“Sexuality is something that we ourselves create. It is our own creation, and much more than the discovery of a secret side of our desire.” – Paul-Michel Foucault.

Alan Mathison Turing (June 23, 1912 – June 7, 1954) – the English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher and theoretical biologist – had committed suicide on June 7, 1954. Before leaving this world, Turing helped his country win the Second World War with his technical prowess, as he successfully managed to break the German ciphers (coded messages). However, the Authorities in the UK chemically castrated one of the best scientists, technologists and one of its best children for homosexuality in the early 1950s. Turing committed suicide after that procedure was over.

It may be noted that Homosexual Acts were criminal offences in the UK at that period of time, in spite of the fact that such acts have always been a common practice among the (nature’s) minority. Homosexuality has also been observed in many birds and animals, such as giraffes, bison, lions, dolphins, swans and sheep. According to researchers, nearly 8% of sheep are homosexuals… however, sheep are not castrated for their sexual orientation, as there are no religious instructions for them. Usually, the world’s best lives do not get sacrificed in State Terrorism.

In India, homosexuality was decriminalised a couple of years ago. Such an act had been considered as a crime in this country since the 19th Century, as the Indians used to argue that homosexuality was “against the order of nature”. In fact, the colonial British rulers had enforced the law in India. However, homosexuality was recognised in the Kama Sutra (an Indian book on sex and love written by Mallanaga Vatsyayana in the 2nd Century CE), and the practice could be seen in various architectures, especially in Indian temples at Khajuraho and Konark. It may not be the favorite sexual orientation of the majority, but it is a normal sexual choice for some. Social leaders accepted this practice in ancient times, and even in the Middle Ages.

However, various religions are generally against the homosexuality because this practice cannot produce children, and, organised religions, seemingly, want the growth in the number of followers in the form of human beings. Religions have always tried to set an example for others by severely punishing those who refuse to obey the natural process of producing children. Religions, along with the State, want to change the natural choice of a section of people. Even today, quite a few Indian parents consult doctors to change their children’s sexual orientation because of social pressure, fear, embarrassment and humiliation.

The Indian society has forgotten its own system of Social Inclusion due to the colonial hangover. Not just sexual habits, but the concept of sexuality was hidden under the carpet in Victorian Culture. In fact, the patriarchal society had disciplined Polygamy long ago, but strictly prohibited the practice of Polyandry. Initially, people used to live together with other members of a group. Later, they learned farming, set up a family and acquired private property. Then, people felt the need of having offspring to inherit those properties, and started giving their properties to those who would carry their names forward.

The society prohibited the Polyandry in order to establish the ownership of private property. The State System, which gradually emerged 5,000-7,000 years ago, banned Polyandry by enacting laws regarding the same. Powerful men practiced Polygamy in different countries even in the 19th Century. The Ottoman and Mughal harems, and concubines of the Chinese emperors were fine examples of this practice. Even today, Islam recognises Polygamy, and Mormons, possibly, recognise it, too.

Of course, Catholicism made an attempt to curb Polygamy. However, the powerful men refused to follow the instruction of Catholic Church in this regard. One may recall that King Henry VIII of England (June 28, 1491 – January 28, 1547) formally broke ties with the Pope and the Roman Church in the 16th Century after Pope Clement VII had refused to grant him an annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he could wed Anne. His appeal for an annulment was on the grounds that their union contravened the scriptures, citing Leviticus 20.21, which prohibits a man from marrying his brother’s widow. In 1533, the English Parliament passed the Act in Restraint of Appeals, denying papal jurisdiction in England and ending appeals of court cases to Rome. The 1534 Act of Supremacy recognised the King as the Supreme Head of the Church in England with full power and authority to reform the institution and amend all errors and heresies. On July 26, 2012, the House of Lords introduced a bill to grant a statutory posthumous pardon to Turing for offences under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, of which he was convicted on March 31, 1952. This shamelessness and hypocrisy have stunned humanity.

Almost all the creatures, including human beings, in this world are polygamous, in nature. Monogamy has been recognised by society only to fix the ownership of private property. Society imposed a ban on polygamy only after coming under pressure. However, all these rules and prohibitions are temporary. The increasing number of divorce worldwide shows that people do not want to go against the Natural Law. Currently, we live in a temporary interim society, which shall not exist in future. Property shall be divided after the separation, and the children shall decide with whom (mother or father) they shall stay. Society shall accept this change without any resistance. During this temporary interim period, one needs to show a little sympathy and to hold the hands of (nature’s) minority community.

The fate of Turing was pathetic. It is unfortunate that a genius, like him, had to experience a lot of pain, suffering and harassment without committing any heinous offence. He suffered a lot only because of the collective incredible stupidity of social animals.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das