Raj Saxena –  The Story Behind the Connection between Love and Loneliness

Raj Saxena was always a quiet revolutionary, though he never saw himself that way. Born into a world that didn’t quite understand him, he spent much of his early life feeling like he lived on the edges of everything. Being a Homoromantic Asexual man in a country where societal norms and even laws barely allowed space for his identity, Raj had long battled loneliness. In India, where homosexuality had only recently been decriminalized with amendment of section 377, he found himself caught between two identities, both marginalized: his romantic attraction to men and his lack of sexual desire.

For years, Raj had played the role society expected of him. His smile never wavered, even though inside, he felt out of place. He watched his friends and peers find love and relationships in ways that didn’t resonate with him. For Raj, love was about connection—an emotional and spiritual bond rather than a physical one—but that idea seemed alien to most people around him. The world seemed consumed by a version of love that Raj simply didn’t fit into.

One day, in a moment of courage, Raj created an online group called ” Indian Asexuals.” Though small, it quickly became a vibrant community of people with shared experiences, offering Raj a space where he could finally breathe and be his true self. For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel broken—he felt understood.

Yet, Raj still yearned for something deeper—a homo-romantic connection, one that reflected his unique needs and desires. He often wondered if he was doomed to live in isolation, forever trapped between society’s rigid ideas of love and sexuality. His family, especially his younger brother, sympathized with his struggles, even if they couldn’t fully comprehend them.

“”The Penal Code, 1860 I 377. Unnatural offences
On 6 September 2018, the Court ruled unanimously in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India that Section 377 was unconstitutional “in so far as it criminalises consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex””

Wikipedia

His brother, an intuitive software engineer, Raj came up to his brother with a bold idea one day—a dating app. But not just any dating app—this one would be specifically for the asexual and aromantic community, and completely free of charge. It would create a space where emotional connection could thrive without the pressure of sexual expectations. For Raj, this concept felt like a lifeline, offering a platform where people like him could connect in a way that truly resonated.

Launched quietly, the app soon became a sanctuary for people across the spectrum of asexuality, a place where love could be defined by emotional bonds, rather than physical ones. Raj poured himself into the project, managing it with the same quiet resilience that had carried him through life. He became more than just a founder—he became a beacon for others like him, offering them what he had long searched for: a sense of belonging.

Even as Raj watched countless others find their romantic partners through the app, his own search for love remained elusive. Yet, something had shifted. He no longer felt invisible. He had created a space for others to thrive, a community where love could bloom on their terms. And though Raj’s personal journey toward love was still unfolding, he had found peace in knowing that he had already changed the world, one connection at a time.

For Raj, building that community—helping others find the kind of love that had once seemed impossible—was more than enough.