Archive · 22 Sep 2025
British Colonialism and LGBTQ History in India
In India, before the British arrived, some women dressed like men and held positions of power.
There was even poetry about same-sex love!
When the British came, they didn't understand this, and saw these gender expressions as "deviant."
The British began to see some of these cultural practices as a problem, and they started to punish people for them.
This impacted how people saw same-sex love and gender expression, leading to historical erasure.
Some of the women who fought against the British were celebrated, but the British tried to erase their existence, creating a lasting effect on how we view LGBTQ+ history today.
Historical records reveal women in India dressing in male attire, even petitioning for male status in the 1890s.
Female warriors, like Kuyili and Jhalkari Bai, were leaders in resisting British rule, showcasing a protofeminist history.
The British administration often viewed gender nonconforming women with suspicion, linking them to "clandestine prostitution."
Rekhti poetry celebrated sapphic love and eroticism, but was removed from literature by Victorian influence.
British rule played a key role in reshaping cultural attitudes, leading to suppression of queer identities.
- Who
- British colonial administration and Indian LGBTQ+ individuals.
- What
- The history of LGBTQ+ individuals in India, specifically how the British criminalized and pathologized same-sex practices and gender nonconformity.
- When
- From early modernity through the 19th century, and the lasting impact on present day.
- Where
- India, focusing on various cultural groups.
- Why
- The British viewed some Indian gender expressions and same-sex practices as deviant, leading to their suppression and criminalization.
- Key Figures
- Kuyili, Jhalkari Bai, Rangin
- Poetry Style
- Rekhti
- Colonial Influence
- Criminalization and Pathologizing of LGBTQ+ practices
- Notable Groups
- Urdubegis
- Time Period Discussed
- Early Modernity to 19th Century