Picture this, your 'autorickshaw- wala' stops at the red light. You curse at the bane of your existence that is the running meter with the 'Do Not Touch' inscribed on it. You swipe impatiently at the sweat dripping down your face and in characteristic 'mumbaiya' style turn to your cell phone for much needed entertainment. Suddenly you see 'it'. Wrapped in a red saree and quickly approaching your stuffy vehicle, you notice the manly beard and the decidedly feminine hands. Moving closer still, the entity reaches you and enthusiastically claps hands. You're either one of those people who ignore the disturbance, or one who is superstitious enough to hand over a meagre offering. Encounters with what we call hijra's are common on the streets of Mumbai. At signals they ask you to remove ten rupee notes and during marriage ceremonies they bless you while dancing in under a rain of green paper. The word hijra or eunuch is commonly used to mean what is dictionarily called a 'sexless person' and what is often identified as a castrated man. Scientifically known as a hermaphrodite, a hijra is someone possessing both female and male characteristics and behaviour. They are quite different from transvestite's who are individuals of one sex, preferring to live life as that of another. At last count there were at least one million eunuchs in India living as beggars, prostitutes and heralders of good luck. The hijra community have a history of more than 4000 years and according to ancient myths have a secret power of luck and fertility. Documented as guards of the harems of kings, these men were put on specific jobs in medieval India. Their castration was a safety measure, to ensure that the women in the harem are not enticed or seduced by these sentinels that guarded them. Questions that surround this small community of mystic origins is ' Are eunuchs born or for the lack of a better word, made? Theories and facts are both fascinating and brutal. As per studies undertaken by Dr. B V Subramanian in the year 1990, a hijra is raised as a man and undergoes the ceremony of removal of genitals to become a member of this mysterious clique. Often forcibly castrated, the methods undertaken for the surgery are unhygienic, crude and often a very big threat to the very life of the person. As per the report "The genitals of a normally born male are slashed off with a knife dipped in hot oil and a nail is drilled into the stump which with time taken on the appearance of a female genitalia." With the source of male hormones gone, the female hormones in the body take over, which explains the feministic attributes. In a country which claims to be democratic and socialist, these people live a reality of darkness, ignorance and poverty. The country has realised the rights of everyone in society, going so far as to have discussions on acceptance of same sex unions, and yet a majority of the community remains unwilling to recognise the rights of the third sex. Lack of employment opportunities, force many of these people towards prostitution, beggary and creation of more hijra's to support the incomes. Unemployment in general is also leading to many men from small towns of India coming to the big city and pretending to be eunuchs to earn their living. Articles 14 and 21, the very foundation of proud living in our country prescribe Equality, Liberty and Life to everyone. Life? Liberty? Equality? Are any of these words you would associate with a eunuch? The law continues to treat the eunuch community with reprehensible attitude. The Criminal Tribes Act includes a provision for registration of eunuchs. Are eunuchs a criminal tribe? Under the guise of Sec. 377 of the Indian Penal Code, eunuchs are continually arrested, tortured and harassed. The National Commission for Women do not have the jurisdiction to deal with matters of the eunuch community. The Natioanal commission for minorities does not recognise gender minorities and thus is also unable to do anything for these people. Representation in the parliament is unheard of and so is the right to vote. Although the bureaucracy would like to pat their backs proudly for allowing another sex category titled 'E' on official forms, the reality is that adding a category is not solving anyone's problems. Equality! Equal opportunity to work! Non Discrimination on the basis of Sex! Dignity! These are all dreams for one million people in the country. Our attitude shall not change until we stop calling them 'IT'. Hope is not lost. I come from a college where two of my friends have approached the Human Rights Commission on the matter, and they hope to address the situation and make a difference. My salute, to these four boys who are dedicated to make a difference. We aren't socialist and Democratic for nothing, are we?An honest study of the rights of the third gender and the social situation surrounding them.
Eunuch and ‘E’- Unique
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