The life of Transgenders in India

Recently I read the life story of a transgender Laxmi, and I was shocked that how much a person could bear pain and loneliness. Although I found the book little bit exaggerated but it touched my soul and shocked my mind. Laxmi you are really an inspiration. I can understand the pain of human being who looks like a male but has characteristics of a women. Its suffocating. He/she fights within self. When a transgender knows its not his fault. This is how he/she is born. We as a society should accept them and their is no harm if they want to change their sexuality. This is what Hinduism teaches us be yourself. Every individual has a right to choose his or her identity. Change your destiny.

Transgenders in India

Very few percentage of transgenders are living a good life  and they are pursuing modern jobs in mainstream society. They have respectful living and an healthy social life. But this is the story of urban cities transgenders and that too who are rich enough to maintain good life or financially supported by parents.

But transgenders who are uneducated and from middle class families or poor families they suffer like anything. Mainstream society does not like them and they live a secluded life in outs-cart of the city.  They are not loved by people. 

I am surprised that how a civilized society can be so rude towards a human being that  
too who are caught in a wrong body. They are suffering internally, they need our love and affection. We want to have pets but we do not want to have relations with transgenders. 

Why ? What changed for transgenders in the past ?
Why they have been looked by hatred ?

History 

Lets go 10,000 years back during the time of Ramyana. When Lord Ram was going for exile the whole population of his kingdom came to see off him on the bank of river. There Lord Ram asked every Man and Women to go back to town but he did not say anything for transgenders. So transgenders decided to stay on the bank of river till to the return of Lord Ram from exile. 

When Lord Ram returned from 14 years exile, he found the transgenders(Hijras) living over there 

in the wait of Lord  Ram. Lord Ram got moved by their devotion and blessed them with a boon(vardan) that if any transgender will give boon or blessing to any commoner that will be fulfilled. 

So this is how transgenders(Hijra) became holy in India. The meaning of Hij is soul, the holy soul. The body in which Holy soul lives in is called Hijra. 

So it became the soul work of transgenders to visit the the house of commoners on festive season to ask for free alms and they will give blessings to bride, groom, newly born baby etc. 

Till to arrival of Victorian standards  before 18th century, this was a  financially and culturally rich sub sect in India. Hindus considered them Holy and took good care of transgenders. During British rule according to Victorian standards it was unholy job and profile. The condition of transgenders kept of declining and they started living in poor conditions. Their entry was banned to modern jobs so they never paid attention towards getting education for modern jobs. 

In 20th century the survival of transgenders became tough, people stopped supporting them and stopped paying them for their blessings. They did not know any other job. So few Hijaras started criminal activities too, to increase their community like kidnapping of new born baby and  forceful castration of male. Many transgenders entered into prostitution. This  increased hatred in society for innocent transgenders too. Now the community which was holy for Indians turned into dreadful community. Society created a gap with transgenders. 

Solution 

To bring the good image and living for transgenders, we should educate the child transgenders. Mix them with the mainstream schools. All students should be provided the education about the transgenders issues. 

They also deserve some reservation in Jobs for their upliftment. They are also part of our society. We can not neglect our responsibilities towards them. 

Ministry of Tourism can promote the communities of Hijras as tourism product. So the transgenders from other world will come to see them and Indian transgenders life will be improved by the interaction with other world. 

Courtesy images

: Google 

Bibliography :

Book -   Me Hijra Me Laxmi

Author - Laxmi