Where Legislature fails, Judiciary steps in!
By – Pamarty Venkataramana
The RAMAYANA tells us how when the Lord Prince Sri Rama went on exile to help
his father Dasaratha to keep a vow, he was accompanied to the borders of the kingdom by subjects. As he was to step out of the boundary, he directed all the men and womenfolk to return to their homes as it would be twelve long years before he would be returning.
And, when he did return to his kingdom later after all those long years, and victoriously, he was surprised to find a motley group who had not returned to the kingdom but were camping there awaiting the good Lord’s return!
To a poser by him, they replied that they were transgenders and did not classify under the two common categories. The Lord embraced them and declared that these pious ones among society would be revered as ‘higher’ human beings and not ostracised.
That was the start of the special respect and welcome accorded to these members in Indian civilisation and starting from new-born babies being blessed by them, they participated on all occasions of celebration in Indian society.
Such was ‘equality’ accorded to all human beings of various hues and shades until the invasion of Queen Victoria’s values and ethos via the erstwhile East India Company buccaneers and administration. Victorian values frowned upon these members of society. So began unsocial trend of ‘social-boycott’.
Desert religions do not view same-gender relationships with favour or kindness. India has just witnessed a landmark-ruling scrapping an antiquated provision to decriminalise the Victorian provision with regard to same-gender ties.
This was a task for the Honourable Legislature to do but as we notice, both August Houses are adjourned sine die and seldom find time to address such key issues which are crying needs of the changing societal structure. Hence, the Judiciary had to resolve a burning social issue.
As far as this matter of ‘same-gender’ wedlocks and ties is concerned, there exists much confusion in rest of the world even to this date. Arabian Gulf region and few States in America too do not recognise this as being legitimate.
Religion certainly has a governing influence over this but anthropologists and humanists know the reason to prompt this in few countries has been the ‘social-security benefits’ accorded to ‘couples’ and these citizenship at reaping the rewards of ‘togetherness’. As such, a ‘non-issue’.
Without much ado, one may humbly submit that whereas a certain top honcho of a multinational software company mingles with the majority of society by dressing appropriately and going about his business obligations and duties as a C.E.O, there are several scores of such ‘free-minded’ souls who choose to go about dressing up in ‘gay-abandon’ and with pierced ears, painted tattoos and colourful clothes, draw attention to their ‘very special’ presence in public space.
But,
A word in praise of Queen Victoria!
She had got built the same model and type of hundreds of ‘rows’ of houses. A master-stroke of ‘ good-governance’.
Why?
For, if dwelling-houses are provided, population gets ‘settled down’ and incidence of crime and wasteful pursuits decreases greatly. People have an orderly life.
And, that is a natural way to re-engineer a ‘wayward society’ fast crumbling, mumbling and tumbling from the mighty ( laudable) pedestal of morality and ethics.
Long live Humanity!
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