Hoshang Merchant, still a poster-boy for gay liberation at 75
In this special Pride Month episode, Sandip interviews Hoshang Merchant, a poet and writer who has never been shy about discussing love, sex, and religion. Born in 1947, Merchant has led a life that has taken him across the globe, from Mumbai to Los Angeles, and from Heidelberg to Jerusalem. In 1999, he edited the pioneering anthology of gay writing from South Asia titled ‘Yaaraan.’ Additionally, he has authored multiple books, including the autobiographical fiction under the title ‘The Man Who Would Be Queen.’In this candid conversation, Merchant talks about his experiences of growing up gay, reinventing love at 75, his thoughts on the same sex marriage debate, and more.This episode contains the use of explicit language and adult themes. Listener discretion is advised.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar