Homophobia came into India, not Homosexuality : Vikram Seth

Disappointed at the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding Section 377 of the IPC, author Vikram Seth said political parties that favour this ruling should know that homophobia came into India and not homosexuality.

Seth said that, there is no question about the fact that this ruling has pushed us backwards, and now you will be a criminal if you are open about it. Can you imagine the huge weight of this law of Indian Supreme Court, a revered institution?.

He added that, to an eternal shame, one of the two leading parties of our country has also said that put these people into jail for life as this is against Indian culture. They don’t know a thing about Indian culture. It is homophobia that came into India and not homosexuality. He also said that, Khajuraho, Kamasutra and Sun temple have always been here.

He said, even if you read ‘Baburnama’ — the book of founder of Mughal empire Babur, you will see how there are fine descriptions of him being in love with another man and how he speaks about it. It is very moving. Seth was clearly upset about this judgment that makes gay sex a crime, and BJP president Rajnath Singh’s statement calling gay sex “unnatural” further infuriated the 61-year-old writer.