The Queer and the Vernacular Languages in India : Studies in Contemporary Texts and Cultures

This book analyses regional expressions of the queer experience in texts available in the Indian vernacular languages. It studies queer autobiographies and literary and cinematic texts written in the vernacular languages on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. The authors outline the specific terms that are popular in the bhashas (languages) to refer to the queer people and discuss any neo coinages/modes of communication invented by the queer people themselves. The volume also addresses the lack of queer representation in certain language communities and the lack of queer interaction in non-metropolitan cities in India. An important contribution to the field of queer studies in India, this timely book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of gender studies, queer studies, cultural studies, discrimination and exclusion studies, language studies, political studies, sociology, postcolonial studies and South Asian studies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Tables List of Contributors Preface Indian Vernaculars and the Queer: An Introduction Contested Classifications Theorizing through the Vernacular Queer and the Bhasa Literature Reel, Real and the Virtual Deciphering the Dearth Voicing the Regional Queer in Vernacular Methodology and Politics of the Book Limitations and Possibilities How the Horned Owls Originated Coda Notes References Part I: Vernacular Vocabularies and Expressions of the Regional Queer Chapter 1: Laingik Alpasankhya and Queer Identities in the Present-Day Marathi Language Introduction The Need for Conceptualizing Queerness in the Present-Day Marathi Language Laingik Alpasankhya —What It Is The Philosophical Substance of Laingik The Philosophical Substance of Alpasankhya Universality by Translative Possibilities In Lieu of a Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2: Queer in Karnataka: Exploring Male Same-Sex Sexualities in the Non-Metropolitan Introduction Field Sites and Methodology The Non-Metropolitan Space Visibilities, the Internet and the Non-Metropolitan Mobilities, Technology and the Regional Geographies of Sex Conclusion Notes References Chapter 3: A Hidden Language That Reveals a Distinct Culture: Revisiting the Lingua Franca of the Hijra Community Introduction Critics on the Hijra Lingo Geo-space and Methods Conjectures and Contemplations Conclusion Notes References Part II: LGBTQ+ and the Regional Literature Chapter 4: Precarious Lives, Fraught Selves: Tirunangai Autobiographies in Tamil A. Revathi: The Truth about Me: A Hijra Life Story Tanuja: An Autobiography, An Eezham Tirunangai’s Journey and Struggle Notes Bibliography Chapter 5: ‘They’ Are Queer: Transgressing Gender Normativity in Vernacular Assamese Literature Transgressive Sexuality: Daring to Explore Reclaiming Sexual Identities in Oxomiya Golpos Confinement, Resistance and Queer: Subverting Performative Gender Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 6: Urdu and the Queer Consciousness Introduction Queerness of Urdu Literature: Arabic and Persian Connections Queerness of Urdu Literature: Sufi Turn and other Influences Homoerotic Urdu: Poets and Their Poetry Urdu Literature: The Centrality of the Hijra and other Voices Notes Bibliography Part III: Performing the Vernacular Queer Offline, Online and On Screen Chapter 7: Mawngkuahur in the Times of E-Love: Sexualities, Regimentation, Control, Display and the Zo Queer The Zo World: Sexualities, Regimentation, Control The Methodological and Conceptual Moorings The Bible, Gender Turn and the Question of Diversity Sissyphobia: Mawngkuahur as Mawng Nau Being Tuai, Being Mawngkuahur: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Our Sky: Dreams, Hopes and Exasperations The Webbed Zo Queer Some Closing Comments Notes References Chapter 8: The Many Bodies of the Vernacular: Negotiating Queer Identity in the Public and Virtual Domains of Assam Voice, Visibility and Speaking the Unspeakable Building Communities of Resistance Notes References Chapter 9: Queer Assam on Celluloid: Locating Queer Characters in Bulbul Can Sing and Fireflies–Jonaki Porua What Is Assamese Queer Cinema? From Bollywood to the Regional Rima Das’s Bulbul Can Sing Prakash Deka’s Fireflies—Jonaki Porua Conclusion Notes References Part IV: Queer Invisibility and the Linguistic Community Chapter 10: The Many ‘Queer’ Silences: Competing Masculinities in Kashmir Notes Bibliography Chapter 11: In Search of the Queer in (Catholic) Konkani: Silence, Slurs and the Spectacular Konkani as a Queer Language Silence: If a Tree Falls in a Forest and if No One Is Around to hear It, Does It Make a Sound? Slurs and Slang The Spectacular Closing Thoughts References Part V: Making the Queer Visible in the Vernacular Culture Chapter 12: Exploring Queer Literature in Nepali from the Hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim Introduction Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: Voices of Survival: LGBTQ+ Representations in Literary/Cinematic/Creative Texts in Bangla Literary Texts Cinematic Texts Other Creative Texts Conclusion Bibliography Index