Part I: An Internal Fight
Long back, before she began fighting her prejudices, a 15-year-old student of psychology, was averse to those who killed the animals for food. A strong sense of what is right and what is wrong that was instilled in her by her strictly vegetarian family and community made her pass moral judgement on all those who chose to eat meat. Then, while learning about prejudices and understanding them through literature, she came across an anecdote and that changed her perspective towards life.
One day a person was hanging from a precipice, almost about to fall. There was no hope for life; death was waiting. When all hope had vanished, a hand came into view. The person thought it to be an illusion. But it wasn’t. The person held on to that hand and climbed to safety. Neither could see the other till they came face to face. A life was saved.
The person hanging from the precipice was a staunch patriarch, who believed women were lowly creatures and should be treated as animals. The person who saved this man was a feminist, who constantly embarrassed the man.
The 15-year-old girl asked herself every time she thought there was some pre-judgement, “Will I not accept this person’s hand if I was hanging from the precipice? Will I not extend my hand for help if this person was hanging from the precipice?”
Life became easy. Living beings just remained living being. They stopped being categories.
The five elements, that make the body of a living being, and death, that ceases its existence, never seem to treat it differently. It is “we-the society” that emphasises on differences and creates labels.
The judgement given by the Supreme Court to read down Section 377 serves as a hope in the face of despair that surrounds us. Today, I do not write to comment on what this means to a particular category because I believe that we all are simple living beings trying to live our life as we deem fit.
Part II: Coincidence?
I am having a conversation with my friend. We are kind of updating ourselves on the things that are happening in the country. We have always done that. I mention to them about the amendments to the Atrocities act and we realise that Section 377 is to be discussed by the Supreme Court soon. We talk about everything under the sun.
The next morning, we are both surprised to learn that, finally, homosexuality is decriminalised. This morning is not only iconic for us but for others who believed in equal rights and discussed this issue. I will learn more about this in about 36 hours.
The day after the verdict, I am on an assignment with Japanese artists as an interpreter. They were scheduled to give a talk in yet another art gallery. There, one of the artists showcases his angst by making a ‘death room’. It symbolises the murder of emotions by the so-called morality. The counter to that—a corner of love, where everyone wants to fight for the reading down of the Section 377. Surprisingly enough, on the day that his art is exhibited, the verdict comes out. All of us including the artists are in awe of the strength of art and emotions.
During the day, I read about psions, people with psionic ability releasing vibrations in the universe; they may act for protecting or pleading. I thought that so many psions must have kept wishing for some positive actions and finally the collective energy led to healing.
If you ask around, people will tell you that there is no such thing as coincidence. On the other hand, there are people who would tell you stories after stories of confidence. At the end of the day, it is what you believe. And believe you must. For, when you believe, the universe starts conspiring in your favour.