Ask the Author: Manish Jani
Answered Questions (5)
Manish Jani
Long answer but here is an excerpt from Preface of my book titled "377".
Every time I read a newspaper or magazine article on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, I think about the homosexual people I know. Do they deserve to be treated as criminals? Do they deserve to be discriminated by the law based on their sexual orientation? Laws are meant to foster equality among people. If a law does not do that, and actually promotes discrimination, it should be amended.
With these feelings from the bottom of my heart, I endeavored to write this story that highlights the social stigma that prevails against homosexuals and legal predicaments they face in their lives. There have been popular, but absurd stereotypes around the gay and lesbian community that are prevalent in different countries and cultures. As part of this story, I have made a humble attempt to break some of these stereotypes with a hope to encourage the readers to treat gay people as people, and not as aliens who landed on earth from a distant planet.
Finally, I hope that Section 377 of the IPC is amended, in order to decriminalize consensual physical relationships between same sex adults. It will be a proud moment for the people of India.
Every time I read a newspaper or magazine article on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, I think about the homosexual people I know. Do they deserve to be treated as criminals? Do they deserve to be discriminated by the law based on their sexual orientation? Laws are meant to foster equality among people. If a law does not do that, and actually promotes discrimination, it should be amended.
With these feelings from the bottom of my heart, I endeavored to write this story that highlights the social stigma that prevails against homosexuals and legal predicaments they face in their lives. There have been popular, but absurd stereotypes around the gay and lesbian community that are prevalent in different countries and cultures. As part of this story, I have made a humble attempt to break some of these stereotypes with a hope to encourage the readers to treat gay people as people, and not as aliens who landed on earth from a distant planet.
Finally, I hope that Section 377 of the IPC is amended, in order to decriminalize consensual physical relationships between same sex adults. It will be a proud moment for the people of India.
Manish Jani
I have to get my recent book titled "377" to as many readers as I possibly can, to spread awareness on the archaic and repressive Section 377 of Indian Penal code, that the book revolves around.
Once a critical mass of people in India are aware of the issue or Section 377 of IPC is amended to decriminalize same sex relationship among consenting adults, I will think about my next book.
Once a critical mass of people in India are aware of the issue or Section 377 of IPC is amended to decriminalize same sex relationship among consenting adults, I will think about my next book.
Manish Jani
Being able to connect with readers is an absolutely fantastic experience. Getting to know and understanding their viewpoints, even if not matching with yours, is priceless.
Manish Jani
Make sure you pick a topic close to your heart that can ignite the passion to write and the rest will follow.
Manish Jani
I looked hard for a switch that can be flipped to overcome writer's block. Unfortunately, it does not exist :)
What worked for me was to go to a quite place and zone out looking at an object for a few minutes, like yellow flowers on a tree. While I did that for a few minutes, I started thinking about the topic at hand. It would typically take at least half an hour to an hour for any meaningful thoughts to surface.
What worked for me was to go to a quite place and zone out looking at an object for a few minutes, like yellow flowers on a tree. While I did that for a few minutes, I started thinking about the topic at hand. It would typically take at least half an hour to an hour for any meaningful thoughts to surface.
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