The mention of Silicon Valley brings the images of the glass buildings nestled in the midst of large open spaces filled with highly-skilled 'educated' professionals.
Silicon Valley also portrays the overwhelming presence of the Indian community. A community that I belong to. At least, legally, I still belong to.
Today, I witnessed a shattering. A demise of my expectations from the Indian community I was born into.
Trikone, the oldest South Asian LGBTQ organisation with its roots in Silicon Valley, was peacefully taking a stand to bring forth the attention to the missing LGBTQ rights.
All I, being the chairperson of Trikone, did was to peacefully take a stand on the public grounds of the city of San Jose holding the sign - "377" The old British law still haunts Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Maldives, Myanmar and more... #LGBTQ Rights.
I was attacked. My fellow comrades holding equally neutral messages were attacked.
My sign was snatched, broken and thrown. I was dragged, pulled out by my collar, held on my neck and was yelled at - you don't belong here.
The attackers were my fellow Indians. The attackers asserted their Indian majority status.
Being a minority is not new for me. I was born in India. I was raised in India. I grew up in towns where I was taught not to mention my name out loud. I was told not to ask for what's my worth. I was instructed not to question what's been told. To add to the mix, I am homosexual. In addition to all of the above 'not's I had to add a whole lot of silence clouts.
Setting foot in the United States of America, I assumed that I was away from all of Indian hypocrisy.
The Indian majority set it right for me today. I was, am and will be a minority.
Collecting myself off today's moments, I am left with a haunting question - If the Indian majority, the 'educated' lot, standing on non-Indian grounds, can resort to such means to drive their point across; what is the plight of the minorities on the Indian soil?
This post was first published at Shaiksphere's Blog.
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Silicon Valley also portrays the overwhelming presence of the Indian community. A community that I belong to. At least, legally, I still belong to.
Today, I witnessed a shattering. A demise of my expectations from the Indian community I was born into.
Trikone, the oldest South Asian LGBTQ organisation with its roots in Silicon Valley, was peacefully taking a stand to bring forth the attention to the missing LGBTQ rights.
All I, being the chairperson of Trikone, did was to peacefully take a stand on the public grounds of the city of San Jose holding the sign - "377" The old British law still haunts Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Maldives, Myanmar and more... #LGBTQ Rights.
I was attacked. My fellow comrades holding equally neutral messages were attacked.
My sign was snatched, broken and thrown. I was dragged, pulled out by my collar, held on my neck and was yelled at - you don't belong here.
The attackers were my fellow Indians. The attackers asserted their Indian majority status.
Being a minority is not new for me. I was born in India. I was raised in India. I grew up in towns where I was taught not to mention my name out loud. I was told not to ask for what's my worth. I was instructed not to question what's been told. To add to the mix, I am homosexual. In addition to all of the above 'not's I had to add a whole lot of silence clouts.
Setting foot in the United States of America, I assumed that I was away from all of Indian hypocrisy.
The Indian majority set it right for me today. I was, am and will be a minority.
Collecting myself off today's moments, I am left with a haunting question - If the Indian majority, the 'educated' lot, standing on non-Indian grounds, can resort to such means to drive their point across; what is the plight of the minorities on the Indian soil?
This post was first published at Shaiksphere's Blog.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Like Us On Facebook | Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Follow Us On Twitter | Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Contact HuffPost India