"My acceptance speech was one line: ‘Der aayé par durust aayé (Better late than never)’… People said I’m luckier to get the award in old age than those who are posthumously rewarded.” India’s first openly gay poet Hoshang Merchant was speaking to Parsiana on being recognized at the Rainbow Lit Fest — Queer and Inclusive held on December 9-10, 2023 at the Gulmohar Park Club, New Delhi for his work in gay activism over decades. Author of 20 books of poetry and four critical studies, Merchant has edited India’s first gay anthology Yaraana: Gay Writing from India (see "(Un)happy and......