Queering India: Same-Sex Love and Eroticism in Indian Culture and Society

Queering India is the first book to provide an understanding of same-sex love and eroticism in Indian culture and society. The essays focus on pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial gay and lesbian life in India to provide a comprehensive look at a much neglected topic. The topics are wide-ranging, considering film, literature, popular culture, historical and religious texts, law and other aspects of life in India. Specifically, the essays cover such issues as Deepa Mehta's recent and controversial film, Fire, which focused on lesbian relationships in India; the Indian penal code which outlaws homosexual acts; a case of same-sex love and murder in colonial India; homophobic fiction and homoerotic advertising in current day India; and lesbian subtext in Hindu scripture. All of the essays are original to the collection. Queering India promises to change the way we understand India as well as gay and lesbian life and sexuality around the world.

Author: Ruth Vanita
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 11/16/2001
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.78lbs
Size: 8.94h x 6.02w x 0.57d
ISBN: 9780415929509
Award: Lambda Literary Awards - Nominee

Review Citation(s):
Lambda Book Report 06/01/2002 pg. 30

About the Author

Ruth Vanita is Associate Professor of Liberal Studies and Women's Studies at the University of Montana. She is the co-editor of Same-Sex Love in India: Readings fromLiterature (2000).