Privacy, mhanje kaai?

In 2011 I wrote my first piece for DNA. I shared my life outside the closet with the world about how I was at Bandra Reclamation, kissing a guy on his lips to glory, but it invited no more stares than what the heterosexual couples engaged in smoochies did. Of course, there have been occasional moral policing on the streets, but largely, we don’t give a damn. We all empathise. With homes extending itself to the neighbour’s bedroom, with chawls where the whole cluster of flats become a single address, we all know how difficult it is to find “privacy” in this city. Even time for “self-pleasure” in chawl’s community loos is interrupted by the knock-knock and a loud scream — “Ye! Jaldi kara bhau”. So the concept of privacy in Mumbai is as alien as Jaadu of Koi Mil Gaya... straight-gay-trans-bi all alike.

Jokes apart, the #RightToPrivacy is a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court. The passages on Section 377 would impact the section 377 judgement. Being LGBTIQ has never been illegal in our country. What’s illegal is having “sex against the order of nature”, matlab, sex karneka toh bacha honeka, naahi tar – you are unnatural.  Section 377 gave the keys of my bedroom to the State, and it could snoop away to glory. The fear of the law is used to extort money from gay lovers across the country. It is sad naah, that when we are kids we are taught to not snoop and mind our own business, but when we turn adults, the law allows the State to peep. 

Thursday was a busy day for me. Considering that Mumbai was welcoming Ganesh idols in the streets, I decided to take a train from Navi Mumbai to Vadala Road to do my media circus from one studio to the other. Ramesh bhau, a regular in locals, came up to me and rather dramatically, congratulated me for the #RightToPrivacy judgement. Soon, a sea of people came up to me, one after the other to congratulate me and tell me that they stand up for equal rights for the LGBTIQ community. “do pyaar karne waalon ko pyaar karne ko deneka naah,” said Ganpat bhau in chaste Bambaiyaa Hindi. Ramesh bhau  happily took center stage to explain what Right To Privacy is and how this judgement would affect the lives of LGBTIQ persons. Everyone was unanimous in their support to equality for all genders and sexualities. Some had questions about the LGBTIQ community, where I didn’t even have to step in to answer. They found answers among the crowd itself. Funny, for once, it felt really good to be unwanted in the discussion. 

We, all embracing Mumbaikars have our eyes and ears glued on the Honorable Supreme Court for the Section 377 verdict now. And in the meantime, here’s hoping that my train-pals who showed immense support to the cause, go home and accept their kids the way they are. That’s the real test. 

Tumhi paas honaar ka?

Speak up

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