Continuing with the question of identities...
There are identities that get mutated at various levels, changed in varying situations, overcome by individuals and communities. The identities of caste, religion, sect, language, nationality and so on.
The awareness of one's religion gets numb in the struggle to survive and urge to succeed. It surfaces when we happen to attend (rarely) the ceremonies or festivals. It also surfaces stealthily when our friends following other religions celebrate theirs.
The identities of caste are more often than not belittled by the equations of power and money. However they do surface quite often and do so in a wide range of situations from arranging marriages to alluring voters.
Similarly identities of languages and nationalities often blend and blur their boundaries in this era of rapid globalization.
But, there are identities that do not conform to this pattern.
Identities that are overwhelming, identities that are 'inseparable'. The identities that speak most eloquently throughout the span of our existence and control the power dynamics governing our lives. Identities we find impossible to ignore, overcome, supersede.
One such example is the identity borne out of our sexuality. Do we ever ignore the fact that we are a male/female or a third gender? Least of all the latter. While the equations of male/female identities have been much discussed and debated, it is the third gender that calls for our attention due to our inability of overcoming the identity of sexuality. It is the third gender that bears the wrath of our being overwhelmed with our sexualities.
Do we ever wonder why are we not able to acknowledge them as humans? Perhaps because we hardly acknowledge ourselves as humans. The identities of being a male or a female homo sapien conveniently supersedes that.
There are identities that get mutated at various levels, changed in varying situations, overcome by individuals and communities. The identities of caste, religion, sect, language, nationality and so on.
The awareness of one's religion gets numb in the struggle to survive and urge to succeed. It surfaces when we happen to attend (rarely) the ceremonies or festivals. It also surfaces stealthily when our friends following other religions celebrate theirs.
The identities of caste are more often than not belittled by the equations of power and money. However they do surface quite often and do so in a wide range of situations from arranging marriages to alluring voters.
Similarly identities of languages and nationalities often blend and blur their boundaries in this era of rapid globalization.
But, there are identities that do not conform to this pattern.
Identities that are overwhelming, identities that are 'inseparable'. The identities that speak most eloquently throughout the span of our existence and control the power dynamics governing our lives. Identities we find impossible to ignore, overcome, supersede.
One such example is the identity borne out of our sexuality. Do we ever ignore the fact that we are a male/female or a third gender? Least of all the latter. While the equations of male/female identities have been much discussed and debated, it is the third gender that calls for our attention due to our inability of overcoming the identity of sexuality. It is the third gender that bears the wrath of our being overwhelmed with our sexualities.
Do we ever wonder why are we not able to acknowledge them as humans? Perhaps because we hardly acknowledge ourselves as humans. The identities of being a male or a female homo sapien conveniently supersedes that.
