SOURCE: THE HINDU
Born 1947, Hoshang Dinshaw Merchant is as old as India’s independence and first openly gay poet. Best known for his gay writing Yarana- which is India’s first gay anthology- he is a distinguished voice in gay liberation in India.
It is said or rather indisputable that Hoshang has been crucial in shaping the identity of modern queer Indian poet-writers. His enduring influence has given a lot to every queer Indian poet writer even though not many know him better. Being queer is a very lonely feeling, often making one cornered based on the singularity of their experience. One looks for the similarity in experiences and Yaarana: Gay Writings from South Asia is one such anthology edited by Hoshang that every queer person find their sense of belonging. It speaks of the multiplicity of experiences substantiating their desires to be valid for one who can’t speak of it in public. Being introduced to the queer voices around the world crossing timelines, he is a guide who introduces us to even those hiding in the background.
Hoshang is of the opinion that great literature comes with tradition. To study Spanish literature, one needs to make sense of Cervantes, English Literature of Shakespeare and American literature of Hawthorne and Whitman. To make sense of his idea and style of writing, Hoshang went deep into studying two traditions: the Indic and the Anglo- American and while putting together Yaarana, he went to the roots of erotic writing of Bhakti poetry and the homo-eroticism of Urdu ghazal. He states that his writing on queer ghetto isn’t about sex, but ‘ writing by a queer person living in a straight world.’ Through his writing, he wants to shelter and make the queer community recognisable in the society.
Introducing gay canon to Indian English writing and guiding closeted writers to come out in writing, it is not wrong in saying that the avant- garde liberated the queer community in charting a discussion on Indian sexuality.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
1. INDIAN EXPRESS INTERVIEW- CLICK HERE
2. UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD - ESSAY