The representation of homosexuality in Bengali literature is both ancient and contentious. Misconceptions and diverse opinions about homosexuality can be traced back to ancient mythology, where it is often depicted in varying lights—sometimes as perverse or merely a phase of youthful exploration. Since the 19th century, there has been a gradual acknowledgment of homosexuality as a distinct orientation. Tilottama Mazumdar's novel ‘Chander Gaye Chand’ serves as a significant document of Bengali social evolution, particularly in its portrayal of female homosexuality, a subject previously marginalized by societal norms. Tilottama Mazumdar's novel challenges societal constraints and confronts various stigmas associated with homosexuality. In ‘Chander Gaye Chand’, the character Shruti Basu reveals the homosexual relationship between Devrupa and Shreyasi, which progressively jeopardizes her own position. The novel highlights the societal barriers to accepting same-sex relationships, contrasting these with the conventional acceptance of heterosexual relationships, which are both biologically and socially sanctioned. Attraction between individuals of the opposite sex (XX female and XY male) is recognized and accepted both biologically and socially, reflecting fundamental laws of nature within the biosphere. The exploration of female homosexuality and lesbianism has been recurrent in 20thcentury literature, often within the broader discourse on women's sexuality. To contextualize these discussions, one might consider the ancient Greek poet Sappho, whose work provides early references to female same-sex relationships. Born on the island of Lesbos, from which the term "Lesbian" is derived, Sappho's poetry, though fragmented, offers insights into the daily lives and emotional landscapes of women in her time. Although little is known about Sappho’s life, her surviving fragments illuminate aspects of women's lives and relationships in her era. Homosexuality can also be traced in ancient India, as seen in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as in the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho. This historical context suggests that homosexual practices existed, though often unapproved by religious scriptures. Homosexuality in speculative fiction refers to the exploration of homosexual themes within genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror, collectively known as speculative fiction. In today's society, self-diagnosis has become a widespread issue. Tilottama Mazumdar’s ‘Chander Gaye Chand’ challenges misconceptions by presenting homosexuality as a natural variation in human sexuality, not a deviation. The novel contends that individuals with diverse sexual orientations—lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender—are just as "normal" as anyone else, despite societal biases and biological differences, such as variations in sex chromosomes (like XXY), which have historically contributed to their marginalization. Their inability to produce offspring has often been a factor in societal exclusion. Sankari Mukherjee, in her write up on ‘Bangla Sahitye Nari Samakamita’, said on homosexuality: “Since its coming, the term homosexuality had acquired multiple meanings in the original sense, it refers to a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. It can also refer to the manifestation of that orientation in the identity of an individual, which may or may not be at odds with that Person's sexual behaviour. Finally, it can refer to sexual relations with another of the same sex to sexual relations with another of the same sex regardless of the one's sexual orientation, self-identification or gender identity.”1

Homosexuality, Sexuality, Shruti, Devrupa, Shreyasi.