Gendered Spaces and Queer Marginality in Vasudhendra’s Mohanaswamy

This articles examines Vasudhendra’s Mohanaswamy through the lens of ‘gendered space’, exploring how societal and physical spaces reinforce gender norms and marginalize queer identities within Kannada-speaking communities in India. Analyzing stories like Mohanaswamy and Bicycle Riding, the research investigates how restrictive environments impose psychological and social isolation on the protagonist, who contends with both internal and external prejudices. In Mohanaswamy, the protagonist’s loss of his partner, Karthik, underscores how deeply ingrained societal expectations enforce emotional separation within heteronormative spaces, marked by derogatory terms like “gandu sule” and “hennu huli” that stigmatize queer identities. Meanwhile, Bicycle Riding uses the confined space of a bicycle as a metaphor for suppressed intimacy, symbolizing the erasure of same-sex affection from public spaces. This study argues that these gendered spaces demand Mohanaswamy’s concealment of his desires and identity, ultimately enforcing resilience amidst cultural repression. By examining these dimensions, this research situates Mohanaswamy within broader discourses on gender and queer marginalization, challenging Kannada literature’s engagement with sexuality and identity.

Keywords:Vasudhendra, Mohanaswamy, gendered space, gender inequality, Kannada literature, queer studies, heteronormativity, Indian literature.