Charan Singh: Your Tongue in My Mouth

Across South Asia, gender fluidity and sexual diversity have deep histories that have often been obscured and overlooked. Your Tongue in My Mouth examines how British colonial rule imposed rigid controls on gender expression and intimacy in India, criminalising long-established third gender, queer and trans communities. Charan Singh’s new portraits of Hijra, Kothi and trans people centre their agency as individuals and their shared histories; drawing on long-standing relationships Singh formed through more than two decades of HIV/AIDS advocacy and community organising. These new portraits affirm ways of belonging that existed long before colonialism, acknowleging the sitters’ right to define how they are seen, represented and understood. The terms Hijra and Kothi refer to experiences of gender, identity and ways of life rooted in South Asian cultures that do not have direct English equivalents. For many Hijra, identity is connected not only to gender but also to shared traditions, cultural practices and social ties. Depending on the context, Kothi may speak to the ways gender, sexuality, desire and social relationships are expressed and understood.