ACCEPT THEM, THE WAY THEY ARE.

Just imagine yourself, who has been born as a transgender. How awkward would you feel when people refer you as a ‘third gender’ or as a person who isnt even considered as a human by the society? How mentally depressing it is when they stare and mock at you? How ill-treating it is when they dont even allow you to use either of the restrooms? Yes as you figured it out, in this blog post ill be sharing some of my thoughts on the plights transgenders face in their lives. Why do we treat them so, is a question that we would have asked ourselves many a times. Its all because of the fear in-built in us since our childhood, when we were asked not to talk or be good to them. Thats where everything went wrong.

Wikipedia defines transgender people as those who have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. History speaks a lot about them. Transgenders are present everywhere in the world and its not a new concept at all. But talking about them on indian aspects, their community consists of Hijras, Eunuchs, Kothis, Aravanis, Jogappas, Shiv-Shakthis etc. In Hindu mythology, the literature named Kama Shastra an ancient Hindu text, they have been referred as ‘tritiyapakriti’ or third gender. It categorizes men who desire other men as a third nature. When Lord Rama, in the epic Ramayana, was leaving to the forest upon being banished from kingdom for 14 years, he asked his followers to leave back to the city and only the hijras decided to stay with him. Thus Rama sanctions them the power to confer blessings on people on auspicious occassions like childbirth and marriage where hijras sing,dance and confer blessings. Bahuchara Matha, the Hindu Goddess, is considered as the patronage of the Hijra community in India. They also worship Lord Shiva who merges with Parvati to form ‘Ardhanari’- half woman(Parvati) and half man(Shiva).

What causes a person to be transgender?

According to sciences, 3 major factors are involved in a child’s character developement- chemical/hormonal, genetic and environmental. Brain studies have found that, when the brains of transgender people are analyzed, they almost always consistently match the brain structure of their adopted gender, not their birth sex. And the crossing of the wrong hormones at that time of developement is another cause. The last factor is environmental which is least likely to happen. Children raised in an environment with other same sex siblings, only a year apart, can still show gender nonconfirmity, even though no other siblings do.

They might observe it from their way of cross dressing, or when they feel they are more like of the other sex or when they get feelings on people of their own sex. It has been proved that transgenders have been found even in olden times. But more women were getting tranformed into men because the society denied when a man behaved like a woman. Thus they lived their entire life with suppressed emotions and griefs. While many of them are transsexual as they desire medical asssistance, for the transition from one sex to the other.

When do we feel happy about ourselves? Its when we are let to live as we wish. But is it possible for them? Are they able to live in utmost happiness and joy?

As i am living in bangalore, i have witnessed so many trangenders suffering hard to lead their lives forward. They arent given job anywhere. Everyone feels scared and move away, when they approach us. We arent even respecting them, without even giving them a consideration for being born as a human. We all know it wasnt a crime they committed or a sin they are bound to live with. Still we are following what the society murmured in our ears “Dont look at them”, “stay away from them”, “they arent good people” and many more. We grew up hearing these phrases, then how will the society turn good?

But there are few people who try to manipulate this community, by dressing up in women’s attire and asks you money. They would even start being rude at you for not giving them what they asked for. Maybe this is the reason why people are scared of them. Whereas the true transgenders are nice and good-hearted. Few people who can understand their greifs and pain is what they require the most.

Science and technology have proved us that many of the things we belived isnt a fact, but just a myth. Likewise its time for us to overcome this issue as well. Its only because they are unemployed, they get on the roads and beg for money. Orelse they also would have led a better life like us and wouldnt have disturbed people to fulfill their needs. I think then these many problems wouldnt have occured in our society and they would have been treated well with full respect.

They are also coming up with their own communities and associations through which they are seeking justice and their rights to live. Another news to be shared is about the transgender couple about to tie the knot next month in Kerala.

I would like to publish posts regarding these kind of issues which are troubling the mankind desperately. Posts on rape case and syians life talk about the sufferings of people in a whole country. While this post is for the people who are part of the minor community of Hijras in India and people alike them all over the world.

I think its time for us to stand in their shoes, and make a move thoughtfully. Consider them as one among us. I know, our society is changing. Many educational institutions are being kind enough to educate them and give them a good future.

Interact with them. Speak out in support of transgender people and transgender rights. Support the ones who expearience descrimination. Learn about policies affecting them and work for their welfare. If you cant do it alone, work with any organizations and lift their lives into happiness. Because we were created not only to lead a good life but also to turn a greiving person’s life into a better one.

As John Bunyan said “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” Because we are meant to understand the differences. Try to recognize them as equal and normal part of our society and make the world a better place to reside in.

When the victim girls cried out for help.

The gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua,Jammu and Kashmir and gang rape of another minor in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao have terrified every Indians, horror turning into outrage.Indians have been hearing such news from a long time. After every instances they would hope for a better India for the women to live in. But India is proving itself that it would never change because the land itself has got used to the taboos and stereotypical beleifs where men were always considered to be superior than women, where girls are meant to stay quiet throughout their lives, where education wasnt considered essential for girls, where women were just meant to get married -have children and do household chores, where dowry decides the price of the bride, where girl babies were killed even before they were born and women were considered to be dirty when they are on their periods.

Especially in olden times, indian women had suffered all these abuses and the only way they could protest against it all, was by keeping silent. I think the ones to be blamed are the people itself. Its their narrow-minded beleifs made them to consider women as inferior than men. They made the world beleive that women are of no strength and they are only meant to give birth, like a producing machine. They didnt ever realize the fire within them which was burning heavily than the one in the firewood stove, beside to which a woman’s life was hindered to. She would have become a great sportswoman or a scholar or a social activist for women same like her. But no one allowed her to even step out of the house because they conceptualised that women are good for nothing.

This mentality was followed by humankind for generations. Later on many social activists and feminists raised up their voice against this issue and it was solved to a high extent. But still we witnessed so many severe and brutal rape cases all over india. Many young girls were raped to death where their tears, pain and sufferings burnt off into ashes. People had taken actions against it, government have had sent the criminals to jail. But after few months we could hear news stating that the culprits are set free as they havent committed any crime. At those times we have questioned ourselves ‘Is killing someone not even a crime?’ Just imagine how distressing it would have been for the victim’s family. How would have they continued their lives thinking about that instance again and again till the end?

I am not talking about a single case that had happened in India. But about the various numerous cases and also about the ones which would have vanished, left unnoticed due to the influences, power, position etc. that the culprits held. When talking about these present cases of Asifa and the other girl in Unnao were just 8 and 17years old, who are considered to be minor under the law. Indian law is something that has to be followed by every citizens of india. And why did the politicians of one of the ruling Indian parties were a part of these gang rapes? Arent these laws and rules meant for them? I really feel ashamed to mention it because even i am an Indian. I never blame the whole country but due to some of these criminals who are unworthy to be in this land, India is being down trodden by the entire mankind.

According to the medical reports, Asifa had been kept without food and was given sedatives continuosly to keep her unconcious all the time. She was gang raped many times and couldnt even cry out for help. No one couldnt trace her because she was kept hidden in such a safe place- were indians beleive to be the most cleanest and sacred area. Yes,inside the temple.

Indians have been living as mute spectators since long years. All these cases have made their mouths shut. Nirbhaya rape case, Soumya rape case, Jisha rape case and many more. Just search about the rape cases happened in india and you’ll also wonder how strange this land is.

But india wasnt like this many years ago. Taboos and other beliefs have been existing for a long time but there was a time when we had righteous and courageous freedom fighters and politicians who served for the country and its people. Their only intention was to protect the people from harm and danger. They knew how to rule the country in peace and tranquility. They knew how to solve problems and give people equal repsect, no matter rich or poor, man or woman. At present we dont find any such good ones, there would be, a few of them. But i dont think those few people can change India into a better place to live in. Because the people too have to think good, to act good.

We always wonder why the government never take actions against such brutal cases were girls are being shattered to death. Arent the officials not scared of their own girl children’s future? Or the vulnerabilities the women have to face more in their lives? These questions have been asked many a times. But the government always gets influneced by bribe or other promises. Likewise they are welcoming many more cases to get filed and to be judged in the Indian court rooms. But this time something really strange has happened. The culprits are politicians, police officers and other officials who are serving for the indian goverment and its people. The ones who have been appointed to safegaurd the people are trying to mutilate and rape them. Shameful.

I know just writing a blog wont do anything. Because since a long time this ritual has been followed by writers, bloggers, journalists, etc after every instances had taken place. Many people are protesting against it and want the culprits to be hanged to death or burnt alive. Only then culprits of same kind will have a fear to live in india. Then only we’ll get back that india which was a pure land of pure souls, long years back. We have to make india proud like how Ambedkar, Gandhiji and other fighters made it proud. Because we need our people to live safely, especially women who have to get a life to fulfill their dreams and not to live within the four walls of a room.

I wish that many readers would go through this post and if someone can repost it or put up another blog post regarding this topic, you are doing a great deed by which the whole world gets to know about it. I want a serious action to be taken agianst this issue of gang rapes. I hope that someone with good heart will come up into the light soon and take a strong action against it, thus every girls and women in the world get a better life and a better future.