Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don’t Tell You by Devdutt Pattanaik was released at the right juncture when the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) struggle for dignity came to the fore in India. Homosexuality, often considered a taboo today, has existed since ages. In this book, Pattanaik has explored the theme of queerness and gender fluidity, and has given the readers a glimpse into the stories of the queer that have adorned the chapters of Hindu mythology.
The book begins with the mention of queer sexual behaviour as depicted in various cultures across the world. Further, Pattanaik explores the discovery of queerness in different times and cultures. The author talks about patriarchy, feminism and queerness with an intent to make the reader understand that everything is accepted in the realm of this vast universe with equal respect and dignity.
During the course of the book, the author makes an important point—the soul has no gender. Pattanaik accomplishes this through one of the most striking passages in the book: “Feminism, the idea that men and women are equal is, however, discovered in Hinduism as the scriptures point to the difference between the soul and the flesh. The soul has no gender. Gender comes from the flesh. The unenlightened value of the flesh, hence gender, over the soul. Such an unenlightened being values the male flesh over the female flesh, the young flesh over the old flesh, flesh encased in fair skin rather than dark skin, the property owned by that flesh, the family to which that flesh belongs, the stature of that flesh in society. The enlightened see the flesh purely in functional terms: they venerate both the devadasi, who offered her body to everyone and the sanyasi, who offered his body to no one.”
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