Transgender Identity: Issues and Challenges
Transgender: Creating Identity from No One to Someone
Ms. Kirti Prakash Sangole
Research Student,
Department of English,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
Aurangabad
sangole.k@gmail.com
8793487424
Abstract:
How does it feel when one is called as different and termed as ‘Transgender’? The
problem which the transgender have is only biological change which they find within
themselves. The conflict between as to which biological gender to be followed is basic
problem of transgender. They are different from men and women and their identity and
behaviour falls completely away from the stereotype class of gender. Transgender have many
similar variants as ‘gender variant’, ‘gender different’ and ‘gender no-conforming’. Also,
popularly in India called as ‘Hijra’, ‘kinnar’, and ‘chhakka’. The transgender community has
a mention in Vedas which is termed as ‘tritiyapakriti’. The community had a special place in
the Vedas and we find the mention of same in the great epic of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Also, the Mughals gave the transgender/ Hijra’s a special place and much luxurious life was
owned by them. The Transgender had the falling phase during the British era were new codes
were applied for the people in the country, here the transgender were added in the
criminalized category. Even though we consider that Hijra’s have the special power as
discussed in our Vedas still the behaviour towards them changes with changing situations.
With growing society and changing mindset the transgender are now also do not have the
changed condition. They are disowned by the society and the family by putting forward the
reasons of society norms. Radhakrishna Committee gives the right to the community by
mentioning that they should be given the rights that equal to other minorities and should be
termed as ‘Third Gender’. At the same time the constitution is trying to change the conditions
of the section by uplifting them and providing various rights.
Key Words: Transgender, Hijra’s, ‘tritiyapakriti’, constitutional rights.
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Transgender Identity: Issues and Challenges
Transgender: Creating Identity from No One to Someone
Ms. Kirti Prakash Sangole
Research Student,
Department of English,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
Aurangabad
sangole.k@gmail.com
8793487424
Introduction:
How does it feel when someone calls you ‘you are different’? Rather, let’s think about
it that when it is said as you are different biological, and psychologically, and same happens
with the transgender. Transgender people are there in all walks of life. They are between us
like father, mother, brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues, daughters, sons, grandparents,
neighbours and majorly as human being in its kind. They are present in all forms of age
groups be it of infant to the age of very experienced and aged category. We people live in
diverse community with varied racial backgrounds and having variety of faith. The faith
occurs to us from the community norms put forward before us. This creates a discrimination
within us which is based on race, caste, culture and gender. This discrimination is also
observed when the gender issue takes part as masculine, feminine, and the other gender as
included. Today also, we live in the patriarchal society were the masculine importance is
more as compared to feminine. On the contrary when we talk about the transgender it
becomes a much neglected point. The term transgender actually arose in 1990’s, when the
people with gender difference came forward for their rights. With the emergence to the class
the studies regarding the community started in the major parts. Many studies which included
the medical to psychological aspects were considered and some conclusions were drawn out
based on it. In short we can say it in simple words that transgender people are the one who
appear and behave very differently from the biological area provided to them by birth. They
are different from men and women and their identity and behaviour falls completely away
from the stereotype class of gender. The other similar variants which can be added for the
term transgender is ‘gender variant’, ‘gender different’ and ‘gender no-conforming’. The
transgender community includes ‘Hijra’s’, ‘Eunuchs’, ‘Kothis’, ‘Aravanis’, ‘Jogappas’,
‘Jogtas’. The words which are more commonly used in the country for the transgender are
‘hijra’, ‘kinnar’, ‘chhakka’. The word hijra is obtained from the Persian word hiz, which
meant that a person who is effeminate or incompetent or ineffective.
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History:
The history of the India is very much popular as we have many Vedas and Puranas in
that case. Looking back at the history we find the mention of the transgender term which is
being mentioned as ‘tritiyapakriti’. The word ‘tritiyapakriti’ actually means the people who
have third gender and are not sure about the actual gender they have to follow. The famous
epics demonstrate to us the life of the kingly states and the divine lessons they thought so that
the next coming generation to take the lesson and follow the rule and norms and ethics. This
history also discuss about the role and status provided to the transgender during the period
and the importance they were provided. In the epic of Ramayana we find Lord Rama while
leaving for the forest for a period of 14 years due to the banishment, turned around and asks
all the ‘men and women’ to return to the city. During this complete process one Hijra among
them does not return and follows the lord. Seeing the devotion of the person lord grants him
the power to confer blessings on people on auspicious occasions. From the time period it is
considered that the community has the special power of blessing which comes in front of us
today as the custom of ‘badhai’. In the second epic of Indian text Mahabharata the mention
of transgender ‘Shikhandi’ explains the great power carried by the individual. Shikhandi
being represented as different in different studies but, makes clear that she (born woman)
turned into a eunuch. The Rigveda also mention about the creation which seems to be quite
different in that case. It says that before creation the world which lacked distinctions,
including of sex and gender, the individual were created of the images like men with womb
or breasts. Eunuchs had a very significant role during the Mughal Empire, however during the
reign and Babur and Humayun a little reference can be found regarding the transgender role.
Though some sources explain about the importance and the royalty the section received.
Shadab Bano in her article ‘Eunuchs in Mughal households and court’ mentions about the
Babur’s daughter Gulbadan Begum wrote about ‘Ambar’ and the courageous act performed.
It was considered that Ambar was belonging to transgender community and had a major role
as a superintendent and royal agent, and guarded the women. Also, in the Rajput reign the
women’s (queens) were guarded, outside the enclosure and some distance way. They also
participated in the warfare with the kings and in some parts and had the power of decision
making for the king. Rather they were considered as the special genders and were considered
as much lucky. While during the colonial period they suffered a lot due to the new placed
Victorian laws upon the country which included the position of the transgender also. The
British colonization forcefully criminalised the community denying their basic civil rights.
Also, the Criminal Tribal Act, 1871 denied the complete policies and placed the community
under the crimes of kidnapping the children.
Problems of Transgender Community:
The problem which the transgender have is only biological change which they find
within themselves. The conflict between as to which biological gender to be followed is basic
problem of transgender. The transgender not only includes the hijra’s/ kinnar’s but are also
grouped as what are popularly now known as lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer community.
They are the people who have different sexual orientation and hence are much confused
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regarding their actual existence. The gay and lesbian on a contrary are much accepted in
many parts of the world and have been also provided with many rights in that case. But, when
it comes about transgender especially ‘kinnar’ they are not easily accepted nor do they have
the rights. Like during the Mughals they were the community which was highly respected
and similarly in some parts of the country the transgender community is considered and given
special role during some special occasion. During the major ceremonies in our Indian culture
the hijra’s are being specially called on as they are being considered as the special gift of God
and Goddess and have immense power to bless. However, this treatment is just temporary
and rather later we find a much different face of the society. The transgender though being an
umbrella term is yet treated differently by different people and at different times and
situations. We especially in terms when talk through the point of Indian society we majorly
disown the community. Due to lack of education and disowning of the society and being
labelled as inferior the ‘hijra’s’ have to rather find and work on roads by hands by just
begging for their survival and the worst part goes when they have to work as a prostitute the
only cause being the deep rooted patriarchal mindset of growing and changing society. Many
societies are now considering them for just an entertainment source. With community
discrimination, unemployment, lack of education the community also faces the major
problem as homeless, lack of medical facilities, problem of hygiene, availability of basic
facility to toilet and bathroom, depression etc. Also, the basic property right for the
transgender is being denied.
The biggest problem which the transgender face is the ‘psychological disturbance’
which they receive from their own family. Many families now also disown their own children
by giving the reasons of gender norms which are created by the society for men and women
as different. Because these gender inequality is already created, more over a boy attempting
to be like a girl and behaviour changes to that of feminine is easily not acceptable and hence
is thought to be creating a disgrace and shame for the family. We can find the example of the
same by Gauri Sawant (by birth named as Ganesh Sawant) expressing her idea of being
disowned by the family. The following link can be followed for the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpNk1LGMVYk
Survey Study:
In a report presented in an article by Konduru Delliswararao and Chongneikim
Hangsing the shocking static was recorded regarding the transgender. It says that according to
the 2011 census there are 4, 87,803 lakhs of transgender which are noted, while only 56.07%
of them are literate. These numbers creating a shocking result for the further studies of what
could be the actual number of literate community and what be the number of the actual
employed. Similarly, in an article on transgender rights in India by ‘IAS score’ it mentions
about the different abuses just to make it much clear that the community is suffering a lot. It
says that in the study of the year 2007 nearly in a single year the percentage of MSM and
Hijra’s reporting the forced sex in 46%, physical abuse 44%, verbal abuse 56%, blackmail for
money 3 % and threat of life 24 %. Looking just at the figures one can assume that the
community is in anguish and also we can consider that it is just a rough idea which is
presented before us as many cases might not have been reported. Being considered as
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marginalised group the community has a very less scope of growth and development and
rights as discussed.
Constitutional Rights and Growing Class:
The position of the transgender remains unaltered for many years from the British era,
till some major steps and constitutional rights are being created for them. After the
introduction of Indian Penal code section 377 and some changes within the code the country
once again started looking at the community as one, providing them their identity. Also, the
election commission of India has provided the rights for the transgender which provided them
to be called as ‘Third Gender’. Today the constitution with the help of society is making a
move to understand the problems, situation in which they undergo daily and trying to uplift
the section in all possible manners. This has also added to their growth and development
when it was officially declared that transgender had the rights of higher education, they got
the freedom of voting, speech, and expression. Moving forward the Indian constitution is also
aiming possibly by taking major steps as Radhakrishna committee, which mentions the same
rights to be given to transgender as to the other minorities class (SC/ST).
We have looked forward that the transgender community has many problems and they
undertake these challenges for their survival and to fit in the society. With the support of the
constitution and their own ability to prove the society regarding their own existence many
renowned faces have emerged before us. Sathyashri Sharmila being the first transgender
Lawyer, Joyti Mondal first transgender Judge, Prithika Yashini first transgender police
officer, Dr. Manabi Bandopadhyay first transgender to receive Doctorate of Philosophy and is
first transgender Principal of Women’s college, Shabnam Mausi first transgender MLA (MP),
Jiya Das first transgender medial assistant, Shabi first transgender solider, Narthaki Natarajan
first transgender woman to receive ‘Sangeet Natak Academy Award’, Laxmi Narayan
Tripathi Hijra guru and spokesperson, also she is a famous dancer and dance instructor,
president of NGO DAI welfare society. Gauri Sawant active participant of NGO’s and played
role in making revolutionary changes in the constitution for the transgender, A. Revathi first
transgender to write about Hijra’s, Padmini Prakash first transgender News Anchor, Barati
First transgender Pastor in Evangelical Church and the list continues a lot. Besides
transgender community fighting for them, the states are also coming forward to change the
complete disturbing conditions and create a complete equal society. Tamil Nadu being the
first among them to introduce the welfare policy for the transgender which give them the
right of Hospital facilities, housing program, documentation rights, scholarship rights. With
Tamil Nadu the government of Kerala has also drafted the policy for transgender as
‘Transgender policy in 2015’.
Conclusion:
Even though being unique is nowhere a crime rather it is part of society, nature and
universe in turn. It comes out completely wrong if we educated society judge and
discriminate people on the basis of gender and deny their basic rights. Moving on from the
very stereotype condition which early the society has created is the necessity of the country
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giving equal rights and privileges to every individual. We can finally sum up the entire
situation with the quote by Mahatma Gandhi-
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you and then you win”
References:
1. Delliswararao, Konduru & Hangsing, Chongneikim, “Transgender Rights in India”,
iasscore.co.in
2. M. Michelraj, “Historical evolution of transgender community in India”, Asian
Review of Social Science, Vol. 4, No.1, 2015, The Research Publication,
www.trp.org.in
3. Sawant, Neena, “Transgender: Status in India”, Annals of Indian Psychiatry, Jan.
2017
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpNk1LGMVYk
5. www.census 2011.co.in/transgender.php
6. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Legal_census.
