Love and the Law

The Delhi High court in India recently decriminalized homosexuality, by overturning a 19th century British colonial law which bans engagement in consensual sex with an individual of the same sex as ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature.' The court found that section 377, the law criminalizing homosexuality, reflected an understanding of sexual orientation that is ‘at odds with the current scientific and professional understanding.' It acknowledged that law has been used to "brutalis[e]" members of the gay community and other men who have sex with men, abuses that have long been documented by human rights organisation. The Judges ruled tha... more

A Silent Revolution and a Crisis

A silent revolution is in the making. Driven by the need to flee a perilous situation, or the promise of a better life elsewhere, millions of people are migrating to India or moving within India today, outside their area of origin. This is a growing phenomenon, and is increasingly more visible. However, migration is also under more attack than ever before. By assaulting and abusing the people of north Indian origin in the Mumbai city and elsewhere, we are killing the dreams, opportunities and aspirations of millions of people. Hate speeches and violent actions of regional chauvinist forces like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena should shame our country. The problem is that governments and other actors are lacking the political will to tame the forces responsible for such hatred and violence, and are equally careless in turning the existing laws and standards into practical and meaningful measures, which respect, protect and promote migrants’ rights. Thus, a silent revolution is slippin... more