Ruth Vanita Interview
History of sexualities, Oral History Archives
Department of History, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi
Interview Questions
Formatting example-
1. In Love's Rite, you discuss the influence of religion and law on same-sex marriage.
Many opponents cite sacred texts to argue that marriage is only between a man and a
woman, claiming same-sex unions contradict divine principles. How do you respond to
such arguments?(Anshumita Sharma)
2. Women in rural India often identify within traditional gender roles rather than LGBTQ+
identities, shaped by caste, class, and societal norms. Do they face similar challenges in
rural areas, and how do they navigate these norms? (Anshumita Sharma)
3. In your edited volume, "Queering India", Dasgupta delves deeply into the dual struggle
of being both a lesbian and an Indian woman, navigating societal expectations and
marginalization. How do you think these intersecting identities shape the experiences of
queer women in India, and what challenges do they face in finding acceptance both
within their communities and in broader society? (Hanna Mariam Aji)
4. Media and personal experiences often shape societal perceptions of gender and
sexuality. How have Indian media—films, television, and digital platforms—impacted
public attitudes toward homosexuality? Additionally, how did your early experiences in
Delhi and at Miranda House influence your work as a scholar and activist?(Hanna
Mariam Aji and Japgun Kaur)
5. What inspired you to focus on gender studies and queer theory in your academic and
literary work? (Hanna Mariam Aji)
6. As someone deeply familiar with the struggles and stories of same-sex couples in India,
what according to you are the most prevalent misconceptions about same-sex
relationships in our society? Further, what initiatives do you think could effectively
challenge and transform these prevalent perceptions? (Hanna Mariam Aji)
7. Many countries, including neighboring Nepal, have managed to legalize same-sex
marriage despite similar legal challenges. What specific lessons do you think India can
learn from these experiences, particularly regarding issues like inheritance laws and age
restrictions, to help advance the recognition of same-sex marriages here? (Hanna
Mariam Aji)
8. What were the challenges and motivations behind co-founding Manushi in 1978? How
did it influence the feminist movement in India? Can you describe some memorable
experiences or key moments during your time with Manushi?( Aksa Mary Abey )
9. The Supreme Court judgement asks the government to form a committee to "mitigate"
discrimination against same-sex couples. Do you think this is a sufficient response, and
what more do you think needs to be done to address the issue?(Aksa Mary Abey )
10. How do ancient Indian texts, as discussed in your edited volume Queering India, portray
same-sex love, gender fluidity, and themes like sex change and cross-dressing? How do
these representations contrast with modern understandings of gender and sexuality
?(Aksa Mary Abey )
11. In your research, you highlight the emergence of homophobia in India during the 19th
and 20th centuries, particularly following the introduction of Section 377. Could you
elaborate on how colonial laws and Victorian morality influenced and reshaped Indian
perspectives on same-sex relationships?(Aksa Mary Abey )
12. In your podcast on Women and Hinduism, you examine the roles of women and gender
fluidity within Hindu traditions. How do ancient Hindu texts and practices shape,
challenge, or validate contemporary perspectives on gender and sexuality?(Aksa Mary
Abey )
13. In your research on The Mahabharata, you emphasize its layered complexity and its
treatment of justice, gender, and dharma. How do you interpret the text's
contradictions—such as its simultaneous advocacy of non-violence and glorification of
war—as a reflection of ethical ambiguity, and how do you think this shapes
contemporary interpretations of justice in Indian society? [Steffi Rajiv Varghese]
14. In The Dharma of Justice, you discuss the Mahabharata as a text that transcends time
and continues to offer new meanings. With the rise of contemporary Hindutva politics, do
you see the reinterpretation of epics like The Mahabharata as a potential tool for either
reinforcing or resisting majoritarian narratives? {Steffi Rajiv Varghese}
15. In your article for Hindustan Times, you highlight the historical and cultural precedents of
same-sex relationships in India. Do you believe that greater public awareness of these
indigenous practices could shift the narrative away from the "Western import"
misconception and influence legal reform?{Steffi Rajiv Varghese}
16. In same-sex love in India, you highlight historical texts that depict queer relationships.
What was your process in uncovering and interpreting historical texts discussing same-
sex love? Were there any surprising discoveries? (Shivanshi)
17. Your work explores how traditional Indian society viewed same-sex relationships and
how it was never unspeakable in India like it was in the West, not even under the
Mughals and it was openly flourishing however the range might have varied from mild
disapproval to celebration. So what was the nature of this transformation? And how do
pre-colonial Indian attitudes toward sexuality compare to postcolonial ones? (Shivanshi)
18. In Love’s rite, you discuss various religious and cultural traditions that recognize same-
sex relationships. Do you think there is room for these traditions to be revived in
contemporary debates on marriage equality? (Shivanshi)
19. In your work Gandhi’s Tiger and Sita’s Smile you discuss how figures like Gandhi viewed
sexuality in complex ways. Do you think his ideas have influenced India’s legal and
cultural approach to sex and morality? (Shivanshi)
20. Your book Same-Sex Love challenges the idea that same-sex love is a Western import
by tracing its presence in Indian literature across centuries. How do you think historical
texts can be used to counter modern homophobic narratives in India? (Shivanshi)
21. How has the portrayal of same-sex love in Indian literature evolved, and what role does
it play in shaping public discourse on sexuality? Could you elaborate on the significance
of Rekhti poetry in understanding gender fluidity and same-sex desire in pre-modern
India? (Shivanshi)
22. In your podcast on Women and Hinduism, you discuss the fluid roles of gender within
Hindu traditions. Do you see contemporary feminist and LGBTQ+ movements drawing
from these indigenous frameworks, or are they still largely shaped by Western
discourse? (Janice)
23. Indian cinema has long depicted same-sex relationships in subtextual ways. How do you
think Bollywood’s approach to queer narratives has evolved, and what gaps still remain
in mainstream representation?
24. Your book Same-Sex Love in India: A Literary History has been influential in
documenting queer histories. What motivated you to write this book, and what impact do
you hope it has on contemporary discussions about LGBTQ+ identities in India?(Japgun
Kaur)
25. In your recent works, such as Memory of Light, you explore themes of love and identity
within a context free from modern prejudices. What inspired you to create this narrative,
and how do you envision literature's role in shaping societal attitudes toward
sexuality?(Japgun Kaur)
26. As someone who has navigated both Indian and American cultural landscapes regarding
LGBTQ+ rights, what insights can you share about the differences and similarities
between these contexts? How can they learn from each other?(Japgun Kaur)
