A Historic Day for India's LGBTQ+ Community
On a momentous day in 2018, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment that would change countless lives. The court officially decriminalized homosexuality by overturning Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a colonial-era law that had criminalized same-sex relationships for generations.
Pavan's Personal Celebration
As news of the verdict spread across the nation, Pavan, a young man navigating his own identity, stepped into the shade of an awning and pulled out his phone. The headlines confirmed what many had fought for decades to achieve – India had taken a monumental step toward equality. Instead of taking his usual bus to the railway station, he chose to walk, absorbing the significance of the moment unfolding around him.
The streets told a story of liberation and joy. Pavan witnessed a tall man draped in a sequinned dupatta swaying rhythmically on the pavement. Nearby, a woman raced in circles, her rainbow flag flowing behind her like a cape as she half-sang, half-yelled in celebration. In perhaps the most telling moment, two men exchanged a brief, open kiss – a sight that would have been unthinkable just hours earlier.
Yet amid this celebration, Pavan felt the weight of observation. His face hardened as he became conscious that someone might be watching him watching them. The ordinary world continued around the extraordinary events – construction workers unloaded metal rods from trucks, a sugarcane juice seller cranked his wheel, and restaurant waiters continued serving fish thalis to hungry customers.
A Sweet Symbol of Freedom
Pavan found himself drawn to an expensive patisserie he would normally avoid. The shopfront glowed in the evening sun, its signage colored in the pink and yellow hues of cupcake icing. Inside, he walked along a glass case filled with overwhelming choices, the fragrances of cinnamon and vanilla filling his senses. One cake stood out – layered with all the colors of the rainbow, as if the bakers had anticipated this very day.
Ultimately, he chose a double chocolate gateau that looked rich, sedate and satisfying. When the woman behind the counter asked if he wanted to eat there or take away, he glanced involuntarily at the women sitting on spindly chairs and opted for takeaway. The shopkeeper smiled understandingly, also glancing toward the women.
On the bus ride home, Pavan held the cake carefully in his lap. The initial euphoria began to ebb as he observed the unchanged streets – silhouetted workers on scaffolding, handcarts piled with boxes, taxi drivers yelling at scooters, and steam rising from street food stalls. A sharp spasm of guilt contracted his heart.
Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy
Pavan questioned his right to partake in the collective jubilation. He hadn't marched in streets, spoken on stages, written in press, or argued in courts. Unlike the Gorkhaland protestors he had witnessed during his time in the hills – children sitting on railway tracks, women braving cold weather with placards – he had chosen to hide and cower in darkness.
Then came a revelation as sudden as a comet flashing across the sky. He realized that the activists, whether they knew it or not, had swept him along with them through their courageous actions. There was no account to settle, no requirement for individual contribution. Their victory had made him one of them, regardless of his personal journey.
Back home, Pavan created a simple ritual to mark the occasion. He washed, changed into comfortable clothes, prepared filter coffee, and laid a plate on the table. Through the thin wall, his neighbor played a modern version of a Punjabi folk song, evoking images of film heroes and heroines cycling through mustard fields.
As he savored the rich chocolate cake with strong coffee, he noticed the twinkling lights across the street – not for the Supreme Court verdict, but for a newly opened sanitaryware outlet that had distributed sweets and decorated with silver balloons earlier that week. The parallel celebrations felt symbolic.
Pavan discovered the cake was best enjoyed with eyes mostly closed, allowing its silken intensity to stand alone without distraction. The slight bitterness of dark chocolate blended with the potent bitterness of coffee, creating a perfect harmony of flavors that mirrored the complex emotions of the day.
As dusk settled, he lay on his unrolled bedding, listening to his neighbor's song play repeatedly – a devotion to repetition that might have annoyed him on other days, but tonight felt comforting. The courts had declared them free, and this time it felt different. Though he knew his daily life wouldn't immediately change, a small surge of satisfaction crested within him. For the first time, it felt a little like pride.
