I am writing
about a very unusual topic, a topic which sometimes disturbs my thinking and
even my existence as an human being.
It’s about
the Third Gender - neither man nor woman. In India and south Asia they are also known
as Hijra. Originated from an Arabic word meaning “migration”.
I had seen them only in Hindi Movies when I was in
Arunachal Pradesh. I think first time I have seen Hijras in local train from
Kolkata to Kharagpur while doing onboard surveys. I was very excited and
curious to see them. They crossed me but didn’t ask for any money may be
because I was a student or may be because I am a girl. But I had seen in movies
that we should never take curse from any Hijra and give them money because
their blessing also very very effective. So I voluntarily handed one of them 20
bucks and ask her to bless me for a CGPA greater than 8 this semester.
+++++++
My second and closest encounter with one of them
was when I and my friend poonam got into a general compartment of a train coming
from Hyderabad. We were returning from her place from baramaati (Maharashtra)
to pune. There was no other seat so we had to share the berth with a Hijra and
we got to know that she will be getting down only in Pune.
My friend was very scared even I feeling very
uneasy and uncomfortable sitting next to a Hijra. Just praying that either she
change the compartment or we get some other place and desperately looking for
other place to seat and there was none. There was a disgusting feeling of
superiority running inside me.
Anyways we travelled 3 hours without talking to her
(the Hijra) which normally I don’t do and reach pune and travel back to Mumbai.
Later that night I had a very strange feeling running in my mind. I was feeling that what kind of a hypocrite I
am? One hand I am giving Hijra money to take her blessing and on the other hand
I mind even sitting next to one of them.
I say I believe
in equality of living being but I feeling shame and uneasiness sitting next of Hijra. Whole night all these thoughts were running
on my mind, I was ashamed of myself. I was disgusted with the thought that made
me think that I am superior creature.
But after that incident my whole attitude towards
them changed. I started considering them as one of us. Now I give them money
not because I am scared of taking any curse from them or I need any blessing
just because I know still today in the society where I live people don’t
consider them as equal human being.
They are not
given the equal rights as you and me. Forget the fundamental rights they are
not even given the human rights. We need to change all these crap. We Indians are
now going through a phase of renaissance. We need to bury these kinds of
old/outdate customs. Let us work and walk side by side to make a beautiful and
colourful nation. Respect them, give them equal opportunity in education, jobs
and other fields.
I would very happy if you share your thoughts on
this. I have tried to put my very limited understanding in the blog.
--R’jeeta ..10/02/2010- 01:07 am
The organisations of the hijra community can be seen as constituting a larger movement of sexual minority groups in India. The discrimination and violence that hijras face show that it is high time that both the government and the human rights movement in the country begin to take this issue with the seriousness it deserves.
ReplyDelete@ mjd I agree with you and I think this issue should be given the deserved seriousness
ReplyDelete