Contribute Now. If the ruling is successfully implemented, India will have transgendered people studying in mainstream schools, getting college degrees, working regular jobs and, hopefully, living wherever they chose to without the fear of being harassed. But how much do we really know about transgendered people? Are hijras and kinnars the same as eunuchs? How are kothis different from hijras? Which terms are acceptable and which are derogatory?
Here is a brief guide to the terminology associated with transgendered communities in India, compiled from the definitions given in the April 15 judgement and by transgender activists.
They are a different gender altogether. However, hijra identity is complex, and recently, some have identified as transgender and sought gender reassignment procedures. A young person is initiated by following a guru, or teacher, who will teach the chela, or disciple, in the hijra ways of life.
This includes leaving their home to live in community with other hijras, to learn the ritual roles that they perform in Hindu households. Hijra are expected to perform dances, songs, and blessings at both births and weddings of Hindus. One to two days after a marriage ceremony—hijras will perform to bless the couple for fertility. To many Hindus, it is the third gender nature of hijras—including their sacrifice of their procreative ability to the goddess—that grants hijras this incredible religious power.
In fact, hijras also can curse a family if they are disrespectful or refuse to pay for the blessings. Many Hindus, and the hijras themselves, take these blessings and curses very seriously; hijras say they only curse in extreme circumstances.
While hijras are often invited to perform these rituals, they will also attend births and marriages unannounced, claiming their right to attend as their sacred religious duty.
Fearful of receiving a curse from hijras, Hindu families often welcome them in and pay them for their services, even when uninvited. However, sometimes Hindu families refuse them entry or refuse to pay, even going as far as calling the police.
With a recorded history of over 4, years and being mentioned in ancient texts, the Hijra community is a testament to the sexual diversity that is integral yet often forgotten in Indian culture.
While Indian law recognizes transgender people, including Hijras , as a third gender, other South Asian countries, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan , have recognized only Hijras as the third gender. This is even when the larger LGBT community faces severe legal disadvantages and when same-sex sexual relations is illegal in the country. The Hijra community has been mentioned in ancient literature, the most known of which is the Kama Sutra , a Hindu text on human sexual behavior written sometime between BCE and CE.
Hijra characters hold significant roles in some of the most important texts of Hinduism, including the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. One of the many forms of Shiva, a principal Hindu deity, involves him merging with his wife, Parvati, to become the androgynous Ardhanari, who holds special significance to many in the Hijra community. Hijras held important positions in court and various facets of administration during the Mughal-era India, from the 16th to 19th century.
They were also considered to hold religious authority and were sought out for blessings, particularly during religious ceremonies. Retrieved 15 April Washington Post.
Times of India. Sargent, Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective pp. August Paper online Microsoft Word file. Constructing Sexualities. LaFont, S. Hollerbach, for the Catalyst Consortium. Retrieved 23 August Report online. Retrieved 16 February J Health Popul Nutr 27 4 : — PMC PMID CNN via Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 1 December
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