Mumbai’s Darshan Mandhana to represent India at Mr Gay World 2017

I love beauty pageants. My heart skipped a beat when Aishwarya and Sushmita had a tie and Sush won in 1994. I got an intellectual orgasm when I watched Lara Dutta, with whom I share my birthdate, showcasing the signature Bharatnatyam mudras at the Miss Universe contest. As a child, I wanted to become Lara Dutta when I grew up. However, for men, who were not the conventional models, there were hardly any avenues. That’s why, thank god for the Mr Gay World India pageant.

I am too old for contesting, but I am young enough to be a part of the jury. For the second time in a row, I proudly judged the Mr Gay World India pageant, put together by the India Director, my gay child Sushant Divgikar. It was a 10-member jury to judge three finalists. The contestants were grilled thoroughly and they endured it all with a smile.

Saiganesh Krishnamoorthy, won the judge’s question and answer session. He was well researched, thoughtful and empathetic. We all have some challenges in life, however, how we deal with them makes us the real hero. Sai lost his parents, lived with relatives, has a mentally-challenged sibling and is a survivor of childhood molestation. This didn’t break him. It made him. This boy evoked no sympathy but only empathy as he spoke eloquently about himself and displayed high competitive spirit.

Rohan Pujari, the first runner up, hails from rural Maharashtra and chose to work with The Humsafar Trust to take his plans for the LGBTQIA+ community further. He has been thoroughly involved in grassroot activism and has honed his skills. He doesn’t speak the Queen’s English, but is not ashamed of his Marathi accent or his humble background. He unanimously won our hearts with his earthy attitude and aptitude for goodness.

That brings me to Darshan Madhana, the winner of the pageant, who hails from a super conservative Marwari joint family, and is going to represent India in Spain this year. This boy is the most persistent person I have ever met. He missed winning the Mr Gay World India title over the last two years, and was third time lucky. That’s what love can do to people. Darshan was supported by his life-partner who encouraged him to participate every time he lost. Darshan did. And he won.

That’s what contests should be like. They should help churn out the very best of talents, not just on the parameter of external beauty but on their attitude and talent to excel. Some people abroad, still think the whole of India is homophobic. Well it’s not. People like Darshan, Saiganesh and Rohan make that distinction. And they have a giant leap forward.

You also begin. Come out! Okay?

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