Shaleen Rakesh
Shaleen Rakesh, (born 12 November 1970) is an Indian author (1) (16) whose work blends lyricism, philosophical inquiry, and an intimate attentiveness to the natural world.
His essays, reflections, and shorter writings have appeared across journals, platforms, and anthologies in India and Internationally. (18) (19) (20) (21)
Shaleen has also been a leader and activist within India’s LGBTQ movement. (11) (12) (15)
Shaleen divides his life between Delhi and Dehradun, moving between the intensity of the city and the quiet expanses of the hills. His writing is deeply influenced by the landscapes he inhabits, the forests, rivers, and terraces of Uttarakhand, and by a lifelong curiosity about the human mind, its fractures, its tenderness, and its capacity for renewal. (5)
Novels. Non-fiction, and Poetry
His novel Madness (2026), (2) (7) (33) is a visceral, slow-burning excavation of the human and ecological spirit, set along the Rispana River—a fragile, hemorrhaging spine that cuts through the heart of Dehradun, India. The novel follows an aging photojournalist, known simply as "the old man," as he navigates the daily ritual of the riverbank. His lens does not seek the grand or the panoramic; instead, it obsessively records the granular collapses—the quiet, systemic insanities that pulse through his community, his rotting marriage, the dying water, and the deepening shadows of his own mind.
Shaleen has written a non-fiction book of atmospheric philosophy called Constellations (2026), (4) (27) (28) The book’s central thesis is that the modern human exists within a luminous prison—a state of hyper-visibility, moral performativity, and digital saturation that has exiled us from our primordial origin: what he calls the magnificent sea of red. To survive this exile, the author introduces the figure of the ghost. Unlike the upright man who seeks to master and rectify the world, the ghost is a figure of porosity and suave resignation. The ghost does not seek to fix the broken world but to loiter within its fractures with a state of amoral tenderness.
Shaleen is the author of The Lion and the Antler (2013) (3) (6) (32) a collection of queer poems exploring love, loss, and the body, and An Equal Indian (2021) (4) a non-fiction examination of queer sexuality, identity, and social structures in contemporary India.
His writing is known for its minimalism, emotional resonance, and a quiet philosophical undercurrent. He writes with the conviction that stories are not answers but invitations—to look more deeply, to listen more honestly, and to return to the inner landscapes we often abandon.
He currently writes several online blogs, including Shaleen Rakesh Shorts (8) and Shaleen Rakesh Blog, (9) and regularly publishes stories, essays and poems on Medium (25) and Substack (26), His stories have been published in online magazines like Literally Literary (17) and Curiosity Never Killed the Writer (5).
Early life
Shaleen was born in New Delhi to the Indian writer Mohan Rakesh. His father died when he was only two and his mother, Anita Rakesh, also a writer brought him up. (22) Shaleen was a student of Modern School Vasant Vihar New Delhi. He completed his engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering and his MBA from the S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. (23)
Gay Rights Activism
After completing his studies he jumped into gay rights activism working initially with the Naz Foundation (India) Trust. (24) As part of his activism, he was the primary petitioner to challenge Section 377 of the Indian Penal code in 2001, which criminalized consensual same sex acts in the country at that time. (11) (15) (31) (29) Shaleen was also the first activist to initiate a campaign against the psychiatric mistreatment of homosexuality in India through a petition he filed with the National Human Rights Commission of India in 2001. (12) (24) (29) (30) Shaleen wrote the first queer column in a mainstream Indian magazine starting in 2002 for a Delhi-based city magazine called Around Town, which ran for two years. (13) (14)
Early Writings
Shaleen started writing short stories and poetry from an early age. He stated he was urged by his grandmother, who was also a writer. Shaleen continued writing over the years and starting blogging his stories and essays (10). Shaleen has served as the Editor with the independent publishing house OpenWord in New Delhi. He wrote a queer poetry column for the community blog named hillele.org. Shaleen also writes for Citizen News Service (21).
Born: 12 November 1970 (age 55) (1970-11-12) New Delhi
Occupation: Author
Genre: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Books:
Madness
Constellations
The Lion and the Antler
An Equal Indian
Education:
Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, 1975-1988
Bachelor of Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, 1992
MBA from S.P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, 1995
Resident: Dehradun and Delhi NCR, India
Parents: Mohan Rakesh, Anita Rakesh
Website: http://shaleenrakesh.com
References:
(1) Wikidata (Citation for Shaleen Rakesh as an Author and Activist)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16734907
(2) Madness (Google Books)
https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Madness.html?id=v1fq0QEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
(3) The Lion and the Antler (Google Page)
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=0390fb9fead6b8d7&sxsrf=ANbL-n65vfeCFbXMesxhIimlqDcBRId3OA:1775542529789&q=The+Lion+and+Antler+Shaleen+Rakesh&si=AL3DRZELanY_V96Y0q8q1FLKlfOvBdnHgF7jIt9ftVkN5kp-lO0xw0X6sPrRmUCDdAeqWc5jAGp2j76LDtt1mdCRXMh4OI-X5rB-OZxZ8L98RizanU1DUTuxHdi6LnRxI8YIW2X6HoeNDbFgTzJCOt--F360iRDSTQaC4fcw4iuP8FMM9M7Yi71PCGgy_Yv7fLsVU7jWBCiWYAACCehH_Ks7PdkX1QQyT8_T05C6CK0TgPgpBhPiu9l8j1lhaB32rAraFkFpK9_A12Efgm4RhYTfnbYQlhBo_paPttYtoMs1nSxWKnerJG4%3D&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj73ZWui9uTAxXqR2wGHYlvJBQQmxN6BAgZEAI&biw=1163&bih=501&dpr=1.65
(4) Amazon (Books by Shaleen Rakesh)
https://www.amazon.in/s?k=shaleen+rakesh&crid=127UYWK9UL9JX&sprefix=%2Caps%2C730&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_2_0_recent
(5) Curiosity Never Killed the Writer: It Always Starts with the sky, Essay by Shaleen Rakesh
https://curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/it-always-starts-with-the-sky-d5d61034e948
(6) Pink Review Collective (Book review for the Lion and the Antler)
https://thepinkreviewcollective.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/book-review-the-lion-and-the-antler-by-shaleen-rakesh/
(7) Paper Darts Magazine (Review of Madness, a novel by Shaleen Rakesh)
https://paperdartsmagazine.wordpress.com/?_gl=1*w1y293*_gcl_au*NjI1OTA3NDMwLjE3NzM0NjYxMTMuMTE3MjY5ODgyOC4xNzczNjc0MTIyLjE3NzM2NzQxMjI.
(8) Shaleen Rakesh Shorts (Author Blog)
https://shaleenrakeshshorts.blogspot.com/
(9) Shaleen Rakesh Blog (Author Blog)
https://shaleenrakeshblog.blogspot.com/
(10) Shaleen Rakesh Website and Blog
http://shaleenrakesh.com
(11) Queer Activism in India, Naisargi Dave, 2012 (Shaleen Rakesh’s role as primary petitioner against Section 377 in Delhi High Court)
https://www.scribd.com/document/104872939/Queer-Activism-in-India-by-Naisargi-Dave
(12) Law and Other Things: (Shaleen Rakesh’s work with NHRC on the psychiatric mistreatment of homosexuality in India)
https://lawandotherthings.com/naz-foundation-and-nhrc/
(13) Wikipedia: Timeline of South Asian and Diasporic LGBTQ History (Shaleen Rakesh starts first ever queer column in mainstream magazine, Around Town)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_South_Asian_and_diasporic_LGBTQ_history
(14) Berkley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour (Shaleen Rakesh starts first ever queer column in mainstream magazine, Around Town)
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://archive.berkeleysouthasian.org/uploads/8/3/1/3/8313602/queer-history-datebook-06061.pdf
(15) Orinam.net (Official Media contacts for Section 377 advocacy, citing Shaleen Rakesh as the original petitioner)
https://orinam.net/contacts-media-covering-377/
(16) Good Reads (Shaleen Rakesh Page and books)
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18841531-shaleen-rakesh
(17) Literally Literary: The Window, a Short Story by Shaleen Rakesh
https://medium.com/literally-literary/the-window-7f5bdd5cb5f6
(18) Gaylaxy: Published articles by Shaleen Rakesh
https://www.gaylaxymag.com/author/shaleen-rakesh/
(19) Alliance India: Beyond the Binary, Essay by Shaleen Rakesh
https://allianceindia.org/beyond-a-binary-gender-in-the-work-of-alliance-india/
(20) Alliance India: A Dark Day for India, Essay by Shaleen Rakesh
https://allianceindia.org/a-dark-day-for-india/
(21) E-Pao, 2013: The Long Road Ahead, my journey as an activist, Shaleen Rakesh writing for Citizen News Service (CNS)
https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.opinions.Opinion_on_Racial_Discrimination.The_long_road_ahead_By_Shaleen_Rakesh
(22) Alchetron, Social Encyclopedia (Biographical Page on Shaleen Rakesh)
https://alchetron.com/Shaleen-Rakesh
(23) Queerbio.com (Biographical Page on Shaleen Rakesh)
https://queerbio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Shaleen_Rakesh
Engage Journal (Biographical Page on Shaleen Rakesh)
https://engagejournal.org/bios/rakesh-shaleen
(24) Café Dissensus (Interview with Shaleen Rakesh, on his journey as a social activist)
https://cafedissensus.com/2013/06/25/a-conversation-with-shaleen-rakesh-vineet-trikha/
(25) Medium: (About Shaleen Rakesh as an author, his writings)
https://medium.com/@shaleenrakesh/about
(26) Substack: Shaleen Rakesh Online
https://shaleenrakesh.substack.com/
(27) The Insight Ministry: An Interview with Shaleen Rakesh, Author of Constellations
https://theinsightministry.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/a-conversation-with-shaleen-rakesh-author-of-constellations/
(28) The PANK Review: Book Review for Constellations, by Shaleen Rakesh
https://thepankreviewdotcom.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/book-review-constellations-by-shaleen-rakesh/
(29) Social Work Practice and Men who have Sex with men, Sherry Joseph, 2005
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Social_Work_Practice_and_Men_Who_Have_Se/CMZcGGc4Ur0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PA96&printsec=frontcover
(30) The Mental Health Professions and Homosexuality, Jack Drescher, Vittorio Lingiardi, 2003 (Interview with Shaleen Rakesh)
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Mental_Health_Professions_and_Homose/kB_MdRoKfB0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PA159&printsec=frontcover
(31) Sexual States: Governance and the Struggle over the Anti-Sodomy Law, Jyoti Puri, 2016
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Sexual_States/22eWCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PT7&printsec=frontcover
(32) Pothi.com (Description of The Lion and the Antler, and about the Author)
https://store.pothi.com/book/shaleen-rakesh-lion-and-antler/
(33) The World View Collective (Interview with Shaleen Rakesh on his book, Madness)
https://theworldviewcollective.wordpress.com/2026/03/15/the-calculus-of-witness-a-conversation-with-shaleen-rakesh-the-author-of-the-novel-madness/
The Unicorn Series (Review of Madness)
https://theunicornseries.wordpress.com/?_gl=1*bim050*_gcl_au*NjI1OTA3NDMwLjE3NzM0NjYxMTMuMTE3MjY5ODgyOC4xNzczNjc0MTIyLjE3NzM2NzQxMjI.
The Pink Review Collective (Interview with Shaleen Rakesh, on Madness)
https://thepinkreviewcollective.wordpress.com/2026/03/16/the-pink-review-collective-recently-caught-up-with-author-shaleen-rakesh-on-his-new-novel-madness/
Time Magazine, 2014: India’s LGBT community, don’t vote BJP
https://time.com/59158/indias-lgbt-community-dont-vote-bjp/
Voice of America, 2014: India’s Gay Community to build Political Support to win Rights
https://www.voanews.com/a/india-gay-community-to-build-political-support-to-win-rights/1840859.html
Hindustan Times, 2014: Capturing Emotions of the Queer Community (Review of the Lion and the Antler)
https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/capturing-emotions-of-the-queer-community/story-aoz2E1myl1dY5lOrmAsqjM.html
India Today magazine, Coverage on Shaleen rakesh as an activist
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/story/20000417-gay-community-joins-forces-starts-support-groups-websites-and-networking-opportunities-779316-2000-04-16
Far Eastern Economic Review
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Far_Eastern_Economic_Review/NvqzAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=shaleen+rakesh&dq=shaleen+rakesh&printsec=frontcover
Interviews and Citations in Academic Books and Journals:
Made in India: Decolonizations, Queer Sexualities, S. Bhaskaran, 2004
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Made_in_India/XezFAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PA160&printsec=frontcover
Contesting Nations: Gendered Violence in South Asia, Angana Chatterji, Lubna Nazir Chaudhry · 2014
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Contesting_Nation/DfuPDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PT152&printsec=frontcover
Sexualities, Nivedita Menon, 2007
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Sexualities/veUaAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=shaleen+rakesh&dq=shaleen+rakesh&printsec=frontcover
Queer, Despised Sexualities, Arvind Narain, 2004
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Queer/dRLaAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=shaleen+rakesh&dq=shaleen+rakesh&printsec=frontcover
Humjinsi, Bina Fernandez, 2004
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Humjinsi/BjcbAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=shaleen+rakesh&dq=shaleen+rakesh&printsec=frontcover
Oregon Queer History Collective: Gay in India
https://www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/world/india/innews060.htm
Feminist Law Collective: A Protest against Human Rights Violations
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://feministlawarchives.pldindia.org/wp-content/uploads/8.-A-Protest-Against-Human-Rights-Violation-Based-on-Sexual-Orientation-at-Jantar-Mantar-New-Delhi-Press-Release-2001.pdf
Human Rights Watch, 2002 (Interview with Shaleen Rakesh)
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Epidemic_of_Abuse_Police_Harassment_of_H/RC3y1YTYsjUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=shaleen+rakesh&pg=PA24&printsec=frontcover
Images
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