How can life remain unchanged for those who have always showered good wishes and blessings on others? As if cast in stone, their attire and demeanour remains fixed, with the conspicuous clapping of hands being their de facto identity. Dressed in glittering clothes, with a heavy coat of make-up, they crash fancy weddings and birth ceremonies. At crowded intersections, they knock on car windows demanding alms.
It is hard to miss them, and they scorn at being ignored. In their own mind, the transgender peoplehold society collectively responsible for their plight. Perhaps that is the reason for them to seek monetary favours even at the cost of being socially despised. They assert their right to be looked after for being removed from the mainstream of existence. However, behind their theatrics are often sad stories — of the sex trade and exploitation, cruel and dangerous castrations, of being cast out and constantly humiliated.
The United Nations estimates that up to 1.7% of the world's population is born with intersex traits, and as per the Census of 2011 there were some 4,80,000 transgender people in India. While the Indian Constitution does not exclude transgender persons from its ambit, the social reality for them is loaded with prejudice and disdain.
One wonders why transgender people have not been socially accepted, and accorded a dignified living? Traditionally, transgenders enjoyed a certain degree of respect, and during the Mughal rule served in many administrative positions and also watched over harems. But the British, bringing a strict sense of judgment to sexual mores, may have created a mainstream discomfort for anything beyond the binary of male and female identities.
As guided aversion plays on our psyche, we often view transgenders who come knocking at our car windows in crowded intersections as beggars. We overlook their immense emotional resilience and incredible physical endurance. They persist against unimaginable odds while showering blessings and good wishes on others. In recent times, however, some transgender people have jumped the social barricade by establishing themselves as beauticians and politicians. However, for the sizeable number who come from lower middle-class backgrounds, such opportunities are few and far between.
Many of them could be quite good at competitive sports but they are not allowed to participate in major sporting events. What stops the world from creating a new category that can break the rigid gender binary in competitive events? The Mx category has been designed to include transgender, gender-expansive and intersex individuals, but pretty little has been done beyond it.
Going by legend, when Lord Rama was exiled to the forest, he told those following him, “Men and women, please wipe your tears and go away.” Most left but a group of people stayed behind, at the edge of the forest, because they were neither men nor women. They were the transgender persons who waited in the woods for 14 years until Lord Rama returned, which won them a special place in Hindu mythology. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Rama blessed them to bless others on various auspicious occasions such as childbirth and marriage.
With the tallest statue of Lord Rama being erected to resurrect mythology, leaving those who were blessed by him to remain unblessed is unfair.
sudhirendarsharma@gmail.com
