The New Indian Express had an article in the “Sexualities” section of their supplement yesterday on the new book that has hit the bookshelves, “Hostel Room 131″ by the noted English professor and Writer,R Raja Rao, who coincidentally happens to be gay and an activist [Link]
Yes! I did wink a couple times to make sure I was not dreaming. In India? Seriously? In a mainstream daily? Awesome and then I bared all my teeth in a huge smile.
The author talks about his new book, as how art and activism are the 2 sides of the same coin and how his “gayness” or rather the reflection of the “gay love story” which is dealt with in this novel has been marketed thus placing the art form related to his creativity and the literature in the background. We at Gaysi are also culpable of this because, we are writing a post because the subject of this book is a topic that is so dear to all of us. No question we are celebrating the success of a fellow minority in this rather monotonous, hetero normative world.
I like the way he describes himself being an artist/activist of all sorts and not purely as a “gay activist” and also his ideas on social attitudes, etc.
I did my part of going to Crossword yesterday and buying one. Now go get yours….
xoxo (I...
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Rashmi
The author is R Raj Rao. Not P:)
Not Rashmi’s but my bad. Should have checked before publishing.
Anyway…thank you Ms. TT for pointing out the error.
That’s cool MJ! I remember meeting R Raj Rao as a 17 year old and being terribly intimidated. This time, it was different! And perhaps a bit of the shoe at the other side — which was that I was questioning him:)
So funny! What we remember and what we don’t:) hope the book lives upto his image. His interviewing skills are highly recommended. He was on a panel when I interviewed him and his intelligence and counter argument had me worried! So glad, was carrying a dictaphone that day:)
im a student of raj rao feel so pround to be his student of such a great indian writer in english