Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran/File) Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran/File)

Speaking at JNU on Monday, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said being homosexual is a “tendency” that “may change” later. Sri Sri was responding to a student, who asked how he should deal with ill-treatment by his friends and family over his sexual orientation.

“You treat yourself better, doesn’t matter how others treat you. You don’t think you are sick or something’s wrong with you. If you stand up, nobody can insult you… But if you feel weak and meek, and if you feel bad about yourself, nobody can make you feel better,” Sri Sri told the student, adding, “This is your tendency now. Just acknowledge it and accept it, and know that this tendency is not a permanent thing. It may change. I’ve seen many men who were gay, later on turn into heterosexuals, and there are those who are normal — what are called straight people — end up being gay later in life.”

Sri Sri delivered the 13th Nehru Memorial Lecture at JNU during the day, and another lecture in the evening, where he took questions from the audience.

Another student asked Sri Sri what could be done to change the “anti-national” tag given to JNU “because of a few students”.

He replied, “Rebelliousness is part of youthfulness. Some youths have a tendency to rebel. Just because they’re talking different, don’t think they’re anti-national. Don’t brand them… Nobody can be disloyal to the nation they are in…. If they are really so, they need counselling.”

Earlier in the day, Sri Sri said that he will visit Ayodhya on November 16 and meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a “courtesy call”. He said he does not have an “agenda” but remains “hopeful” of an “out of court settlement” of the Ayodhya dispute.

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