Purposeful StoriesAugust 2023
Diversity
In modern times, many often talk about respecting and celebrating diversity. While some mean what they say and say what they mean, several others just talk about diversity under peer pressure, for the sake of it, or just to sound woke.
For many contemporary organisations, diversity is the preferred policy and ethical practice of granting equal opportunities to excluded and marginalised groups. In the absence of diversity, there is discrimination, inequality, homogeneity, and unfairness. Diversity allows space for varied opinions and discourages thought police and suppression. It is about positive reception of multiple perspectives to reap rich dividends.
Diversity comes in multiple forms. In real terms, it entails respecting various hues of heterogeneity. It involves inclusiveness. It is a practice of creating a safe and respectful space for individuals from a range of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds, of all genders and socio-economic profiles, to work together as a team. Let’s unravel the beauty of the many shades of diversity…
Broadening the Canvas
Queer activism in India’s conservative setting entails a cost. Not everyone is willing to go through the grind. Very few do. Meet Rudra Kishore Mandal, 46, a trendsetter in queer activism in Hyderabad and Kolkata since the early 1990s. Rudra Mandal is a well-known painter and graphic designer, too. In the words of the Kolkata-based painter, ‘What we see and experience in nature is diversity and coexistence’. In a freewheeling conversation with Gnothi Seauton, the outspoken queer activist makes a case that it is a constant struggle to preserve the unique elements of diversity, including the freedom of choice, the artistic freedom, and the freedom to love and sexual preference or same sex marriage, etc.
Mandal’s intellectual engagements with people from multicultural backgrounds and different genders have broadened his vision. As an artist, Mandal’s strokes of genius address intricate issues with finesse, courage and conviction. Mandal is no ordinary painter. Mandal’s work has been showcased at various art exhibitions across India while several embassies have hosted the painter and granted space for the artistic endeavours. Apart from highlighting the importance of free speech, the freedom to love and the socioeconomic rights of queers, Mandal’s art encompasses violence against women, sexual abuse, gender equality, spirituality, and feminism, too.
Mandal’s Social Media Experience
This has become possible as a result of candid conversations with (and feedback) from the art lovers through various social media platforms. For Mandal, the online galleries are an amazing space for conversations. Social media has helped the artist in attracting art lovers’ attention. Mandal seems to be enjoying the journey.
“I have started showing and sharing my work on social media. People reach out to me. I’d never thought how my art will affect someone.”
Social media has been a very good experience. It is a good space to showcase my work. On social media, there have been a lot of discussions. I have also learned from peoples’ feedback.
“It has helped me grow as an artist,” Mandal says with a perennial smile on face, adding that “social media allows people to express themselves freely.”
Mandal abhors the act of tagging or labelling. Labelling restricts artistic freedom. “Mostly, my work transcends just being a queer. A lot of people identify with my body of work. When they do, the dialogue happens.” Some art lovers and curators come to the painter with suggestions while others make critical comments. Some describe Mandal’s art as “homo erotic work”, “linear” or ask “why are you painting nudes?” Others want Mandal to draw paintings that are “more spiritual”. Mandal listens. And yet draws what the painter strongly believes in. “I am what I am because of who we all are.”
Many, however, identify with what Mandal produces.
The artist is not content with “it is nice” or “it is beautiful” comments and favours intellectually stimulating conversations. The artistic journey is a sort of self-discovery for Mandal. “When I produce art, I am thinking of my experiences; loneliness, persecution, happiness and sadness, sexual abuse and discrimination, etc. My art also goes beyond my personal experiences and takes into account other forms of emotions. Growth helps in expanding my viewpoints and lived experiences.”
‘Emulating the West Not a Good Idea’
Intellectually sound, Mandal cautions against emulating the Western model of Queer Activism in India without any critical analysis. “If we emulate the West, we will be going in the wrong direction,” Mandal asserts. In Mandal’s appreciation, the problems faced by the queers in India are markedly different from the issues confronting the LGBTQ+ population in the West.
During a recent visit to the United States, Mandal found “very powerful voices” seeking equal rights for all genders there, especially the LGBTQ+ community. At the same time, however, Mandal does not appreciate “a lot of political correctness” prevalent in the West. “If you are always politically correct it does not help to open a dialogue” about the socio-economic rights of the LGBTQ+ people.
Though a lot of work has been done in the United States with respect to granting and respecting equal rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and there is considerable amount of civil liberty and artistic freedom there as well, Mandal opines “The U.S has also a lot of censorship, too.” The fear factor prevalent in different societies coerces artists to indulge in self-censorship.
In a conservative set-up like India, Mandal feels, the issues confronting the queer community are education, unemployment, lack of safety measures, etc. Most individuals belonging to the LGBTQ+ community work in the non-formal sector as daily wagers in the absence of work contracts, social security or health insurance. “We have to talk forcefully about the education, livelihood and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community into the so-called mainstream.”
In India, Mandal asserts: “As artists, we have a long way to go. Within our own community itself, there is a lot of phobia. It is about time we address all kinds of phobias.” Personally, the painter feels privileged to have received massive support from partner, family, friends, art lovers, supporters etc.
At the same time, Mandal talks about India’s dark underbelly. “Recently, a lot has changed; the thought process has changed. Some appear very woke on the surface but there are a lot of unresolved issues as well.” Mandal says that it took about two decades of gender activism in India to convince the Supreme Court to read down parts of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and allow private consensual sex between men. Some work has been done. But, a lot of work remains to be done.
In 2018, India’s Apex Court ruled the application of Section 377 as “unconstitutional”. However, the Indian government opposed any move to accord legal sanction to same sex marriages in India. “Decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code does not automatically translate into a fundamental right for same sex couples to marry,” the government’s counsel told the Delhi High Court in an affidavit submitted in February 2021.
The artist offers hope, too. Mandal credits the unsung LGBTQ+ activists working tirelessly at the grassroots level to spread awareness about the community’s rights and issues. These activists, Mandal says, are the game changers and change makers on the ground. More and more queer activists are creating a robust support system for India’s neglected and persecuted community. “Their indefatigable work is slowly resulting in a more responsible portrayal of the community in popular culture giving me a lot of hope for queer activism in India.” He urges civil society, intelligentsia and media to double their efforts in ensuring a sensible and responsible portrayal of LGBTQ+ issues.
All artworks featured here are by Rudra Kishore Mandal. To know more about his paintings and meaningfully engage with the artist’s body of work
click here
Different Shades
Thousands of miles away from India, on the streets of central Paris, hundreds of people cheered on 17 May 2023 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the legalization of gay marriages in France. Some of the gay couples (legally married) hailed the decision of their government saying that it was “about getting recognition for love, for our relationship.” They argued that a decade ago, there was neither social sanctity nor legal stamp of approval for romantic relationships or marriages between same sex couples. The gays celebrated their right to choose their partner while enjoying loud music and songs, and coordinating pride parades in Paris, often dubbed as the city of romance or love.
In India, it is still not socially acceptable to talk about the same-sex marriages. Until 2018, the same-sex relations stood criminalised by law. It was common practice for some Indian parents to renounce their LGBTQ+ children. In the worst case scenario, the lesbian and gay children were subjected to physical harm or attempts being made to ‘convert’ them to become heterosexual (‘normal’ from the perspective of conservative parents). Many children born in India’s homophobic and transphobic families continue to suffer mental and physical hardships.
The internet has helped spread awareness in Indian society, as visibility of the same-sex relationships is witnessing a spike in recent times. That said, the LGBTQ+ couples in India are still awaiting the Apex Court’s decision on the same-sex marriage. It remains a challenge to celebrate the idea of ‘Unity in Diversity’. Unless the welfare of all the LGBTGQ+ becomes an integral part of a civilised society and efforts made at various levels to ensure that they get their share of rights and opportunities, diversity in the real sense will remain a flight of fancy.
Diversity of Thought
We all understand that everything is not black and white. There is an enormous world of grey in between. The benefits of diversity are immense as it ensures amalgamation of talent, skill and variety at the workplace.
Diversity at the leadership level is a must in the 21st century. Not only does it bring diverse skill sets, resourcefulness and creativity on the table, but it also makes it possible for business leaders to look at the multifaceted situation with an analytical sweep. Apart from the multiple insights and perspectives that it transports, diversity in a business organisation is its lifeblood. It adds value in innumerable ways.
Dr. Dibyesh Anand is one of the leading professors at the University of Westminster in London. Professor Anand has done exhaustive work on majoritarian nationalism and exclusion in India. Quite in tune with Ambedkar’s school of thought, Dr. Anand is an advocate of inclusion and diversity at the workplace.
In a detailed conversation with Gnothi Seuton, Professor Anand, a queer activist himself, contends: “Diversity in the workplace also brings talent and prevents groupthink and thus a virtue in itself. However, diversity without equity and inclusion does not serve the purpose of fairness.”
“In various parts of the world, where some progress has been made in accepting and promoting diversity, there are challenges due to resistance from hitherto privileged. There is also a backlash from the privileged against diversity, positive action or affirmative action on the grounds that it is against merit and a ‘reverse discrimination’.”
“So, the battle for fairness in the workplace is far from over!,” Dr. Anand concludes.
Diversity in Sports
After a yawning gap, a good piece of news has arrived from the cricketing field. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced equal prize money for men’s and women’s cricket teams at the ICC events.
This marks a paradigm shift in the game of cricket. The global governing body for cricket representing 108 members took this historic decision during the ICC’s annual conference held in Durban, South Africa, on 13 July 2023. With a new feather in the cricketing body’s cap, the ICC has achieved some success in its endeavour to ensure prize money parity well before the predetermined timeline set for 2030.
“This is a significant moment in the history of our sport and I am delighted that men’s and women’s cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally”
ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said in a statement.
Andrew Fidel Fernando, an ace commentator and ESPN Cricinfo’s well-known writer based out in Sri Lanka, believes that the ICC’s decision to hand out even victors’ payments to the Men’s and Women’s side feels a bit like ‘virtue signalling’.
“But in the process of signalling virtue, if you end up becoming more virtuous, then virtue signalling has served a purpose. The ICC has become a more inclusive organisation that increasingly puts a greater emphasis on the women’s game.”
In an e-mailed conversation with Gnothi Seauton from Sri Lanka, Fidel Fernando argues that “The winner's cheques being the same (for Men and Women cricketers) will gain some publicity.” He, however, has a genuine concern, too. “But chances are good that this money will go to one of the better-resourced Women's teams in the world, where many of the top players are fully professional. Many Women cricketers around the world – even those who perform at very high levels – are often amateurs or semi-professionals. It is great that the ICC is attempting to signal that the Women’s game is as important as the Men’s. But I'd like to see the ICC work more closely with boards around the world to make cricket more accessible to girls and women. And to put financial support in place that creates more professional pathways. There are many at the ICC who share that vision too.”
In October 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took a much needed step as it announced pay equity policy for men’s and women’s contracted national players. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/india-cricket-board-announces-pay-equality-women-internationals-2022-10-27/
Men in the Grade A+ bracket are paid INR 70 million, with those in Grades A, B and C taking home 50 million, 30 million and 10 million respectively, meaning the lowest graded male cricketers still earn twice as much as top-tier women cricketers.
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