At the Intersection of Queerness, Disease, and Tropics: Walking the Streets of Anosh Irani's ‘The Parcel’

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of Anosh Irani's novel The Parcel, with a particular focus on queerness and disease within the Hijra community of prostitutes in the tropical setting of Kamathipura, the notorious red-light district of Mumbai, India. The paper delves into the novel's nuanced portrayal of queerness, exploring how it intersects with the theme of disease within the tropical milieu. Extending the theoretical works of Elizabeth Outka on disease, and Erving Goffman on stigma to the queer tropics, the study explores how these elements interact and influence the lived experiences of the Hijra community. The paper highlights how the novel presents contagion and disease as a pervasive aspect of the characters' lives, shaping their experiences and identities. The tropical enclave of Kamathipura is examined for its role in compounding the challenges faced by the Hijra community, including health disparities and social stigma. This study contributes to literary scholarship on queerness and health in the Indian tropics, offering a deeper understanding of the realities faced by marginalized communities.

Keywords

• Disease and Social Stigma
• Queer literature
• Hijra Community
• Kamathipura Prostitution District
• Tropical India
• Anosh Irani