Hi all,
Here's a story from Pune Mid-Day on the book.
Cheers,
Nitin
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http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/apr/070409-Pune-News-gay-Homosexual-R-Raj-Rao-book-Whistling-in-the-Dark.htm
It's time to cheer the gay identity
By: Kaumudi Gurjar Date: 2009-04-07
Pune: R Raj Rao has authored a book titled Whistling in the Dark, which is
a narrative compilation of the experience of 21 homosexuals from across Pune
Being gay is no longer a taboo, as everything about the community is coming
out of the closet. Hence, there no need to hide about one's sexual
preferences, says R Raj Rao, a city-based writer.
Rao has authored a book titled Whistling in the Dark, which is a narrative
compilation of the experience of homosexuals. The book highlights how most
of the homosexuals have been forced to hide their sexual orientation
fearing backlash from the larger heterosexual society.
Sting operation
Although Rao is comfortable sharing his identity, the other men whom he had
interviewed were quite hesitant to speak about their sexual
preferences. "Interviewing them was like a massive sting operation, as many
of them were reluctant to share their experiences. May be it's because they
didn't want to speak about their private lives or maybe they didn't want to
reveal the biggest secret that they had hidden since long," said Rao.
According to Rao, most of the people he had interviewed were associated
with Queer Studies Centre a support group that works for the intellectual,
cultural, social and political rights of gays in India. He has recorded
testimonies of 20 men and one woman from all walks of life, including
professors, auto rickshaw drivers, under trials and even foreigners
visiting Pune.
Speaking about how he convinced them to speak for the book, he said, "I
became friends with them, partied with them sand even took them to
overnight jaunts and hill stations. It was then that they opened up to me."
While a majority of interviews in Rao's book appear under assumed names,
there are a few people like Christopher Benninger, Ram Naidu, Hoshang
Merchant and Bindumadhav Khire who readily agreed to being
quoted.
Beaten
Rao said, "The interviewees told me how the they were bashed up by the
heterosexuals. Some even said that their wives had no inkling about their
sexual orientation, while some even shared their experiences of being
waylaid by the police and hoodlums who threatened to reveal their identity."
Romantic aspect
Rao added that, "Issues related to homosexuality are often hijacked by
associating them with HIV. But nobody explores the romantic aspect of being
gay. I have attempted to bring that element in my book."
Edited by Rao and Dibyajyoti Sarma, the book will be launched on May 6 at
Oxford Books Store in Mumbai.