7 Regional-Language Indian Queer Books You Should Definitely Read!

In a literary landscape long dominated by metropolitan voices and heteronormative narratives, regional-language Indian queer books have quietly—and powerfully—reshaped the contours of representation. From the smoky bylanes of Urdu short fiction to raw Tamil autobiographies and groundbreaking Kannada novels, these works illuminate queer lives in all their complexity, desire, and defiance. Translated into English with care, they not only offer urgent stories of identity, marginalisation, and resilience, but also anchor them in specific cultural and linguistic contexts. Together, they form a vital, subversive canon—one that demands a place on every bookshelf dedicated to truth, diversity, and the richness of Indian literature.

These seven regional-language Indian queer works offer perspectives and voices that are often marginalised in mainstream literary discourse, proving that authentic queer narratives transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries while providing essential insights into the diversity of the Indian queer experience.

1. Mohanaswamy by Vasudhendra (translated by Rashmi Terdal)

This groundbreaking collection of Kannada short stories offers unflinching portrayals of gay men navigating middle-class South Indian society with remarkable honesty and sensitivity. Vasudhendra's fearless exploration of homosexuality in conservative settings broke new ground in regional Indian literature, earning both acclaim and controversy for its authentic depiction of queer desire. The stories delve deep into the psychological landscape of men grappling with their sexuality whilst maintaining facades of respectability, creating a powerful indictment of societal hypocrisy. Each narrative combines intimate personal moments with broader social commentary, making this collection essential reading for understanding contemporary queer experience in Karnataka.

2. Cobalt Blue by Sachin Kundalkar (translated by Jerry Pinto)

A haunting Marathi novel about siblings who unknowingly fall for the same man, exploring desire, family secrets, and the complexity of love in small-town Maharashtra with exquisite poetic precision. This delicate narrative captures the intoxicating nature of forbidden love whilst examining the suffocating expectations of traditional Indian families, where conformity often comes at the cost of personal happiness. Kundalkar weaves a tale that transcends simple romantic complications, delving into questions of identity, belonging, and the courage required to live authentically. The book's lyrical prose and nuanced character development create an atmosphere of longing and melancholy that lingers long after the final page.

3. Me Hijra Me Laxmi by Laxmi Narayan Tripathi (translated by R. Raj Rao and P.G. Joshi)

A pioneering autobiography in Hindi that chronicles the life of India's most prominent hijra activist, offering rare insights into transgender experience and the ongoing struggle for recognition and rights. Tripathi's candid memoir broke barriers by bringing hijra experiences into mainstream literary discourse, combining deeply personal struggles with broader social activism in a narrative that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The book provides crucial documentation of the hijra community's marginalisation whilst celebrating their resilience and cultural significance. Through her unflinching honesty about discrimination, violence, and the journey towards self-acceptance, Tripathi creates a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit.

4. The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story by A. Revathi (translated by V. Geetha)

This Tamil autobiography presents the raw reality of transgender life in South India, detailing the painful journey from family rejection to eventual self-acceptance with unflinching honesty and remarkable courage. Revathi's narrative provides crucial documentation of transgender experiences whilst challenging deeply entrenched societal prejudices through deeply personal storytelling that refuses to sanitise or romanticise the struggles faced. The book offers invaluable insights into the hijra community's customs, traditions, and internal hierarchies, whilst simultaneously serving as a powerful indictment of society's treatment of gender minorities. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for others facing similar struggles, demonstrating that dignity and self-worth can prevail over even the most entrenched forms of discrimination.

6. A Life Misspent by Suryakant Tripathi Nirala (translated by Satti Khanna)

This compelling memoir from one of Hindi literature’s foremost voices captures a young poet’s confrontation with caste, sexuality, and grief in pre‑Independence India. Through Khanna’s clear, elegant translation, Nirala transforms his autobiographical account of befriending Kulli Bhaat—a Dalit and queer figure—into a provocative exploration of forbidden friendship and social taboos. Set against a backdrop of epidemic, poverty, and political ferment, A Life Misspent chronicles how Nirala’s worldview is reshaped by his bond with Kulli. The narrative dares to question caste hierarchies, religious orthodoxy, and assimilationist impulses towards icons like Gandhi and Nehru. With biting wit and candour, Nirala documents the painful loss of loved ones, the struggle to find a poetic voice, and the moral awakening that comes from crossing forbidden lines. At just over a hundred pages, this slim, startling memoir stands as an early and essential testament to queer and caste-conscious thought in modern Indian literature.

6. Hungry Humans by Karichan Kunju (translated by Sudha G Tilak)

This pioneering Tamil novel delves into human desire, sexuality, and the intricate dynamics of masculinity within the confines of caste and social repression in 1970s Tamil Nadu. Considered the pioneering novel that started transgressive fiction in Tamil literature, Karichan Kunju's unflinching examination of forbidden desires and societal taboos broke new ground in regional Indian writing. The narrative delves into themes of sexuality and desire with remarkable boldness for its time, exposing the raw realities of human relationships stripped of social artifice. The themes of masculinity, desire and sexuality, caged within caste and repression, combine to give readers front-row seats to the many acts we put on for and as a community. Through its provocative exploration of transgressive relationships and social boundaries, the novel remains startlingly relevant decades after its original publication.

7. Lihaaf (The Quilt) by Ismat Chughtai (translated by Syeda Saiyidain Hameed)

A groundbreaking 1942 Urdu short story that boldly depicted female same-sex desire, causing scandal and legal challenges whilst establishing a landmark in queer South Asian literature decades before the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Chughtai's fearless exploration of women's sexuality and desire challenged every convention of her time, creating a narrative that remains startlingly relevant and powerful today. The story's symbolic richness and psychological depth reveal the author's sophisticated understanding of repressed desire and the ways in which women navigate restrictive social environments. Through its controversial subject matter and unflinching honesty, the story demonstrated that authentic queer narratives transcend time and cultural boundaries, resonating with universal experiences of desire, frustration, and the search for genuine connection.