Response Paper on Aligarh

Muskan Mittal (20010536)

Boundaries in Love

Introduction

Homophobia, the fear that the gender norms prevalent from centuries are changing. It has been two
years since homosexuality has been recognised by law as natural and gays across India were given rights
equal to others. But are gays accepted in the society for being what they are, are they not discriminated
against, are they not considered immoral and a shame on mankind. Aligarh is a tearful depiction of a
homosexual Professor of Aligarh University who was ridiculed and put to shame because of his sexual
preferences. In this paper I intend to reflect upon the narrative of homosexuality in Aligarh and how we
as a society have failed to recognise that love is love.

Gay or a Gay?

In the movie, Professor Siras says that a three-letter word cannot explain the feelings of being “gay”. The
shame and oppression the gay community has been subjected to over the years is brutal. Being gay is not
a choice, it is as natural as being straight. Being looked down by everybody, labelled as unclean and
immoral, why is being gay seemed like an aberration? Whenever we listen to the term “married couple”
an image of a male and a female pops up, parents are mother and father, why can’t they be father and
father or mother and mother? These gender norms have been so deeply embedded in our mind that it is
difficult to shirk it off which leads to side-lining of the gay community and expose them to harsh
behaviour because they are different from what we have been taught is “normal”. Sexual preference is
personal, and nobody should have the right to decide that for anybody.

Dignity and Morality

As pointed out in the movie, the scope of immorality is ever changing, it is different for everyone. In a
conservative Indian society, where same sex relations are considered immoral, Professor Siras was
compelled to feel dirty. With little regard to Delhi High Court’s judgement which decriminalised
homosexuality, Siras was discriminated in what I would call an “immoral way”. Suspended from his job,
evicted from two houses because he was unfit to live with “normal” families, it is unimaginable how
many stones have been pelted on the dignity of gays. Isn’t it immoral to dictate who a person can be with?
Gays comprise a section of the society who weren’t allowed a say in their intimate affairs. Also, on the
account of morality, it isn’t moral to video tape someone having sex. Breaking and entering and video
taping intimate moments weren’t even considered in the movie which shows the double standards of
Indian society. If it is immoral to be gay, it is also immoral to make a video of someone.

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Rainbow of Education

It is believed that with education, we can surpass all social evils. But from the movie, this notion is put in
jeopardy. Aligarh Muslim University, one of the most renowned universities in India, with its professors
and students, protested against gay teacher and his “immoral” conduct in the university premises. Where
we see gay rights activists and movements by students, we also see academics holding conservative
ideologies and prejudices against gays. The doctor, who should have known better, denies his services to
Professor Siras which really brings one to question the impact our education is having on people and how
is it not enough to think differently. In the end, Dr Siras talks about going to the US to live because gays
in India would never get the respect they deserve. Gays are just like everyone with different sexual
preferences, that does not make them less or beneath anyone. It has been two years since the landmark
judgement of Supreme Court which decriminalised homosexuality, yet it cannot be fathomed how many
Siras’s have been killed since then because of their preference in love.