ABSTRACT
Despite the developments in queer and sexuality studies in India, there exists a glaring gap in the field of queer literary and social research in the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim. This chapter locates and analyses literary texts in Nepali (1989–2021) that deal with queer sexualities and their representation in the Hills, in an attempt to initiate a serious discussion on queer cultures in/of the Hills. The chapter focuses on the works of nine Nepali-language authors/poets (who do not necessarily identify as queer) who have specifically written on LGBTQ+ issues pertaining to the region, specifically dealing with aspects of identity politics, gendered otherness, and socio-cultural representation. As the first study in this specific field, the research elicits a subjective understanding of queer sexualities specific to the Hills and how queer subjects negotiate heteronormativity and heteropatriarchy.
