In a world, where most of us hold peace and harmony close to our hearts, why does humanity falter every now and then? We have drawn borders all over us, and have made them indelible; so much so that we do not even think twice before using a harsh word or two for a friend, a stranger or family as long as we become all the more full of ourselves.
I have been troubled with a peculiar thought for quite sometime. Are men only the perpetrators of abuse, violence, chauvinism and discrimination? How much do we know about the side of a male victim's story.
Then a Project followed..
Lakshya, Baroda,Gujarat Date:25/02/2013
I stare
with wonder as she enters the room clad in a slim fit blue top paired with
black denims. Not a hair out of place…a voice echoes inside my brain. Her eyes
are dazzling blue and she wears a stunning smile. She sits beside me and passes
me a quick glance. I smile and inquire about the color of her eyes. She smiles
and tells me that those are contacts.
She is
sitting very close to her friend. Both are transgenders. The Manager joins us
on the floor. They start talking together, leaving me feeling a little haywire.
My friend remains attentive. I try to make meaningful conversation. Madhvi is
the fifth person I am talking to in Lakshya, but the first transgender. After,
the Manager whispers to them in audible voices about my project, they get a
little skeptical. They don’t want anybody to discover their real identity.
‘Business is difficult’ they murmur. I assure them that we have their best
interests at heart and we will not do anything to damage their way of life in
any way, small or large.
As soon
as the manager says something about financial abuse, she jumps up and says, ‘we
undergo immense financial abuse; severe exploitation occurs in the Gharana
(referring to the place where all the transgenders and eunuchs live together).
If someone decides to join the ‘ transgender’ community, she will have to
follow three kinds of occupation:
a
collecting money when a child is born
b
dancing in marriages
c
begging
Whatever
she earns goes to her Master. Once she is castrated, her life and everything
related to her is under the control of her Master. She does not have a say in
anything anymore. She cannot even go back home anymore. She has to act
according to the rules of her Master.
‘There
are caste and religious disparities even in the community. I underwent immense
financial and physical abuse there. I could not keep a penny to myself, or wear
the clothes of my choice. I had to cook, do all the household chores, and even
go out to beg. It was so difficult.’
Hijras
have to experience immense trauma in life. They cannot fall ill, they cannot
suffer from dangerous diseases; if they take a house loan, the Master will
ensure that they pay it back with interest. If they are deemed unfit for
employment, their debts raise sky high and they fall prey to very serious
trouble.
We are
interested about how do they fulfill their sexual needs because from what she
speaks about communities, their rules don’t permit sex at all. She smiles and
says that most hijras resort to befriending Autorickshaw walas, drivers and
electricians who come over to their homes for work. If a transgender is caught
having sex with anybody, they can be brutally punished and penalized with a
fine of Rs 50,000.
The
Gharana also imposes other restrictions of not wearing make-up, and having to
wear a sari all the time wherever she goes.
But
Madhvi managed to evade castration somehow and decided to seek employment.
Today she works as a Field Officer in Lakshya Trust in Baroda. She lives with
her boyfriend and has plans of changing her gender very soon. We ask her about
why would she want to change her gender since she can do anything that she wants even now; she shrugs and
replies ‘Because I want to get it. I just want it done’. She does not meet her
parents anymore.
She
unnerves me by saying ‘there is no place for us in a heterosexual community;
there is only one place where we can earn our living, the Gharana and even that
life is too full of difficulties for us. This is more than what we can deal
with.‘
I
realized that the problem is almost the same even among us. It is not something
peculiar to people like Madhvi. We are most vulnerable when we are unsure of
our identity, of who we are in this overwhelmingly wide world. When we start
with that kind of confusion, life always takes the better of us.
She
asked me if I could meet her again and held my hand for a long time. I let the
warmth fill me and nodded looking at her.
Tista these words really touched me. I congratulate you for realizing our historical responsibility and moving a step ahead in the direction of making people listen and understand things they run from. Truly we all grow in a cobwebbed society where greed has suppressed our real humanity. This greed can go in any dimension ranging from 'myself, my family and at most my society.. We need to break these clutches and have to think for humanity as a whole.
ReplyDeleteTransgenders have been a part of the broader culture of India and are treated with great respect, at least in the past, although some are still accorded particular respect even in the present. Also Krishna in Mohini Avatar had represented Transgenders. But in changing times multiple problems are faced by them. It necessitates a variety of solutions and actions. While some actions require immediate implementation such as introducing social welfare schemes from the government, some actions need to be taken on a long-term basis changing the negative attitude of the general public and increasing knowledge about this community. The required changes need to be reflected in policies and laws; attitude of the government, general public and health care providers; and health care systems and practice. Making them empowered is the most needed step which includes all areas namely politically ,socially, economically and culturally.
i really feel that we need more debate in common media and society in general about the prejudices felt by them...this may be the only way to improve their social standings and let the society know that they are also normal human capable of exhibiting same emotions and equally capable of participating in normal social, economic activities as the rest of the people do.
ReplyDeleteApart from the civil society the government also needs to lend its hand for their upliftment.they have been suppressed for a very long time , there is a need for the change in the laws.they shold be treated in a humanized way, they need their rights which could save them from their injustice and misery and of course along with the society contribution.
ReplyDeleteEven after suffering from the same problems, the management at the 'Gharana' could not establish a system for the better but fell prey to the greed, luxury while exploiting the helpless. Are what harsher lessons required to learn?
ReplyDelete