Tonyrogers1123 at 06:21, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T06:21:54Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian equal rights activist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Harish Iyer
| birth_name = Harish Padma Vishwanath Iyer
| image = File:Harish iyer.jpeg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|4|16}}
| birth_place = [[Barrackpore]], West Bengal, India
| alma_mater = {{ubl| [[South Indian Education Society High School|SIES High School]] | [[Guru Nanak Khalsa College (King's Circle)|Guru Nanak Khalsa College]] | [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] | [[SVKM's NMIMS]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Columnist|activist|blogger}}
| nationality = Indian
| website = {{URL|http://hiyer.net}}
}}

'''Harish Iyer''', also known as "Aham",<ref>{{cite web|title=Coming Out Is A Process Not An Impulsive Decision|url=http://gaysifamily.com/2010/10/21/interview-aam-gaysi-coming-out-is-a-process-not-an-impulsive-decision/|work=An Indian Gay Interview|date=20 October 2010|publisher=gaysifamily|accessdate=1 December 2012}}</ref> ''hiyer'' and "Harrish Iyer" (born 16 April 1979) is an Indian equal rights activist. Iyer engages in advocacy for a number of causes,<ref>{{cite web|title=Harish Iyer's introduction on Pink Pages|url=http://pink-pages.co.in/general/meet-the-pink-pages-team/|publisher=Pink-Pages.co.in|accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174827/https://pink-pages.co.in/general/meet-the-pink-pages-team/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gender is but a biological accident|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Ws110712Opinion.asp|work=Harish Iyer was a columnist with tehelka|publisher=Tehelka|accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029020501/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Ws110712Opinion.asp|archive-date=29 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> including promoting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ([[LGBT]]) community, children, women and survivors of [[child sexual abuse]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bhamgara|first=Kaizad|title=Fighting For Gay Pride|url=http://know.burrp.com/b-buzz/harish-iyer-gay-pride-gay-rights-india/9627|publisher=Burrp|access-date=1 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305181226/http://know.burrp.com/b-buzz/harish-iyer-gay-pride-gay-rights-india/9627|archive-date=5 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Harish Iyer was also one of the most vocal proponents of the decriminalization of homosexuality in India. He has engaged in several awareness campaigns about the impact of the decision and condemned the ruling via media advocacy. He has written articles and letters on the subject and appeared on top national television news shows to highlight the plight of the LGBT community in India in wake of the decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/12/11/being-gay-in-india/ |title=Being Gay in India – India Real Time - WSJ |website=Blogs.wsj.com |date=2013-12-11 |access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/the-buck-stops-here/what-s-illegal-about-love-your-lordships-301085 |title=What's illegal about love, your lordships? |website=Ndtv.com |date=2013-12-11 |access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref> He was one of the people to move the Indian Supreme Court to decriminalize homosexuality. In June 2018, he filed an Impleadement Application in the 377 case.<ref>{{cite web|title=SC to start hearing petitions to read down Section 377|date=9 July 2018|url=https://cjp.org.in/sc-to-start-hearing-petitions-to-read-down-section-377/|publisher=cjp.org.in|accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref> In August 2018, the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] (NHRC) appointed Iyer to the Core Group on LGBTI issues. This is the first group set up to look into concerns and challenges of the community, in a bid to harmonise existing laws with the needs of the community.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHRC sets up LGBTI Core Group Ropes in activist Harish Iyer|date=14 August 2018|url=https://cjp.org.in/nhrc-sets-up-lgbti-core-group-ropes-in-activist-harish-iyer/|publisher=cjp.org.in|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref>

==Media advocacy==
Iyer was featured on Indian movie star [[Aamir Khan]]'s talk show ''[[Satyamev Jayate (TV series)|Satyamev Jayate]]'' in an episode on the issue of [[child sexual abuse]]. In the show, he gave a frank and detailed account of his horrific experiences of childhood sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=L. Romal M.|title=I feel like a star already, says Harish Iyer post ''Satyamev Jayate''|date=15 May 2012|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_i-feel-like-a-star-already-says-harish-iyer-post-satyamev-jayate_1689001|work=DNA India|access-date=15 May 2012 |archive-date= 17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517084619/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_i-feel-like-a-star-already-says-harish-iyer-post-satyamev-jayate_1689001}}</ref> Prior to ''Satyamev Jayate'', he was seen in the panel of [[NDTV]]'s popular talk show ''[[We the People (Indian TV series)|We the People]]'', which is anchored by [[Barkha Dutt]], and in Richa Anirudh's [[Hindi]] talk show ''Zindagi Live''. British actor [[Stephen Fry]] elatedly tweeted "You're a hell of a guy!" after interviewing Harish for his [[BBC2]] documentary "OUT THERE".<ref>{{cite web|author=Stephen Fry|title=You're a hell of a guy! |url=https://twitter.com/stephenfry/status/307866123163009025|work=tweet|publisher=@stephenfry|date=2 March 2013 |accessdate=20 April 2013}}</ref> In 2016, Iyer and his family starred with [[Elliot Page]] in his web series [[Gaycation (TV series)|''Gaycation'']].<ref>{{cite web|author=Suktara Ghosh |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/2016/09/20/giving-love-a-chance-why-we-want-to-watch-gaycation-in-india-ellen-page-ian-daniel-lgbtq |title='Gaycation' Gives A Peek Into The Life Of Indian Queers|website=thequint |date=20 September 2016 |accessdate=18 November 2016}}</ref>

In March 2015, Harish wrote a moving eulogy to his dear friend and Kolkata Park Street rape survivor [[Suzette Jordan]] after she succumbed to meningoencephalitis. Harish and Suzette had grown close after meeting at the Tehelka THiNK conference in Goa in 2014. Harish's letter raised several questions about the manner in which Suzette's trial was progressing and the indignities that she was subject to in court. He called for greater sensitivity in dealing with rape cases.<ref>{{cite web|author= Harish Iyer |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-killed-suzette-jordan-writes-activist-harish-iyer-in-moving-tribute-2068523 |title=India killed Suzette Jordan, writes activist Harish Iyer in moving tribute |website=Dnaindia.com |date=13 March 2013 |accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>

==Activism==
Iyer routinely uses social media (blogs, Facebook and Twitter) to campaign for causes dear to him. He is best known for turning his personal blog as a helpline during the [[26/11|26/11 Terror Attacks]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Whiteman|first=Hilary|title=Blogging in the wake of terror|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/27/bloggers.mumbai/|newspaper=CNN|date=28 November 2008}}</ref> Iyer later organised an animal aided therapy workshop along with Animal Angels in Mumbai to help citizens recuperate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Utpat|first=Aditi|title=Animal therapy to help 26/11 victims recuperate|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Animal-therapy-to-help-26/11-victims-recuperate/articleshow/3867666.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928233420/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-21/pune/27900163_1_train-blasts-dogs-animal-assisted-therapy|url-status=live|archive-date=28 September 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=21 December 2008}}</ref>

In 2009, Iyer and [[Shobhaa De]] initiated a campaign called S.I.T.A. (Sensitivity in True Action) Sena campaign to condemn the attack on women in a Bangalore pub by the right wing socio-political group Sri Ram Sene.<ref>{{cite news|last=Somaiyaji|first=Gurudarshan|title=Now, Sita Sena to counter Rama Sene|url=http://dnasyndication.com/dna/article/DNBAN4525|newspaper=DNA (Daily News & Analysis)|date=1 March 2009}}</ref> Through the campaign they urged women to arm themselves with whistles and blow it on eve teasers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Aditya |title=Blow whistle on eve-teasers, literally, blogger tells women|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/blow-whistle-on-eveteasers-literally-blogger-tells-women/449025/0|access-date=26 August 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=20 April 2009}}</ref> In August 2013, when the news of the gang-rape of a young photojournalist was published, in keeping with his quirky protests, Iyer marched on Mumbai's streets wearing bright red lipstick with a placard that read "Don't look at my lipstick. Listen to me".<ref>{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Arlene|title=Mumbai gangrape: It's time to reclaim our city, say protesters |date=23 August 2013|url=http://www.firstpost.com/mumbai/mumbai-gangrape-its-time-to-reclaim-our-city-say-protesters-1056735.html|work=FirstPost |access-date=26 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, he appeared in a PETA ad campaign encouraging consumers to go vegetarian.<ref>{{Cite news |title= LGBT Activist Harish Iyer Shares His Love for Cocks in Cheeky New PETA Video |url=http://www.theindianrepublic.com/nation/lgbt-activist-harish-iyer-shares-love-cocks-cheeky-new-peta-video-100041176.html |work=The India Republic |archive-date=30 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630030554/http://www.theindianrepublic.com/nation/lgbt-activist-harish-iyer-shares-love-cocks-cheeky-new-peta-video-100041176.html |date=26 June 2014}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
His life inspired two films, director [[Onir]]'s ''[[I Am (2010 Indian film)|I Am]]'' and [[Judhajit Bagchi and Ranadeep Bhattacharyya]] directed ''[[Amen (Short Film)|Amen]]''. In ''I Am'', the actor [[Sanjay Suri]] plays Abhimanyu, a child sexual abuse survivor, a character inspired by Harish's life<ref>{{cite web|title=Onir Dares Film World|url=http://ww.smashits.com/onir-dares-film-world/movie-review-8706.html|publisher=smashits.com|access-date=1 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729171906/http://ww.smashits.com/onir-dares-film-world/movie-review-8706.html|archive-date=29 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and that of Hyderabad-based fashion designer Ganesh Nallari. In ''Amen'', actor [[Karan Mehra]] plays Harry (Harish Iyer),<ref>{{cite news|title=Karan Mehra bases his role as a homosexual on activist Harish Iyer |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/oct/231012-Karan-Mehra-bases-his-role-as-a-homosexual-on-activist-Harish-Iyer.htm |work=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> a young man who is confident about his sexuality but still has the ghosts of his childhood memories of sexual abuse haunting him.

A book by [[Payal Shah Karwa]] called ''The Bad Touch'' featuring the biographic account of Iyer has been published.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-02-24 |title=Speak up about child sexual abuse |url=http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/speak-up-about-child-sexual-abuse-15116081 |access-date=2022-05-25 |work=[[Mid-Day]]|language=en}}</ref>

Amazon's Westland has signed up Harish Iyer for his autobiography titled "SON RISE".<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBT activist Harish Iyer to come out with memoir next year |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/lgbt-activist-harish-iyer-to-come-out-with-memoir-next-year/1409335 |work=Outlook India |date=25 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306235215/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/lgbt-activist-harish-iyer-to-come-out-with-memoir-next-year/1409335 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades==
* [[Bharat Petroleum| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited]], an Indian government owned firm, recognised Harish Iyer with the Energising Bharat award in the year 2016 for his work in the field of women's empowerment. The award was handed over by the petroleum minister of India ''[[Dharmendra Pradhan]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/open-avenue/winners-citations |title=Winners' Citations |publisher=OPEN Magazine |date=2016-02-12 |accessdate=2016-11-18}}</ref>
* [[The Guardian]], the British national daily named Iyer in the list of the 100 most influential LGBT people in the world. He is listed at number 71, and was the only Indian national ever in this list.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 100 most influential LGBT people of 2013|url=http://careers.guardian.co.uk/world-pride-power-list-2013-11-100|accessdate=29 June 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=29 June 2013|archive-date=2 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702190415/http://careers.guardian.co.uk/world-pride-power-list-2013-11-100|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Pink Pages]] has named Iyer as one of India's seven most influential gay and lesbian people<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Solid Seven – India's Most Influential Gays and Lesbians: Harish Iyer |url=http://pink-pages.co.in/features/indias-most-influential-gays-and-lesbians-harish-iyer/ |magazine=Pink Pages|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225114046/http://pink-pages.co.in/features/indias-most-influential-gays-and-lesbians-harish-iyer/ |archive-date=25 December 2015}}</ref>
* Iyer is one of the ten individuals to be awarded the Zindagi Live Awards for his work in creating awareness on child sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zindagi Live Awards|url=http://khabar.ibnlive.in.com/zindagiliveawards/winners.php|publisher=CNN IBN|access-date=1 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029050510/http://khabar.ibnlive.in.com/zindagiliveawards/winners.php|archive-date=29 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Harish Iyer has spoken many times at TEDx, an independently organised [[TED (conference)|TED conference]], including TEDxMasala on the topic "What if we had the culture of speaking about sex",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lO9BbFo3Qg |title=What if we had a culture of speaking about sex?: Harish Iyer at TEDxMasala |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=2013-02-12 |accessdate=2016-09-16}}</ref> then at TEDx Gitam University on the topic "Rising From The Ashes : From Abuse To Hope".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC4JD4u-hIQ |title=Rising from the ashes: From abuse to hope: Harish Iyer at TEDxGITAMUniversity |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=2013-03-24 |accessdate=2016-09-16}}</ref> and at TEDx XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Given his oratory skills and his ability to emote, Iyer finds a mention in the list of fiery motivational speakers in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://topyaps.com/8-fiery-motivational-speakers-india |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305201717/http://topyaps.com/8-fiery-motivational-speakers-india |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 March 2014 |title=8 Fiery Motivational Speakers In India |website=Topyaps.com |date= |accessdate=2016-09-16}}</ref>

Iyer spoke at [[Tehelka]]'s THiNK conference for the year 2013. Other prominent speakers at the same event included [[Robert De Niro]], [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[A R Rahman]], [[Shekhar Kapur]], [[Girish Karnad]] and [[Medha Patkar]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Kumam|title=Activist Harish Iyer To Speak at Tehelka's Think Conference|date=30 October 2013|url=http://www.gaylaxymag.com/latest-news/activist-harish-iyer-to-speak-at-tehelkas-think-conference/|publisher=Gaylaxy.com|accessdate=3 November 2013}}</ref> He is also the recipient of the 2015 Karmaveer Puraskar.
<ref>{{cite web|last=Joshi|first=Pranav|title= Equal Rights Activist Harish Iyer wins Rex Karamveer Global Fellowship Award|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-equal-rights-activist-harish-iyer-wins-rex-karamveer-global-fellowship-award-2037272|website=DNAINDIA.com|date=21 November 2014|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Controversies==
Harish catapulted into the spotlight in May 2015 when his mother Padma Iyer placed what may be India's first gay matrimonial advertisement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pandey |first=Vikas |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32810434 |title=Harrish Iyer: Indian matrimonial ad seeks 'groom' for gay activist |date=20 May 2015 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2016-09-16}}</ref> While many top Indian newspapers refused to carry the advertisement, it was finally carried by [[Mid-Day]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Iyer |first1=Harish |title=I'm Gay, My Ma Placed an Ad Looking for a Groom For Me |url=https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/im-gay-this-is-what-it-took-to-place-matrimonial-ad-for-me-764603 |work=NDTV |department=Opinion |language=en}}</ref> The ad attracted a lot of controversy for mentioning "Iyer preferred" ([[Iyer]] being a caste as well as the activist's last name). Both Harish and Padma received a lot of flak online and were accused of encouraging caste-based discrimination.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/harrish-iyer-in-the-eye-storm-for-placing-a-matrimonial-advertisement/article7261345.ece|title=Prejudice disguised as politeness|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 May 2015|accessdate=2016-09-16|last1=Waghmore|first1=Suryakant}}</ref> However, they later clarified that the allegedly objectionable preference was mentioned "in jest" only to show how similar an LGBT matrimonial ad could be to an ad for a heterosexual alliance.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |last1=Iyer |first1=Harish |title=LGBT and crime: Behind dark rooms |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-lgbt-and-crime-behind-dark-rooms-1532694 |work=DNA India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126055322/https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-lgbt-and-crime-behind-dark-rooms-1532694 |archive-date=26 January 2025 |language=en |url-status=live|ref=none}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iyer, Harish}}
[[Category:Indian LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from North 24 Parganas district]]
[[Category:Indian activist journalists]]
[[Category:Indian motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Child sexual abuse in India]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, alumni]]
[[Category:Indian gay writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Mental health activists]]
[[Category:Indian transgender rights activists]]
[[Category:Sexual abuse victim advocates]]
[[Category:Bisexual rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian children's rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian nonviolence advocates]]
[[Category:LGBTQ social workers]]

Harish Iyer - Revision history

Tonyrogers1123 at 06:21, 7 May 2026