Good old gays TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2004 02:29:06 AM ] When art-curator Alka Pande, set out to conduct a research on homosexuality, she realised that unlike today's societal disapproval, alternate sexuality had been an intrinsic part of ancient India. Her soon to be released Ardhanarishvara: The Androgyne — Probing the Gender Withinis evidence of the above fact. Says Pande, "Right from literature to mythology and religion, homosexuality in ancient India is considered to be the ultimate and acceptable form of the sacred kind."
In fact, while society maintains that men and woman are "made that way", various studies prove there are at least thirteen types of bisexualities, as defined by sexual desires and experiences. On the other hand, cross-dressing is considered to be a highly erotic form of sexuality. Reason? One becomes "more than what he or she was before and often feels more attractive in the guise of the opposite sex". Says Pande, "It draws attention to the real gender of the cross-dresser, while creating a hyper sexual illusion." The book, based on a tenyear-long research, carries insights from transvestites and gays right from the bylanes of Haryana to the cultural movement across the Kashi Vishwanath temple. So why this big taboo on homosexuality in India? Says Pande, "We Indians are squeamish about alternate sexuality only because of the Victorian prudishness that came into the country." She further adds, "However, it would be wrong to link this homophobic culture to religion alone. Hinduism is so vast, there is no end to different philosophies — right from the Upanishads, Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata.This has led to various interpretations of everything, including alternate sexuality." ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/WfTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Group Site: http://www.gaybombay.info ========================== NEW CLASSIFIEDS SECTION SEEKING FRIENDS? VISIT www.gaybombay.info click on classified section and type your message in the post section once the link opens What's hot? What's not? Where are the LGBT parties being held and when? Click here!! http://calendar.yahoo.com/YYY,04497/srt,0/gaybombaygroup/?v=42&POS= Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
