AlfonzoEsh at 18:49, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T18:49:45Z

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{{Short description|Indian literature focused on LGBTQ subjects}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}

'''LGBTQ literature in India''' is [[Indian literature|Indian writing]] that addresses [[LGBTQ (term)|LGBTQ+]] themes or is written by [[List of LGBTQ writers|LGBTQ+ authors]]. Influential works of [[queer]] writing in the Indian canon include historic [[South Asia|South Asian]] writing, works published in [[India]], and works written by the [[Indian diaspora]].

== History ==
Indian works in the ancient, medieval, and modern eras have addressed themes of [[Human sexuality|sexuality]] and [[gender]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Nilanjana S. |author-link=Nilanjana Roy |date=24 February 2012 |title=Homosexuality in India: A Literary History |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/homosexuality-in-india-a-literary-history/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=[[New York Times]]: India Ink |language=en}}</ref> In 2009, the [[Delhi High Court]] struck down [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code|Section 377]], a law banning sex between adults of the same sex. This caused a rapid rise in the amount and types of LGBTQ+ works released in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anjaria |first=Ulka |date=2 February 2018 |title=Indian Queer Futures |url=https://www.publicbooks.org/indian-queer-futures/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=[[Public Books]] |language=en-US}}</ref> When the Supreme Court read down part of the same law in 2018, a further growth in LGBTQ+ publishing followed.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Saurabh |date=5 January 2024 |title=How Indian Publishers Pushed for Greater Diversity in 2023 |url=https://www.thechakkar.com/home/publishingdiversity2023 |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=The Chakkar |language=en-IN}}</ref>

=== Ancient era ===
Some literature in ancient India dealt with [[queer]] themes and included depictions of queer characters or subtext.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Dasgupta |first=Rohit K. |author-link=Rohit K. Dasgupta |date=2011 |title=Queer Sexuality: A Cultural Narrative of India’s Historical Archive |url=http://rupkatha.com/V3/n4/20_Queer_Sexuality_India.pdf |journal=Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities |publication-place=Kolkata |volume=3 |issue=4 |issn=0975-2935}}</ref>:651-654 Ancient and medieval literature portrayed [[gender]] as [[Gender fluidity|fluid]].<ref name=":1" /> Literary tropes about same-sex love included themes of [[celibacy]] and intense friendship; justifications that one's rebirth allowed their current love to transcend social rules; and transformation of one's sex in order to pursue an attraction. Scholars [[Ruth Vanita]] and [[Saleem Kidwai]] have analyzed representations of [[homoerotic love]] in ancient Indian literature, and Vanita is a particularly influential scholar in the field.<ref name=":0" />:651-654

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'', an ancient Hindu epic, contains many examples of same-sex attachment. The most prominent is the friendship between [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]], which shapes their conversation in the ''[[Bhagavad Gita|Bhagvad Gita]]''. Rohit K Dasgupta views Krishna's resurrection of Arjuna's stillborn son as a form of procreation via their friendship.<ref name=":0" />:651-653 The ''Mahabharata'' also describes the gender transformation of [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], a princess who had been abducted by [[Bhishma]]. Via prayers, Amba is reborn and later transformed into a man in order to achieve revenge.<ref name=":1" />

In the ''[[Ramayana]]'', [[Hanuman]] observes women kissing each other in [[Lanka]] and the palace of [[Ravana]]. In the ''[[Markandeya Purana]]'', Avikshita says she is a woman and refuses to marry, even though she was perceived as a prince.<ref name=":1" /> [[Vātsyāyana]]'s ''[[Kama Sutra|Kamasutra]]'' explicitly describes and recommends queer sexual practices.<ref name=":0" />:651-654

=== Medieval era ===
Notable medieval depictions of same-sex love include Somaprabha and Kalingasena in the ''[[Kathasaritsagara]]'' by [[Somadeva]] and the two mothers of [[Bhagiratha]] who conceived with Sankara's blessing in the Bengali ''[[Krittivasi Ramayan|Kritivasa Ramayana]]''. The tale of [[Shiva]]'s pursuit of [[Vishnu]] in the form of [[Mohini]] inspired a late medieval edition where the pair's union via [[ayoni]] bore a child, [[Ayyappan|Ayyappa]].<ref name=":0" />:651-654 [[Babur]]'s memoirs include passionate and normalized descriptions of his love for his young wife and a male youth.<ref name=":1" />

In the medieval period, [[Perso-Arabic literature]] had a strong influence on the way love was depicted in South Asian literature. The 10th century relationship between [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Mahmud of Ghazna]] and his slave [[Malik Ayaz]] inspired later [[Ghazal|ghazals]] depicting it as a perfect love. Zulali Khwansari's ''Mathnawi-yi Zulali'' also describes their sexual relationship in a positive light: in general, this literary tradition was notable for its consistent, explicit referrals to same-sex love and its happy ending. [[Sufi poetry]] often used the imagery of love between men in representing spiritual themes, like [[Amir Khusrau|Amir Khusro]]'s poetry about [[Nizamuddin Chishti|Nizamuddin Chisti]].<ref name=":0" />:656-659

The [[Bhakti movement]] also shaped literary depictions of love in the medieval period. Because it encouraged people to worship gods as familial relations, including lovers, it expanded opportunities to discuss same-sex love. Poets like [[Surdas]], [[Tulsidas]], [[Mirabai]], and Vithabai sang about [[queer]] themes. Some public same-sex relationships were condoned as the longing of a disciple for a god's reincarnation and became the subject of literary works. [[Jagannatha Dasa (Odia poet)|Jagannatha Dasa]] and [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Shri Chaitanya]] inspired Dibakar Das's ''Jagannath Charitamrita''.<ref name=":0" />:654-655

Some [[Persian poetry]] condoned or denounced the practice of [[Shāhidbāzī|shahid-bazi]], or poetry describing the author's love or attraction to boys, and this influenced later Indian poets like [[Shah Mubarak Abroo]] and [[Mir Taqi Mir]], who explicitly referenced their attraction to men and youths. Urdu [[rekhti]] poetry sometimes discussed homoerotic attachments between women, like [[Insha Allah Khan]]'s "Noble Lady", and transgressive queer themes surrounding rekhti poetry ultimately led to its suppression.<ref name=":0" />:656-659

=== 1800-1980 ===
[[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British colonial rule]] involved the imposition of laws like [[Section 377]] which persecuted [[LGBTQ people|LGBTQ+ people]] in South Asia. [[Colonialism and sexuality|Colonialism]] affected cultural institutions, including by rigidly casting queer people and themes as unnatural and wrong. The British led campaigns to censor queer themes from popular and historic texts and replace overtly queer and queer-coded literary traditions with new ones.<ref name=":0" />:661-662 19th century poets like [[Altaf Hussain Hali]] and [[Muhammad Husain Azad]] led campaigns to remove homoerotic themes from Urdu poetry.<ref name=":0" />:664

[[Pandey Bechan Sharma]]'s 1924 story collection, ''Chocolate'', focused on male homosexuality and included characters who criticize trends they notice and worry about: rising homosexuality, love of boys, and youths who transgress gender norms. However, the book contained some positive depictions of homosexuality as well. ''Chocolate'' sparked debate about homoerotic literature and was condemned by many in the Hindi writing sphere, led by [[Banarsidas Chaturvedi]]. In reaction, the 1953 edition of ''Chocolate'' included several forewords that argued the book intended to condemn homosexuality.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Saurabh |date=29 June 2021 |title=‘In fiction, one finds the opportunity to utter the unsayable’ – An exploration of Queer Literature from India |url=https://www.thechakkar.com/home/queerliteratureindia |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=The Chakkar |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name=":0" />:664 In 1936, Urdu poet [[Firaq Gorakhpuri|Firaaq Gorakhpuri]] defended same-sex love as a universal phenomenon in an essay on ghazals, inspiring more Urdu poetry with homosexual themes.<ref name=":0" />:664

''Lihaaf'', an Urdu short story collection by [[Ismat Chughtai]], was another influential modern [[queer]] and [[Feminism in India|feminist]] work. The short story it is named after, "[[Lihaaf]]", explored intersectional issues of abuse, desire, and class.<ref name=":2" /> Controversy after its publication sparked an obscenity trial against Chughtai.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Literary depictions of queer relationships continued with the Hindi work ''Ek Sadak Sattavan Galiyaan'' ("A Street with 57 Lanes") by [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena]], which depicts characters grappling with relationship issues in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=":2" />

In 1973, [[Kamala Das]] began publishing her autobiography ''[[My Story (Das book)|My Story]]'' in [[Malayalam]], which included frank depictions of her same-sex desires. The work was popular and resulted in large controversy.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Krupa |date=26 September 2016 |title=LBT Representation In Indian Literature |url=https://gaysifamily.com/lifestyle/lbt-representation-in-indian-literature/ |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[Gaysi]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1977, [[Shakuntala Devi]] published ''The World of the Homosexuals'', which was one of the earliest English-language books of Indian queer literature. In 1978, [[Karichan Kunju]] published ''Pasitha Manidam'', a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] novel about Ganesan's return to his restrictive hometown and deals with leprosy treatment and processing his sexuality and trauma.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=15 June 2022 |title=This queer reading list goes beyond the rainbow |url=https://www.penguin.co.in/this-queer-reading-list-goes-beyond-the-rainbow/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=Penguin Random House India |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 1980-2015 ===
In the 1980s, [[Vijay Tendulkar]] produced [[Mitrachi Goshta|''Mitrachi Ghoshta'']], a Marathi play that was influential for having a [[lesbian]] protagonist.<ref name=":1" /> [[Mahesh Dattani]] was one of the most prominent playwrights on queer issues, including ''Bravely Fought the Queen'' and ''On a Muggy Night in Mumbai.''<ref name=":3">{{Citation |last=Patra |first=Umesh |title=“The Indian Queer” |date=2024-10-22 |work=Mapping World Anglophone Studies |pages=229–242 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003464037/chapters/10.4324/9781003464037-19 |access-date=2026-04-13 |edition=1 |place=London |publisher=Routledge India |language=en |doi=10.4324/9781003464037-19 |isbn=978-1-003-46403-7}}</ref>:239

Throughout the 1980s, [[Suniti Namjoshi]] published many works on women and sexuality, including the influential ''Feminist Fables''.<ref name=":5" /> In 1990, India's first magazine targeted at [[gay men]], ''[[Bombay Dost]]'', was founded by [[Ashok Row Kavi]]. Giti Thandani, who founded India's first collective for lesbians and [[Bisexuality|bisexual]] women, wrote ''Sakhiyani: Lesbian Desire in Ancient and Modern India''.<ref name=":3" />:237-238 That same year, [[Firdaus Kanga]] published the autobiographical queer memoir, ''Trying to Grow''. In 2003, [[R. Raj Rao]] published ''[[The Boyfriend (novel)|The Boyfriend]]'', followed soon by [[Bindumadhav Khire]]'s ''Partner'', [[Neel Mukherjee (writer)|Neel Mukherjee]]'s ''[[A Life Apart (novel)|A Life Apart]]'', [[Minal Hajratwala]]'s ''Leaving India: My Family's Journey From Five Villages to Five Continents,'' and [[Rahul Mehta]]'s ''Quarantine.''<ref name=":1" />

In 2011, the American journalist [[Joseph Lelyveld]] published ''[[Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India|Great Soul]]'', a biography of [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]]. It suggested Gandhi could have been bisexual and shared details of his relationship with [[Hermann Kallenbach]]. The book was banned in [[Gujarat]] and several other states, but its censorship was criticized by Gandhi's family and Indian LGBTQ organizations.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Martel |first=Frédéric |date=2 June 2020 |title=The Slow Evolution of Gay Culture in India |url=https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-slow-evolution-of-gay-culture-in-india/ |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=The [[MIT]] Press Reader}}</ref>

Major recent developments in [[queer theory]] include academic writing by R. Raj Rao; [[Ruth Vanita]] and [[Saleem Kidwai]]'s foundational ''Same-Sex Love in India: A Literary History''; and [[Hoshang Merchant]]'s ''Yaraana: Gay Writing From South Asia''.<ref name=":3" />:235-237 Other influential texts include early publications of [[Yoda Press]]: [[Gautam Bhan]] and Arvind Narrain's ''Because I Have a Voice: Queer Politics in India'', and Maya Sharma's ''Loving Women: Being Lesbian in Unprivileged India''. [[Zubaan Books|Zubaan]] also published historic texts with ''A Life in Trans Activism'' by [[A. Revathi]] and Nandini Murali and ''No Outlaws in the Gender Galaxy'' by [[Chayanika Shah]], Raj Merchant, [[Shals Mahajan]] and Smriti Nevatia.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Modi |first=Chintan Girish |date=2026-04-01 |title=On publishing queer literature for Indian readers in English |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/on-publishing-queer-literature-for-indian-readers-in-english-101775038752189.html |access-date=1 April 2026 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Recent years ===
Many contemporary writers of Indian queer literature write about queer themes with more nuance and deeper representation than in the previous century. These include representing experiences across genders and sexualities, as well as intersectional experiences across caste and abilities.<ref name=":2" />

Some of these authors, both Indian and of the [[Indian diaspora]], include [[Suniti Namjoshi]], [[Arundhati Roy]], [[Akhil Katyal]], [[Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar]], [[Megha Majumdar]], [[Anushka Jasraj]], [[Vikram Chandra (novelist)|Vikram Chandra]], [[Vikram Seth]], [[Sachin Kundalkar]], [[Amruta Patil]], [[Anjali Joseph]], [[Vasudhendra]], [[Saikat Majumdar]], [[Jerry Pinto]], Sandip Roy, and Aditi Angiras.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Ghoshal |first=Somak |date=29 August 2020 |title=Is Indian publishing becoming more queer-friendly? |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/queering-the-publishing-pitch-111634487311171.html |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> Saurabh Sharma reviews some of these authors' works as being more affirming with more accurate representation of queer identities and themes than others. However, the writers cover a wide variety of topics, across many different writing forms. Their literature is written and translated into a variety of languages, including regional languages like [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Kannada]].<ref name=":2" />

Autobiographies by [[Transgender|trans]] people have been published recently with the goal of sharing trans and [[Hijra (South Asia)|hijra]] experiences with [[cisgender]] readers. Since 2010, major publications include: ''The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story'' by [[A. Revathi|A Revathi]], ''I Am Vidya'' by [[Living Smile Vidya]], ''Me Hijra, Me Laxmi'' by [[Laxmi Narayan Tripathi|Laxmi]], ''We Are Not The Others'' by [[Kalki Subramaniam]], and ''The Yellow Sparrow'' by [[Santa Khurai]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghoshal |first=Somak |date=5 April 2026 |title=What A. Revathi's memoir ‘The Truth About Me’ teaches us about transgender lives |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/the-truth-about-me-revathi-hijra-11775377848881.html |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

== Publishing world ==

=== Publishers ===
By the 1990s, Indian publishers rarely published works of [[LGBTQ literature|queer literature]]. Some LGBTQ-themed English-language academic texts had recently been published.<ref name=":7" /> More publishers released LGBTQ+ works throughout the 21st century, and senior publishers working in the area in 2023 believed it would continue to slowly expand.<ref name=":4" />

Arpita Das began [[Yoda Press]]'s "Sexualities Series" in 2005, which expanded Indian queer literature away from academic titles.<ref name=":7" /> Independent presses like Yoda Press were the first modern publishers to platform marginalized authors writing about their own communities. Presses like [[Zubaan Books|Zubaan]], Women Unlimited, [[Navayana (publishing house)|Navayana]], Panther's Paw, and Niyogi Books were founded with the specific motivation to share works from queer and Dalit authors.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Kannadasan |first=Akila |date=12 January 2023 |title=Queer Publishing House, exclusively for books on and by the LGBTQ, is now at the Chennai Book Fair 2023 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/queer-publishing-house-exclusively-for-books-on-and-by-the-lgbtq-is-now-at-the-chennai-book-fair-2023/article66359951.ece |access-date=2026-04-13 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Mainstream publishers like Penguin and Simon & Schuster have also published queer works, but this generally followed the mainstreaming of queer writing via small publishers.<ref name=":4" /> Other small queer presses include Queer Publishing House<ref name=":10" /> and [[Speaking Tiger Books|Speaking Tiger]]<ref name=":11" />. [[Westland Books]] launched the Queer Directions imprint through Karthika VK and [[Parmesh Shahani]], and [[Seagull Books]] has a Pride list.<ref name=":11" />

Many of these publishers focus on English-language editions, which many marginalized readers from accessing the writing. Some presses are working on developing more works in translation to expand their reach and communicate across language communities.<ref name=":4" />

The Queer Muslim Project, founded by Rafiul Alom, publishes and supports queer writers. Their Queer Writers' Room mentors new South Asian writers in partnership with the [[University of Iowa]]'s [[International Writing Program]].<ref name=":11" /> [[Sappho for Equality]] is an [[LGBTQ rights in India|LGBTQ rights]] organization that runs workshops and events, along with publishing works about LGBTQ topics.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=26 May 2016 |title=Reaching Beyond The City: The LGBT Literatures in Indian Bhasas |url=https://gaysifamily.com/lifestyle/reaching-beyond-the-city-the-lgbt-literatures-in-indian-bhasas/ |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=[[Gaysi]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Magazines ===
Periodicals addressing the [[LGBTQ people|LGBTQ+]] community and themes begin with [[Bombay Dost]], founded in 1990. In 1997, the [[Stree Sangam]] Bombay collective began publishing ''[[Scripts (magazine)|Scripts]]''. They were followed by ''[[Gaysi]]'' in 2008, ''The Queer Chronicle'' and ''[[Pink Pages]]'' in 2009, and ''[[Gaylaxy (magazine)|Gaylaxy]]'' in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaidya |first=Shreya |date=8 June 2021 |title=6 Indian LGBTQ Magazines You Should Know |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/5-indian-lgbt-magazines-you-should-know |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}</ref> [[Sappho for Equality]] publishes ''Swakanthe'', containing articles in Bengali and English.<ref name=":12" />

=== Events and awards ===
In 2018, [[Queer LitFest, Chennai|Queer LitFest]] began in [[Chennai]], and was the first Indian literature festival dedicated to the [[LGBTQ people|LGBTQ]] community. The Awadh Queer Literature Festival later began in [[Lucknow]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Srinjoy |date=29 August 2022 |title=Mini JLFs sprouting across India. Lit fest boom in Nagpur, Ranchi, Kanpur, Indore, Kokrajhar |url=https://theprint.in/feature/mini-jlfs-sprouting-across-india-lit-fest-boom-in-nagpur-ranchi-kanpur-indore-kokrajhar/1101536/ |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[ThePrint]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2018, an LGBT [[Marathi language|Marathi]] literature festival started in [[Pune]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torgalkar |first=Varsha |date=23 November 2018 |title=Pune’s first LGBT Marathi litfest wants to make regional queer literature accessible |url=https://scroll.in/article/903077/punes-first-lgbt-marathi-litfest-wants-to-make-regional-queer-literature-accessible |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |language=en}}</ref> It became Mooknayak, a festival prioritizing LGBTQ+ [[Marathi language|Marathi]] literature, run by the Bindu Queer Rights Foundation and Yutak Charitable Trust within the [[Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2019 |title=Pune: Second edition of Marathi LGBTQI literary festival, Mooknayak, today |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-second-edition-of-marathi-lgbtqi-literary-festival-mooknayak-today-6189635/ |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Kurale |first=Shubham |date=24 September 2025 |title=Pune: Fourth LGBTIQ Literary Festival Honours Community Achievements, Literary Contributions |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-fourth-lgbtiq-literary-festival-honours-community-achievements-literary-contributions |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[Free Press Journal]] |language=en}}</ref> They had held four festivals by 2025, and hoped to expand to English and Hindi literature the next year.<ref name=":8" />

In 2019, [[Sharif D Rangnekar|Sharif D. Rangnekar]] founded Rainbow Lit Fest in order to provide a literary event dedicated to gender and sexual minorities in India.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Bhandari |first=Bibek |date=19 November 2023 |title=After India’s top court refuses to legalise gay marriage, a Delhi queer literary fest hopes to ‘reclaim our space’ |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3241937/after-indias-top-court-refuses-legalise-gay-marriage-delhi-queer-literary-fest-hopes-reclaim-our |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, they founded the [[Rainbow Awards]] for Literature and Journalism to recognize LGBTQ+ writing by Indian authors.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Scroll Staff |date=25 May 2023 |title=Inaugural Rainbow Awards to honour queer literature and journalism |url=https://scroll.in/article/1049736/inaugural-rainbow-awards-to-honour-queer-literature-and-journalism |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> Eligible works must be written in English or translated from an Indian language into English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rainbow Awards FAQ |url=https://therainbowawards.in/faq/ |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[Rainbow Awards]] |language=en-US}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, the festival had met five times, for a predominantly English and Hindi-language audience. They hoped to become more inclusive for marginalized attendees, but needed more funds to fund flights for people from rural and remote areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bachchhav |first=Prasanna |date=18 December 2025 |title=Good queer vs bad queer—Rainbow Lit Fest brought out tensions within the community |url=https://theprint.in/feature/queer-rainbow-lit-fest-tensions/2807915/ |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Bookstores ===
Arpita Das, founder of [[Yoda Press]], began the independent bookstore Yodakin in 2009 in [[Hauz Khas Village]], Delhi. It platformed books from marginalized communities and supported queer literary events.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitter |first=Siddhartha |date=24 May 2013 |title=Letter from Delhi: A Bookstore of Safety |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/letter-from-delhi-a-bookstore-of-safety |access-date=2026-04-14 |work=[[The New Yorker]] |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> Queer Ink is the first openly queer bookstore established in India. It was founded in 2010 in Mumbai by [[Shobhna S. Kumar|Shobhna Kumar]], an out lesbian who wanted to increase the accessibility of LGBTQ+ books in India.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2010 |title=India’s first gay bookstore opens in city |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/india-s-first-gay-bookstore-opens-in-city/story-K4rmrOMQPl4iMxcNYmaMII.html |access-date=13 April 2026 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Radhika Timbadia started Champaca Bookstore, a cafe and store in [[Bengaluru]]. It highlights indie publications and underrepresented stories, including queer literature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Chetna |date=30 April 2025 |title=Champaca, Bengaluru. A platform for books, zines and fanzines to defend the indie-publishing scene |url=https://lampoonmagazine.com/champaca-bengaluru-bookstore-cafe/ |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=Lampoon Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> In August 2025, Prarthana Prasad opened Beku, a queer-affirming café and bookstore in South Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zachariah |first=Preeti |date=15 August 2025 |title=Bengaluru’s Beku brings together books, bakes and beverages |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bengalurus-beku-brings-together-books-bakes-and-beverages/article69936331.ece |access-date=2026-04-14 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{LGBTQ fiction}}

[[Category:LGBTQ literature in India| ]]
[[Category:History of literature in India]]

LGBTQ literature in India - Revision history

AlfonzoEsh at 18:49, 7 May 2026