In the times of social media, books continue to hold their ground as a tool to raise awareness and combat social issues. Authors have continued to yield a pen to fight injustice. Educate and inspire. Help change the world. One page at a time.
Use your voice and platform to raise awareness about a cause you feel strongly about. Right from its inception in 2019, Blogchatter‘s #CauseAChatter campaign has been at the forefront to help raise awareness about social causes.
The theme Blogchatter has chosen for this year is Inclusivity – when nobody is left out. Inclusivity is a broad range topic that encompasses gender, mental health, disability, and a lot more.
All through 2021, I shared a series of book recommendations across a range of causes. Feminism, Mental Health, and the Environment. I am continuing the series in 2022 with my pick of the categories offered this quarter – Gender Identity, Disability, and Discrimination. As always, I will be sharing recommendations for Indian books. Lesser-known books that are a must-read.
Gender Identity: Must-Read LGBTQIA+ Non-Fiction Books
Gender Identity is my first pick for the CauseAChatter campaign of 2022. And we cannot talk about gender without discussing the sheer discrimination the LGBTQIA+ community faces every single day.
India has a vast and brilliant collection of LGBTQIA+ literature. From the grand lady of Indian literature, Ismat Chugtai’s Lihaaf to the underrated graphic novel Kari by Amruta Patil. More and more authors from the community are coming forward to share their experiences to help smash the taboos. But when still have a long way to go before we have an inclusive society that does not discriminate.
Today I share with you my picks of the must-read LGBTQIA+ non-fiction books. A collection of diverse writing that empowers and inspires. By no means an exhaustive list and does not include memoirs or autobiographies. I will be sharing my recommendations for them soon.
Same-Sex Love In India: A Literary History
Edited by Ruth Vanita & Saleem Kidwai
Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Indian queer or LGBTQ+ literature is often considered relatively new. Contrary to that, it dates back to over 2,000 years. In fact, it is the taboo associated with it that is recent.
Same-Sex Love In India: A Literary History consists of excerpts from stories, poems, letters, biographies, and histories in fifteen languages. From ancient epics (the Mahabharata) to religious texts (the Rig Veda) to contemporary and literary fiction.
I would highly recommend the Lambda Literary Award Finalist. And Love’s Rite: Same-Sex Marriage in India and the West by Ruth Vanita too.
No Outlaws in the Gender Galaxy
by Chayanika Shah, Raj Merchant, Shals Mahajan, Smriti Nevatia
Buy at Zubaan Books | Add to Goodreads
‘Why are you a woman?’. This seemingly innocuous question sparked intense discussion and laid the foundation for No Outlaws in the Gender Galaxy.
The gender binary is shaped by families, education institutions, media, religion, socio-political, and the medical system. The book explores the concept of gender analyzing the lives of 50 queer PAGFB (People Assigned Gender Female at Birth). How gender plays out in both public and private institutions, including family units, schools, offices, and public spaces.
Gender Identity & India – Must-Read LGBTQIA+ Non-Fiction Books @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Share on X
Sex and the Supreme Court:
How the Law is Upholding the Dignity of the Indian Citizen
by Saurabh Kirpal (Editor)
Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads
At 12.12 p.m. on 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India created history by reading down Section 377.
Sex and the Supreme Court offers insights into each of the crucial rulings. It includes writings from several legal luminaries such as Justice M. B. Lokur, Justice B. D. Ahmed, Justice A. K. Sikri, Mukul Rohatgi, Madhavi Divan, Menaka Guruswamy, Arundhati Katju, and Saurabh Kirpal. And also from petitioners Ritu Dalmia, Keshav Suri, and Zainab Patel. From issues that affect the transgender community to Muslim law in the modern context and above all, the fundamental concept of dignity.
This book is not to be missed.
Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace
by Parmesh Shahani
Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads
While we accept it or not, diversity and inclusion in workplaces are often mere tokenism. Something that is about being benevolent and “offered”. Inclusivity needs to be a lot more than that.
Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace is a path-breaking and genre-defying book where the author draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as an out and proud gay man. He makes a case for LGBTQ inclusion and lays down a step-by-step guide to reshaping office culture in India.
Queeristan is a part of the soon-to-be out-of-print Westland catalog. Do pick it up if you haven’t already.
Queer Activism in India: A Story in the Anthropology of Ethics
by Naisargi N. Dave
Buy at Zubaan Books | Add to Goodreads
Queer Activism in India examines the formation of lesbian communities in India from the 1980s to the early 2000s. An ethnographic research conducted with activist organizations in Delhi, a body of letters written by lesbian women, and research with lesbian communities and queer activist groups across the country.
The book explores how existing social norms and conditions give rise to activism. How activism is often labeled as disruptive but is a critique and ethical practice. Challenging social norms, inventing alternatives to those norms, and putting them into practice.
Because I Have A Voice: Queer Politics In India
by Arvind Narrain (Editor), Gautam Bhan (Editor)
Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Compulsory heterosexuality is often considered the norm in India. Ostracizing and criminalizing those who do not conform.
Because I Have A Voice: Queer Politics In India is an anthology of 27 essays by scholars, activists, and journalists challenging the rights of others to script their lives. To question the social, cultural, and political bias. The voice of a community that refuses to be silenced anymore. One that refuses to be labeled unnatural.
This is a book that deserves more love.
What are your favorite LGBTQIA+ non-fiction books by Indian authors? Do share about them in the comments below.
Gender Identity & India – Must-Read LGBTQIA+ Non-Fiction Books @blogchatter #CauseAChatter #Inclusivity #LGBTQ #BookChatter #BohoPonderings Share on X
This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
Photo credit: Canva.com
February 18, 2022 @ 11:52 am
This is genre I haven’t explored as yet. The books you have recommended in your post are intriguing enough to star off with. Of these i have only read ‘Lihaaf’ and I thought the boldness of that story was a great cover for the sensitivity of it.
February 18, 2022 @ 3:39 pm
Loved the list! Amazing!
February 18, 2022 @ 5:18 pm
I’ve not read many books of queer fiction or non-fiction, but I’ve seen Queeristan being promoted on social media. Also, I heard ‘Cobalt Blue’ is supposed to be good although I haven’t read it. Back in 2017, I read ‘Suicide Notes’ by Michael Thomas Ford, which turned out to be queer fiction.
February 19, 2022 @ 2:21 am
Thanks for such recommendations. I was looking for some good books on LGBT genre. I would love to read the books.
February 19, 2022 @ 8:58 am
I’m amazed at your research and the variety you include in your reading. This isn’t a topic I’ve read much on and am truly curious to pick up one of these books. Thanks for the recommendations.
February 19, 2022 @ 3:30 pm
Sounds like a good list. However, I will wait for your fiction recommendations. I haven’t even read Lihaaf and Kari. Will rectify that ASAP.
February 19, 2022 @ 6:47 pm
Great selection on the choice of books that highlights a topic which requires awareness and openness by every individual.Great job
February 19, 2022 @ 7:08 pm
I have to be honest and say that I haven’t read anything of this genre. Your post has kind of opened my eyes to it and I am really curious. Thank you for the recommendations
February 20, 2022 @ 9:24 am
Your thumbnail had some magnetic pull and exactly after reading I understood why, such books are need to open uo narrow mind, good suggestion.
February 20, 2022 @ 10:02 am
Interesting subject, Ritu. I would like to explore these books. Thank you for sharing them.
February 20, 2022 @ 12:53 pm
That is a great selection of books. Thank you for sharing them. I want to start with the literary history one.
February 20, 2022 @ 1:29 pm
This is a great list for reading queer fiction I will start with same sex love in India and go ahead with your list. Many web series have now started exploring this genre.
February 20, 2022 @ 3:53 pm
Amazing book recos Thanks a ton.
February 20, 2022 @ 4:34 pm
A great collection- I will surely check it out. I think it’s imporatant for all of us to understand more about this topic
February 20, 2022 @ 5:20 pm
I always wanted to read a book on it. Thanks for the suggestion . would get my hands on
February 20, 2022 @ 7:53 pm
Your choice of books always interests me. This is a new genre that i haven’t explored. Will try to.
February 20, 2022 @ 7:56 pm
I like the book covers. It seems that all these books are quite interesting and hidden lots of information into it.
February 20, 2022 @ 8:11 pm
I have hardly read any Indian book on LGBTQ. It looks like a great list. Would love to read a few.
February 20, 2022 @ 8:29 pm
Though the world is changing, people are still hesitant to talk about gender identity – thank you for listing out good reads for those who genuinely want to understand and add positivity where it’s really needed today!
February 20, 2022 @ 8:33 pm
This is what is expected from you. This genre I haven’t explored it yet but I know it very well where to go and search if I am looking for a good read. Yes it’s your blog. Your knowledge and thorough reserch always blows me.
February 20, 2022 @ 9:29 pm
I have not read any of the books in your list. Some of them sound interesting & I will be sure to try. I too have chosen this as one of my Cause A Chatter themes though i was looking at it from a completely different perspective. Thanks for this view to the prompt.
February 20, 2022 @ 9:32 pm
I would like to add one more book in this list, let’s rise in love by tanishka juneja. And the books u have listed in here are amazing.
February 21, 2022 @ 1:47 am
I loved the details along with recommendation, I am starting with Lihaaf and shall surely complete the list and get back to here and share my review with you.
February 21, 2022 @ 7:39 am
Even now homosexuals are a butt of joke. I hope with more literature and movies seeing light, this would change.
February 21, 2022 @ 10:32 am
I read Lihaaf in Jan. And loved the subtle unusual story telling. I believe there was a lot of noise around this when it was published. In awe of your reading list. I think I’m going to pick up Zubaan books soon. Seen so much good stuff by them.
February 21, 2022 @ 1:14 pm
Will definitely give a read to the books you’ve covered. This is a subject i want to read about, as its depicted with so much crass and bias in society.
February 22, 2022 @ 1:08 pm
I have been seeing many people are talking about LGBT. Not read any of these books. What I know is things that make you uncomfortable and create fear of society needs to be work upon.
April 21, 2022 @ 12:08 am
Love the research you do for all your book listicles. Of these, I’m only familiar with Saurabh Kirpal’s work.