BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
LOS ANGELES, CA - Have you ever wondered why gay people in the US can marry and have a family, while in India they face jail time and criminal proceedings? In US, we all know ‘gay’ stories, have met some as friends while others in corporate culture, but in India gay people are not yet accepted in society and are often...
LOS ANGELES, CA - Have you ever wondered why gay people in the US can marry and have a family, while in India they face jail time and criminal proceedings? In US, we all know ‘gay’ stories, have met some as friends while others in corporate culture, but in India gay people are not yet accepted in society and are often...
referred to as the ‘it’ crowd. Why this hypocrisy and ignorance?
Answering all these questions, India’s Royal ‘Gay’ Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, candidly spoke to India Journal about his terrifying past, positive present and more than promising future.
Coming from the princely ‘Rajpipla of Gujarat’ in India, Manvendra stood tall (thanks to his Royal blood) in times of backlash, testified against difficult days- crucial nights and came out of the closet at a time when the word ‘gay’ raised alarm bells in the ears of Indian society.
When asked about the status of gay people in India in 2017, he said, “I see a very bright future. There is a lot of potential especially in the younger generation. All thanks to the media, Bollywood, theatre artists, student groups and activists, who have given a new direction to our struggle.”
“The recent move by India’s Health Ministry of launching ‘Saathiya Resource Kit’ and `Saathiya Salah’, a mobile app certainly is an important step toward normalization of same-sex attraction in the country.”
Talking about the pivotal role of education in improving mindset, he explained, “Knowledge plays an important role in eradicating ignorance and creating awareness. In India, people are still blindly following religion, which sometimes create a hindrance in understanding of factual matters.” Discussing the errors of religious practices, he mentioned that the problem is that everybody follows a religion but only by word of mouth and not as per written laws. “ All religions discriminate between you and me, we as Indians are hypocrites and my job is to fight hypocrisy.” He elaborated that Hindu mythology talks about homosexuality, be it Khajuraho or mention of several gay gods and lesbian goddesses in scriptures. “You know homosexuality is exported from India. Hinduism has been tolerant, even the Prime Minister of India’s office has a picture of lesbian Goddess Bahuchara Mata. On one hand, people fear transgenders for maledictions and often invite them to social functions yet not openly accepting different sexualities in the country. So this is not fair and definitely hypocritical. We need to adopt a ‘share and care culture’ to promote equality. When asked why in liberal countries like the US there are shooting incidents against gays, he responded, “It is because the country grants too much freedom which is coupled with no gun control. In comparison, India is much safer. I have a gun, but I cannot use it, and not even carry it in public.”
Shifting stance to his personal life and the experience of coming out, the prince who now sounded more like a commoner replied, “Oh it was a critical phase. I had no exposure and felt retarded at times. The change came after my divorce when I started wondering what went wrong with my marriage. My wife’s last words were the final blow. It was then I came across a magazine which had a chapter on homosexuality, drafted by Ashok Row Kavi, an Indian journalist and one of India’s most prominent LGBT rights activists till date. He was the one who brought me out of my guilt feelings and became my godfather by helping me establish the Lakshya Trust. Today I am proud to be gay and have launched www.thefreedomtobewhoyouare.com; for whihc I will be in California to raise funds.” Contemplating his family’s stand, Manvendra sighed saying, “I don’t blame anybody. It all depends on circumstances. I was raised by a nanny and was never much in touch with my family. My father accepted the truth, but my mother is still bitter. Well, it seems I can’t blame them for having this mindset. For God’s sake, it is a 650 year old dynasty.”
Stating some positive turn of events in the Royal family, he added, “Besides me, there have been several others who have come out of the closet and accepted their sexuality.”
Manvendra also admits that finally after years of suppression he feels free, happy and content today and shares that someday he would like to get married again and settle down. “I am not really a child person, but yes in future, I wish to get married to someone I love. Currently, I am single and committed to my work and dog,” he says as he laughs.
Wrapping up the Prince talked about his legacy and maintained, “I want freedom for all and wish to be part of that freedom.”
Manvendra Singh will be in Los Angeles and San Francisco this month for fund raising events.
Answering all these questions, India’s Royal ‘Gay’ Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, candidly spoke to India Journal about his terrifying past, positive present and more than promising future.
Coming from the princely ‘Rajpipla of Gujarat’ in India, Manvendra stood tall (thanks to his Royal blood) in times of backlash, testified against difficult days- crucial nights and came out of the closet at a time when the word ‘gay’ raised alarm bells in the ears of Indian society.
When asked about the status of gay people in India in 2017, he said, “I see a very bright future. There is a lot of potential especially in the younger generation. All thanks to the media, Bollywood, theatre artists, student groups and activists, who have given a new direction to our struggle.”
“The recent move by India’s Health Ministry of launching ‘Saathiya Resource Kit’ and `Saathiya Salah’, a mobile app certainly is an important step toward normalization of same-sex attraction in the country.”
Talking about the pivotal role of education in improving mindset, he explained, “Knowledge plays an important role in eradicating ignorance and creating awareness. In India, people are still blindly following religion, which sometimes create a hindrance in understanding of factual matters.” Discussing the errors of religious practices, he mentioned that the problem is that everybody follows a religion but only by word of mouth and not as per written laws. “ All religions discriminate between you and me, we as Indians are hypocrites and my job is to fight hypocrisy.” He elaborated that Hindu mythology talks about homosexuality, be it Khajuraho or mention of several gay gods and lesbian goddesses in scriptures. “You know homosexuality is exported from India. Hinduism has been tolerant, even the Prime Minister of India’s office has a picture of lesbian Goddess Bahuchara Mata. On one hand, people fear transgenders for maledictions and often invite them to social functions yet not openly accepting different sexualities in the country. So this is not fair and definitely hypocritical. We need to adopt a ‘share and care culture’ to promote equality. When asked why in liberal countries like the US there are shooting incidents against gays, he responded, “It is because the country grants too much freedom which is coupled with no gun control. In comparison, India is much safer. I have a gun, but I cannot use it, and not even carry it in public.”
Shifting stance to his personal life and the experience of coming out, the prince who now sounded more like a commoner replied, “Oh it was a critical phase. I had no exposure and felt retarded at times. The change came after my divorce when I started wondering what went wrong with my marriage. My wife’s last words were the final blow. It was then I came across a magazine which had a chapter on homosexuality, drafted by Ashok Row Kavi, an Indian journalist and one of India’s most prominent LGBT rights activists till date. He was the one who brought me out of my guilt feelings and became my godfather by helping me establish the Lakshya Trust. Today I am proud to be gay and have launched www.thefreedomtobewhoyouare.com; for whihc I will be in California to raise funds.” Contemplating his family’s stand, Manvendra sighed saying, “I don’t blame anybody. It all depends on circumstances. I was raised by a nanny and was never much in touch with my family. My father accepted the truth, but my mother is still bitter. Well, it seems I can’t blame them for having this mindset. For God’s sake, it is a 650 year old dynasty.”
Stating some positive turn of events in the Royal family, he added, “Besides me, there have been several others who have come out of the closet and accepted their sexuality.”
Manvendra also admits that finally after years of suppression he feels free, happy and content today and shares that someday he would like to get married again and settle down. “I am not really a child person, but yes in future, I wish to get married to someone I love. Currently, I am single and committed to my work and dog,” he says as he laughs.
Wrapping up the Prince talked about his legacy and maintained, “I want freedom for all and wish to be part of that freedom.”
Manvendra Singh will be in Los Angeles and San Francisco this month for fund raising events.
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