HIV spread fast in the 80s, but research and education on the topic is lacking—people have a limited understanding of how it spreads and how to prevent it. The government ignores medical advice and tries to stop the spread by jailing sick people. We hear from Siddharth Dube about how the police, as the enforcers of these rules, wield their power against gay people.

What is the personal effect of a law? How much can the government restrict a person's fundamental rights in trying to control an epidemic?

Anand Grover believes these punitive measures violate the constitution and joins the case with Anjali. He tells the story of Dominic D’Souza, who was arrested in Goa for being HIV positive. Dominic inspired him to fight this case and that decision changed his life.

Show Notes

All clips and voices used in this podcast are owned by the original creators.

The following guests appeared in this episode:

• Siddharth Dube, author and public health official
• Anand Grover
• Jaya Sharma, queer activist and feminist
• Anjali Gopalan

References

• An indefinite sentence: a personal history of outlawed love and sex, a memoir by Siddharth Dube: https://www.siddharthdube.com/no-one-else.html
• ‘Mazhai Kaala Megam’, song from Vaazhvey Mayam, featuring Sri Devi and Kamal Hassan
• NewsX clip featuring Baba Ramdev: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ61Jc5ibZ0
• Excerpt from an interview with Arif Jafar, from the film Many People Many Desiresby T Jayashree, courtesy of QAMRA
• AIDS Bhedhbav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) blog/website: http://aidsbhedbhavvirodhiandolan.blogspot.com/
• CNA’s interview of Kiran Bedi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwB9fmP2zaA