Shyam and Ram’s Enduring Love Story Across Cities and Challenges
Shyam and Ram’s Enduring Love Story Across Cities and Challenges
Pune/Bengaluru | 18 June 2025
Renuka Suryavanshi
On a vibrant night in 2014, the post-pride dance floor in Bengaluru shimmered with joy and liberation. Among the crowd, two young men crossed paths one visiting from Pune, the other an IT professional. What began with a bold compliment “You’re cute” blossomed into an 11-year-long journey of love, resilience, and chosen family.
Shyam Konnur and Sriram Sridharan known fondly as Ram met like many do, in the magic of movement and music. But their story danced far beyond the moment. A chance exchange of phone numbers soon paved the way for ice cream dates, heartfelt texts, and the slow unfolding of a bond that would eventually outlast miles and defy societal barriers.
In 2015, during what was meant to be a simple date, life threw an unexpected twist. Shyam, injured during a mugging, was rushed to the hospital by Ram who didn’t even know Shyam’s full name at the time. “To this day, he teases me about it,” laughs Shyam. But that chaotic evening sealed more than wounds; it solidified trust.
Their long-distance relationship at first grew quietly but deeply. Ram in Bengaluru, Shyam in Pune, both navigated life while building something enduring. Shyam, already deeply involved with LGBTQIA+ rights, founded the Mist LGBTQ Foundation in Pune. Ram soon joined the cause, volunteering and supporting events transforming shared values into shared lives.
Eventually, Ram moved to Pune, and together they began to build a home. Families resisted, hearts changed slowly, but love endured. “We had to show them that this was real. That we are not just friends. We are partners in every sense,” said Ram.
Last year, during a trip to Europe for an AIDS conference, they exchanged vows in a simple ceremony. And just this week, surrounded by family, they solemnised their union with Indian rituals not legally recognised, but rich with meaning. Ram’s mother, though unsure of the symbolism, participated with emotion. “She now understands we are partners for life,” said Shyam, his eyes shining.
In a country where same-sex marriage is still not legal, Shyam and Ram chose to create their own definition of commitment. “Marriage, to me, was never a necessity,” said Shyam. “But in a society that finds validation in rituals, this became our statement.”
Their love story is not just a celebration of each other but of a community, of courage, and of living truthfully in a world still learning to accept.
As they continue dancing through life, Shyam and Ram remind us that love when rooted in honesty, laughter, and solidarity is the most powerful vow of all.
