Watch the fifth conversation in the ‘Vidhi Book Adda’ series – discussing the book ‘The Law of Desire: Rulings on Sex and Sexuality in India’ by Madhavi Menon.

While the legal battle for the recognition of queer rights may be a recent phenomenon, the existence of queer desire and intimacy goes back decades. In her book, Madhavi Menon provides a perspicacious perspective of how Indian law has interpreted and continues to interpret cases of ‘non-normative’ intimacies and desires. By using desire as a locus to understand the law’s position on sex and sexuality rights, the book provides a rich set of examples of how the law has failed, time and time again, to fully comprehend the richness and multiplicity of identities that encompass all of us.

Given that more than three years have passed since the passage of the landmark Navtej judgment, this book comes at an opportune time to reflect upon the law’s understanding of queerness, belonging, intimacy, desire, identity, and rights.

SPEAKERS:

• Madhavi Menon, Author of ‘The Law of Desire: Rulings on Sex and Sexuality in India’, Professor of English at Ashoka University, and Director of the Centre for Studies in Gender & Sexuality
• Navaneetha Mokkil, Discussant, Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University

The Adda was moderated by Kanav Narayan Sahgal, Programme Manager, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.