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Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History
Lambda literary award finalist, Same-Sex Love in India presents a stunning array of writings on same-sex love from over 2000 years of Indian literature. Translated from more than a dozen languages and drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and modern fictional traditions, these writings testify to the presence of same-sex love in various forms since ancient times, without overt persecution. This collection defies both stereotypes of Indian culture and Foucault's definition of homosexuality as a 19th-century invention, uncovering instead complex discourses of Indian homosexuality, rich metaphorical traditions to represent it, and the use of names and terms as early as medieval times to distinguish same-sex from cross-sex love. An eminent group of scholars have translated these writings for the first time or have re-translated well-known texts to correctly make evident previously underplayed homoerotic content. Selections range from religious books, legal and erotic treatises, story cycles, medieval histories and biographies, modern novels, short stories, letters, memoirs, plays and poems. From the Rigveda to Vikram Seth, this anthology will become a staple in courses on gender and queer studies, Asian studies, and world literature.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 2, 2019
This is an exemplary book. It has achieved a cult status in sexuality studies in India. The introduction brilliantly sets out how the book is structured. It is very important to read this carefully to understand the rest of the book.
India, in order to become a nation, has to 'purify' itself which means to 'straighten' itself against corrupt foreign influences. Anything 'queer' is removed from how the 'nation' is imagined. In other words, the nation builders made it straight. Anything that goes against this imaginary is rendered as 'Un-Indian' or threat to India's imagined purity.
The author destroys this fiction and claims that homosexuality is not a western influence, nor does it arrive from the west; instead it has always been a part of Indian history and its literature. It is the homophobia that has come from the West. The book, then, goes on to cite three distant periods of Indian history: ancient, medieval, modern. It refers to religious texts, rituals, poetry and a range of such literary sources to bring forth what has been so slyly wiped out from India's modern history, especially, under the homophobic influence of the British.
Ironically, most Indians believe the modern version of its history, or rather its 'misleading history' especially in regard to sexuality. For instance, the authors cite the religious rituals that are performed during the marriage. For some strange reasons, everyone assumes that only man and woman can marry this way, that only they can get a religious and divine sanction. In addition, no one really knows or wants to know what do the mantras say. As far as these 'Sanskrit' texts go, they are not at all gender specific; the texts, when translated, bless the communion of two souls. Apparently, the 'straight' interpretation of such texts are practical ways of imposing one set of sexual-norms over others. This is an attempt to tame 'unruly' sexualities.
The book shows how easily and crookedly the Indian modern History is made 'straight.' The book extricates 'the subdued and suppressed past of homosexuality in India` in a way that the most staunch paddlers of 'homosexuality is anti-Indian culture rant' will find it hard to counter. Another excellent aspect of the book is its language; it always remains consistent, sane, and persuasive.
Anyone who is interested in 'LGBTQ studies in India' will find this book rewarding.
May 21, 2015
The motivation to pick up this book was the often mention of it in Shikhandi - a collection of mythological stories depicting the gender and sexual fluidity in ancient India.
Ruth Vanita takes on a broader collection of such literature - encompassing from mythology, poetry, religious texts and scriptures, plays to recent magazine articles - most of which have been introduced and translated for the first time. The collection of these stories are divided into ancient, medieval and modern times with analysis of homosexuality and homophobia at the beset of culture and traditions then.
The ancient period relies heavily on Hindu scriptures and commonly told stories; medieval on Persian, Arabic and Urdu poetry besides life of few Sufi saints whereas modern literature consists of short stories, newspaper columns and plays. The societal acceptance seen through most of the literature in ancient and medieval times surprise you to the extent of questioning (and perhaps firmly believing!) whether homophobia was just a colonial disease brought by British.
At a time when the LGBT society in India is being discarded as a western influence, the book demonstrates that same-sex love has a long and complex history in the Indian subcontinent and cannot be eradicated by violence or wished away by neglect.
Ruth Vanita takes on a broader collection of such literature - encompassing from mythology, poetry, religious texts and scriptures, plays to recent magazine articles - most of which have been introduced and translated for the first time. The collection of these stories are divided into ancient, medieval and modern times with analysis of homosexuality and homophobia at the beset of culture and traditions then.
The ancient period relies heavily on Hindu scriptures and commonly told stories; medieval on Persian, Arabic and Urdu poetry besides life of few Sufi saints whereas modern literature consists of short stories, newspaper columns and plays. The societal acceptance seen through most of the literature in ancient and medieval times surprise you to the extent of questioning (and perhaps firmly believing!) whether homophobia was just a colonial disease brought by British.
At a time when the LGBT society in India is being discarded as a western influence, the book demonstrates that same-sex love has a long and complex history in the Indian subcontinent and cannot be eradicated by violence or wished away by neglect.
August 15, 2018
A work of monumental research, none of the contemporary writers have dared to produce a work as this one! My heartiest congratulations to Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai to assimilate the literary history of sexuality ranging from the beginning i.e. Vedas to modern day India. It's however a pity that our country still penalises any intercourse against the order of the nature (by it, whatever they mean!), it is interesting to learn how open and amazingly liberal we have been in the past. It makes me wonder that homophobia is, in fact, a western influence and not homosexuality.
I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly, most importantly, I loved the anthology of stories, poems and condensed form of literary works depicting and/or exhibiting homosexuality, bisexuality etc., and that too in regional languages. I highly recommend reading this book.
I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly, most importantly, I loved the anthology of stories, poems and condensed form of literary works depicting and/or exhibiting homosexuality, bisexuality etc., and that too in regional languages. I highly recommend reading this book.
June 8, 2025
this was soooo good. i absolutely loved each story and poem. i loveeee literary histories and this one is wonderful.
always up for queer love and queer love histories.
always up for queer love and queer love histories.
October 6, 2020
3.5 stars
I actually think this book is really really good. I like that "same-sex love" in this book is not necessarily presented as only erotic/sexual; it has other dimensions too. I also think it's very well researched, and the different stories, poems, ghazals etc. that speak about same-sex love in India are drawn from diverse sources. I feel like I learnt so much about my own culture and history. Something else that I appreciated was that the authors presented information as just information, and didn't necessarily try to critique it, because then as a reader, I would have been subconsciously influenced by their biases and may not have been able to fully have my own opinions about it. But a LARGE chunk of this book was just... extremely difficult to get through because I found it really really boring. I'm not even sure why. It was not because of the subject matter, or the quality of the writing, but I don't know what it was.
That being said, I would still recommend this to whoever is interested in queer history, or in just learning more about Indian cultures and history.
I actually think this book is really really good. I like that "same-sex love" in this book is not necessarily presented as only erotic/sexual; it has other dimensions too. I also think it's very well researched, and the different stories, poems, ghazals etc. that speak about same-sex love in India are drawn from diverse sources. I feel like I learnt so much about my own culture and history. Something else that I appreciated was that the authors presented information as just information, and didn't necessarily try to critique it, because then as a reader, I would have been subconsciously influenced by their biases and may not have been able to fully have my own opinions about it. But a LARGE chunk of this book was just... extremely difficult to get through because I found it really really boring. I'm not even sure why. It was not because of the subject matter, or the quality of the writing, but I don't know what it was.
That being said, I would still recommend this to whoever is interested in queer history, or in just learning more about Indian cultures and history.
July 12, 2017
A present from my awesome sister! This is so perfect for my writerly research... ♥
...And I've just read the last entry, two months later. Huzzah! This is quite a weighty tome, and I don't suppose collections of extracts can really be read from cover to cover all at once, so it took me a while in between other books. (My attention span was not helped by the poor choice of font for the commentary, though the extracts themselves were perfectly readable.) There is heaps of great stuff in here, both fiction and non, organised sequentially from Ancient through Medieval to Modern.
If you feel like reading or browsing through 2000 years of literature showing that human nature is human nature, then you'll love this. (Thanks, sis!)
...And I've just read the last entry, two months later. Huzzah! This is quite a weighty tome, and I don't suppose collections of extracts can really be read from cover to cover all at once, so it took me a while in between other books. (My attention span was not helped by the poor choice of font for the commentary, though the extracts themselves were perfectly readable.) There is heaps of great stuff in here, both fiction and non, organised sequentially from Ancient through Medieval to Modern.
If you feel like reading or browsing through 2000 years of literature showing that human nature is human nature, then you'll love this. (Thanks, sis!)
July 22, 2025
This book is non fictional stories and contribution of various authors , there writing, there ahead of thinking, there fight against system and government for there writing, there fight against Radical religion sect like RSS for the pride community. Stories are taken from the start. Example of Mahabharata and pride community relationship. Other religions and there relationship and, how certain sections of society they are not able to digest that. There are 45 different sex according to religious books mentioned stories but only 23 are known till now and LGBTQIA+ id short version of letting people know. The fight against people who deny such love and want to kill and harm those people. Author covers story and writing from all over India to different languages and region and show us how intellectuals feels and some show, the protest and fight against the people who doesn't believe that same sex and think of it as a disease and not how there children is not normal having the feeling of Inclination to be a homogeneous not heterogeneous. Although i personally thought that in few stories depiction is manipulative and forced to reader's to get a momentum in there side.
June 11, 2021
It's a great book to read to understand how gender is not just male-female but there is a third nature involved too. The book is loaded with facts maybe that's what makes the read extremely slow. I had to concentrate a lot while reading this book. It wasn't an easy-breezy read. There are chunks of the book where you might get bored. But I have given it a 4 star because it is worth a read despite the troughs.
January 18, 2022
such an important book. thanks for doing the work of collecting all these stories and translating and putting them all together. a really beautiful collection. also shows the array of identities within south asia.
January 26, 2023
I love me a book which debunks our long standing ideas about homo sexuality and homoeroticism. A book of monumental research, filled with brilliant insights. An outstanding array of writings on same sex love spanning over two thousand years.
July 3, 2018
A stupendous collection of memorable translations in a realm seldom explored by literature scholars.
May 13, 2007
No transliterations; no Hindi/Persian/Urdu script -- no linkage between actual diction and meaning; just English interpretations. Disappointing - very clearly directed (almost insultingly so) towards non-South Asian audiences.
July 13, 2013
no i no think about this
just sex and sex
just sex and enjoy ur life
you better enjoy with any aunt
when u sex aunty u more enjoy
just sex and sex
just sex and enjoy ur life
you better enjoy with any aunt
when u sex aunty u more enjoy
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews