participation in the PRIDE March made me feel a sense of complete acceptance - I felt accepted as I was accepting of the other. What better way than this to drive a message on inclusion.

Navarasas!

In the last fortnight, we have been moving around quite a bit - it has almost been like a brief capsule of real life. I say this because I got to experience all the NAVARASAS - the nine emotions/ essences that were described by Bharata in his treatise, Natyashashtra.

Shringara (love) - Just being with family through most of the last few days, though we had our moments of fights, disagreements and arguments. Whether it was my brother, mother-in-law, niece, nephew, sister-in-law besides my husband and son, the circle of love one's strength and pride and worthy of protection always.

Hasya (laughter) - The millennials are a funny lot. At a convocation ceremony, which in my time was a solemn and heavy function where you had to conduct yourself well, students, soon to be freshly minted graduates, walked up to collect their degrees, suddenly burst into a jig - one did a Dab dance (check out YouTube to know more about this dance!), another blew a heart to the audience while a third got the chief guest to pose for a picture with him - not the other way round. I must give it to them for never losing an opportunity to be themselves :)

Karuna (compassion) - Performing the final rituals for my brother on the first anniversary of his passing away along with several others doing the same for their long gone relatives, it was indeed a humbling experience - the pervasiveness of loss should in fact make us more empathetic and compassionate, because we are all not here forever. The fact that his children stood next to me in the Papanasini stream flowing beside what may be India's oldest temple at Thirunelli in Wayanad was special, truly special.

Raudra (anger) - At every family or social gathering, all the discussions meandered towards BJP, Modi, Congress, Secular, Muslim, Beef, 2019.......everyone had all the facts and figures to support their arguments, not sure if anyone had everything right. The heat generated by the discussions was palpable. People were identifying with people like them. Of course, I mostly withdrew while some others slept. Politics seem to tear right through the middle of family and friends. Is this all that we are destined for? Makes my angry, really angry!

Veera (courage) - Driving through Nagarahole in the hope of spotting that elusive Tiger, one is all courage. So, I never got to test my courage (or the lack of it) since we did not see any, despite many forays into the forests. Disappointed, disappointed, very disappointed......but courage intact!

Bhayanaka (terror) - On a forest trek through thick forests near our resort, the guide brought to our notice the fresh smell of an elephant and the sound of his belly rumblings. The eerie silence of the forest when peppered with these telltale signs of wildlife, with the realisation that you are pretty much at nature's mercy, was really scary.

Bheebhatsya (disgust) - Being routed on landing in Shanghai airport to a line of machines for capturing biometrics - all ten fingers, before immigration clearance. Now, I am not entirely comfortable sharing my unique identity with my own government, why should I do this for another government? Can I refuse? Perhaps yes, but that would mean I turn around and go back home. Catch 22, indeed!

Adbutha (surprise) - Landing in Delhi after a brief trip to China and (for the first time) not cursing "my wretched country" (my own words) for not getting anything right. In fact, everything was perfect - the airport and the efficiency all around, no wait for the luggage, no jostling taxi drivers, clean and neat roads lined with golden showers of laburnum. It helped that it was peak summer and there were few people on the roads.

Shantha (peace or tranquility) - Sitting in our jungle facing deck at our resort, watching flocks of deer, a pair of wild boar, Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, a family of gaurs, a majestic tusker making a grand entrance, all ambling towards the waterhole in the evening.....with the chirping of birds and the indefatigable cricket, in the background. You realise that the Lord God made everything in this world with a perfect sense of balance and order!