Amongst all the honours at the Gay Bombay Awards 2025, there is one that carries not just recognition, but memory, love, and gratitude:

The Rajshri Khote Guardian of Love Award.

This award is given to a straight ally who has shown extraordinary support, effort, and unconditional love to the queer community. It is named after Rajshri Khote, fondly known to everyone in the fraternity as Munni Pua — because that is how her nephew, Harpreet Chhachhia, lovingly addressed her.

Munni Pua was more than family to Harpreet; she became family to all of us. She was a beacon of light and support, always ready with a kind word and sage advice. Her moment of quiet defiance and open-heartedness became legendary: one Sunday, when GayBombay members were cast out of a McDonald’s during their meet, Harpreet called her for help. Without hesitation, she invited everyone into her home. That simple gesture — “Of course, you can come home. Do so immediately, there is no problem if there are 25 of you or 50” — changed everything.

From that day onwards, GayBombay Sunday meets became synonymous with home, comfort, and acceptance. There would be tea, samosas, and laughter. Her house wasn’t just four walls; it became a sanctuary, a space where people could truly belong, free of judgement and fear. This tradition continued for 27 years, shaping the very soul of what GayBombay stands for.

When Munni Pua passed away on 4th March 2019, she left behind more than just memories. She left us with a legacy of unconditional love, of creating safe spaces, of reminding us that family is not always about blood — sometimes, it is about kindness, openness, and the courage to stand beside those society pushes aside.

The Rajshri Khote Guardian of Love Award honours that spirit. It reminds us that allies matter. That their support is not auxiliary, but foundational. That in the hardest times, one person’s compassion can change the course of an entire community’s story.

For GayBombay, and for queer folk everywhere, this award is not just a token of recognition. It is a reminder of how far we have come because of love — and how much further we will go if we continue to cherish and celebrate those who stand beside us.