In this blogpost, we share a curated list of books for pride month, including some by queer writers in India.
June is here, and with it comes an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and amplify queer voices, especially those close to home. India has a rich and evolving tapestry of LGBTQ+ narratives, many of which remain under-read and under-celebrated. This Pride Month, we are spotlighting 24 remarkable books by queer writers in India, spanning memoirs, poetry, fiction, and anthologies.
These works don’t just tell powerful stories, they challenge norms, carve out space, and reflect the lived realities of LGBTQ+ lives across regions, languages, and generations.
Whether you’re looking to explore books for Pride Month, deepen your allyship, or simply discover brilliant writing, this list offers a title for every day of June.
24 Must-Read books for Pride Month
Memoirs & Non-Fiction by Queer Writers in India
Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India – K. Vaishali
A candid memoir exploring the intersections of sexuality and neurodivergence.
A Small Step in a Long Journey: A Memoir – Akkai Padmashali
The inspiring journey of a trans rights activist challenging societal norms.
I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey – Living Smile Vidya
A powerful narrative of a trans woman’s fight for identity and acceptance.
The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story – A. Revathi
An unflinching autobiography of a hijra navigating societal challenges.
Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace – Parmesh Shahani
A manifesto advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in corporate India.
Out! Stories from the New Queer India – Edited by Minal Hajratwala
An anthology capturing diverse queer experiences across India.
Because I Have a Voice: Queer Politics in India – Edited by Arvind Narrain & Gautam Bhan
A collection of essays discussing queer rights and politics in India.
Shikhandi: And Other Queer Tales They Don’t Tell You – Devdutt Pattanaik
A powerful retelling of mythological stories through a queer lens, reclaiming characters and narratives often ignored or erased from mainstream Hindu mythology.
No Outlaws in the Gender Galaxy – Edited by Chayanika Shah, Raj Merchant, and others
Narratives highlighting the lives of gender non-conforming individuals in India.
Red Lipstick: The Men in My Life – Laxmi Narayan Tripathi
A memoir focusing on the author’s relationships and experiences.
Recommended Reads: Bestselling Book- What does it mean to have one?
Fiction & Short Stories with Queer Characters: Books for Pride Month
The Scent of God – Saikat Majumdar
A novel about forbidden love in a monastic school setting.
Cobalt Blue – Sachin Kundalkar
A story of love and heartbreak within a family.
Mohanaswamy – Vasudhendra
A Kannada novel delving into the life of a gay man in India.
A Life Apart – Neel Mukherjee
A narrative exploring migration, loneliness, and queer identity.
My Magical Palace – Kunal Mukherjee
A coming-of-age story of a gay boy in 1980s India.
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness – Arundhati Roy
Features a moving portrait of Anjum, a hijra protagonist.
Lihaaf (The Quilt) – Ismat Chughtai
A 1942 classic with lesbian subtext that challenged societal norms.
This House of Clay and Water– Faiqa Mansab
A novel delving into themes of forbidden love, societal norms, and the intersections of gender and spirituality featuring a prominent hijra character named Bhanggi.
The Boyfriend – R. Raj Rao
A groundbreaking novel portraying gay life in Mumbai.
The Devourers – Indra Das
A fantasy novel intertwining queer themes with folklore.
Poetry & Anthologies by Queer Writers in India
Yaarana– Edited by Hoshang Merchat
An anthology featuring diverse gay writing from South Asia.
The World That Belongs To Us: An Anthology of Queer Poetry from South Asia – Edited by Aditi Angiras & Akhil Katyal
A collection showcasing queer poetic voices from South Asia.
Out of Line and Offline: Queer Mobilizations in ’90s Eastern India – Pawan Dhall
Chronicles queer activism and community building in Eastern India.
Queer Potli: Memories, Imaginations and Re-imaginations of Urban Queer Spaces in India – Orinam Collective
Vignettes of queer urban life across Indian cities.
For decades in India, gay voices existed in the margins—whispered, hidden, or erased altogether. Under the shadow of Section 377, which criminalized queer intimacy, generations of LGBTQ+ individuals grew up fearing not just societal judgment, but legal persecution.
This silence wasn’t just in homes or streets—it echoed through publishing houses, classrooms, and cultural institutions. Queer writers in India often had to cloak their truths in metaphor, or remain unpublished entirely. But since the decriminalization of Section 377 in 2018, a quiet revolution has begun.
Today, it’s heartening to see queer stories stepping boldly into the mainstream—winning awards, appearing on bestseller lists, taking center stage at litfests. These aren’t just personal narratives; they are acts of reclamation, resistance, and visibility. And now more than ever, these stories deserve to be read widely, because representation is not a trend, it’s a necessity.
*-*-*
This is by no means an exhaustive list—but it’s a heartfelt one. We’ve kept it to 30, one for each day of Pride Month, but there are so many more voices waiting to be read, loved, and shared.
What are your favourite books by queer writers in India?
Did we miss a title that you think belongs here?
Drop your recommendations and thoughts in the comments, we would love to grow this list together, one page at a time.
Let’s keep reading. Let’s keep listening. Let’s keep celebrating Pride—through stories that matter.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links.
Leave a Reply to South Asian Literature: 10 Must Read Titles to Know the Unbelievable impact of IndependenceCancel reply