Manvendra Singh Gohil
Encyclopedia
Manvendra Singh Raghubir Singh (known as 'Manvendra Singh Gohil', 'Manvendrasingh Gohil', 'Manvendra Gohil,' 'Manvendra Kumar Gohil,' or 'Manvendra Kumar Singh'; born 23 September 1965 in Ajmer
) belongs to the royal family of the former princely state
of Rajpipla
in India
.
His parents attempted but failed to disinherit him after he revealed his homosexuality
, and since then his relations with the family have been in question. He is the only known person of royal lineage in modern India to have publicly revealed he is gay.
In January 2008, while performing an annual ceremony in Rajpipla in honour of his great-grandfather Maharaja Vijaysinhji, Manvendra Gohil announced plans to adopt a child, saying: "I have carried out all my responsibilities as the prince so far and will continue as long as I can. I will also adopt a child soon so that all traditions continue". If the adoption proceeds, it will be the first known case of a single gay man adopting a child in India.
, 23 September 1965, as the son of Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, who inherited the title of Maharana
of Rajpipla in 1963. The princes were derecognized by the Republic of India in 1971. Therefore their residence Rajvant Palace has been converted into a resort ( Several Royal Palaces have been converted into Resorts, Universities and Government buildings after the derecognization by the Republic of India). Manvendra had a traditional and conservative upbringing. He was educated at Bombay Scottish School
and at Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics, Vile Parle
, Bombay.
In January 1991, he married Chandrika Kumari from Jhabua
, Madhya Pradesh, because, he claims, "I thought after marriage I will be alright because I never knew and nobody told me that I was gay and [that] this is normal. Homosexuality is not a disease. I tremendously regret for ruining her life. I feel guilty". The marriage ended in divorce
when Manvendra revealed his homosexuality to his wife.
"It was a total disaster. A total failure. The marriage never got consummated. I realized I had done something very wrong".
Several years after his divorce in 1992, he became involved in a social network to help gays in Gujarat.
. However, it was when he talked publicly about his sexual orientation
in 2006 that his family took action and accused him of bringing dishonour to the clan. The disowning, however, is likely to remain a symbolic act rather than legally enforceable disinheritance, given India's modern inheritance laws. He has been reunited with his father.
On 14 March 2006, the story of Manvendra's coming out
made headlines in India and around the world. His effigies were burnt in Rajpipla, where the traditional society was shocked.
Next in line were his cousins Deodats.
Manavendra appeared as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show on October 24, 2007. He was one of three persons featured in the show entitled 'Gay Around the World'. He expressed that he has no regrets about coming out, and that he believes the people of his state respect him for his leadership in preventing and educating on HIV/AIDS.
On his coming out, Manvendra has said:
Manvendra inaugurated the Euro Pride gay festival in Stockholm
, Sweden
, on 25 July 2008.
Manvendra featured in a BBC Television
series, Undercover Princes
, screened on BBC Three
in the UK in January 2009 which documented his search for a British boyfriend in Brighton
.
Since July 2010, Manvendra has served as editor of the gay male-centric print magazine Fun, which is published in Rajpipla.
/AIDS
education and prevention. A registered public charitable trust, Lakshya is a community-based organization working for HIV
/AIDS
prevention among men who have sex with men
(MSMs). It provides counseling services, clinics for treatment of sexually transmitted infections, libraries, and condom
-use promotion. Lakshya won the Civil Society Award 2006 for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among homosexual men http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/07prince.htm.
The trust also creates employment opportunities for gay men and support for other organisations for MSMs, and plans to open a hospice/old age home for gay men.
Lakshya is a member of the India Network For Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM) and a founding member of the Sexual Health Action Network (SHAN).
In 2007, Manvendra joined the Interim Governing Board of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health
, known as APCOM, a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organisations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. He serves as India Community Representative on behalf of INFOSEM, the India MSM and HIV network. Manvendra said of this work, "APCOM is one of the best mediums to bring together different nationalities and develop linkages with others working for HIV and MSM/TG. In India, it will be an important tool to influence authorities to change thinking and broaden outlooks for the betterment of society. APCOM demonstrates the essence of unity and solidarity within diversity."
In May 2009, it was announced that there are plans to turn Prince Manvendra's life story into a major motion picture. The script will be written by another Royal, a member of the erstwhile Kapurthala Royal family, Prince Amarjit Singh.
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
) belongs to the royal family of the former princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Rajpipla
Rajpipla
Rajpipla is a city and a municipality in the Narmada district in the Indian state of Gujarat.It was the capital of the former Kingdom of Rajpipla.-Geography:Rajpipla is located at . It has an average elevation of 148 metres ....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
His parents attempted but failed to disinherit him after he revealed his homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, and since then his relations with the family have been in question. He is the only known person of royal lineage in modern India to have publicly revealed he is gay.
In January 2008, while performing an annual ceremony in Rajpipla in honour of his great-grandfather Maharaja Vijaysinhji, Manvendra Gohil announced plans to adopt a child, saying: "I have carried out all my responsibilities as the prince so far and will continue as long as I can. I will also adopt a child soon so that all traditions continue". If the adoption proceeds, it will be the first known case of a single gay man adopting a child in India.
Early life
Manvendra was born at AjmerAjmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, 23 September 1965, as the son of Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, who inherited the title of Maharana
Maharana
Maharana is a variation on the Indian royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'Great king' in Hindi. It is composed of Maha- 'great' and the royal title Rana, a variation on Raja.-Salute states :...
of Rajpipla in 1963. The princes were derecognized by the Republic of India in 1971. Therefore their residence Rajvant Palace has been converted into a resort ( Several Royal Palaces have been converted into Resorts, Universities and Government buildings after the derecognization by the Republic of India). Manvendra had a traditional and conservative upbringing. He was educated at Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School
Bombay Scottish School popularly known as Scottish is a private, co-educational day school located at Mahim in Mumbai, India. The institution was established in 1847 by Scottish Christian missionaries under the name Scottish Female Orphanage....
and at Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics, Vile Parle
Vile Parle
Vile Parle , also known as "Parla", is a suburb of Mumbai. Vile Parle is also the name of the railway station in this suburb, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. Vile Parle has a significantly strong base of Marathi and Gujarati population. The name "Vile Parle" has...
, Bombay.
In January 1991, he married Chandrika Kumari from Jhabua
Jhabua
Jhabua is a town and a municipality in Jhabua district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Jhabua District.-History:...
, Madhya Pradesh, because, he claims, "I thought after marriage I will be alright because I never knew and nobody told me that I was gay and [that] this is normal. Homosexuality is not a disease. I tremendously regret for ruining her life. I feel guilty". The marriage ended in divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
when Manvendra revealed his homosexuality to his wife.
"It was a total disaster. A total failure. The marriage never got consummated. I realized I had done something very wrong".
Several years after his divorce in 1992, he became involved in a social network to help gays in Gujarat.
Coming out
Manvendra's homosexuality was revealed to his family by doctors in 2002 following his hospitalisation for a nervous breakdownNervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
. However, it was when he talked publicly about his sexual orientation
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in 2006 that his family took action and accused him of bringing dishonour to the clan. The disowning, however, is likely to remain a symbolic act rather than legally enforceable disinheritance, given India's modern inheritance laws. He has been reunited with his father.
On 14 March 2006, the story of Manvendra's coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
made headlines in India and around the world. His effigies were burnt in Rajpipla, where the traditional society was shocked.
Next in line were his cousins Deodats.
Manavendra appeared as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show on October 24, 2007. He was one of three persons featured in the show entitled 'Gay Around the World'. He expressed that he has no regrets about coming out, and that he believes the people of his state respect him for his leadership in preventing and educating on HIV/AIDS.
On his coming out, Manvendra has said:
Manvendra inaugurated the Euro Pride gay festival in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, on 25 July 2008.
Manvendra featured in a BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series, Undercover Princes
Undercover Princes
Undercover Princes is a BBC Three reality TV show which took three royal claimants from foreign cultures and placed them in Brighton where they had to 'live and date' like normal people...
, screened on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
in the UK in January 2009 which documented his search for a British boyfriend in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
Since July 2010, Manvendra has served as editor of the gay male-centric print magazine Fun, which is published in Rajpipla.
Charitable activities
In 2000, Manvendra started the Lakshya Trust, of which he is chairman, a group dedicated to HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
education and prevention. A registered public charitable trust, Lakshya is a community-based organization working for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
prevention among men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with men are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves; many men choose not to accept sexual identities of homosexual or bisexual...
(MSMs). It provides counseling services, clinics for treatment of sexually transmitted infections, libraries, and condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
-use promotion. Lakshya won the Civil Society Award 2006 for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among homosexual men http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/07prince.htm.
The trust also creates employment opportunities for gay men and support for other organisations for MSMs, and plans to open a hospice/old age home for gay men.
Lakshya is a member of the India Network For Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM) and a founding member of the Sexual Health Action Network (SHAN).
In 2007, Manvendra joined the Interim Governing Board of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health
Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health
The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health, also known as APCOM, is a network of non-profit organizations which share the mission of improving male sexual health in South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific Islands.-History:...
, known as APCOM, a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organisations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. He serves as India Community Representative on behalf of INFOSEM, the India MSM and HIV network. Manvendra said of this work, "APCOM is one of the best mediums to bring together different nationalities and develop linkages with others working for HIV and MSM/TG. In India, it will be an important tool to influence authorities to change thinking and broaden outlooks for the betterment of society. APCOM demonstrates the essence of unity and solidarity within diversity."
In May 2009, it was announced that there are plans to turn Prince Manvendra's life story into a major motion picture. The script will be written by another Royal, a member of the erstwhile Kapurthala Royal family, Prince Amarjit Singh.