sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bahuchara Mata, Eunuch, Gender, Hijra (South Asia), Humsafar Trust, Kathoey

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Hijra’s and their social life in .

DelliSwararao Konduru(M COM, M.A (Socio Cultural ), C G T), Research Officer, N.I.E (I C M R)

Abstract :The word "" is an -Hindustani right to constitutional remedies for the protection of word derived from the Semitic Arabic root hjr in its civil rights by means of writs such as habeas sense of "leaving one's tribe,"and has been corpus. Violation of these rights result in borrowed into . The Indian usage has punishments as prescribed in the Indian Penal Code traditionally been translated into English as or special laws, subject to discretion of the "" or "," judiciary. The Fundamental Rights are defined as basic human freedoms that every Indian citizen has INTRODUCTION the right to enjoy for a proper and harmonious development of personality. These rights Human rights are rights inherent to all human universally apply to all citizens, irrespective of beings, regardless of , , place of race, place of birth, , or gender. residency, , ethnicity, religion, color or and Aliens (persons who are not citizens) are also other categorization. Thus, human rights are non- considered in matters like equality before law. discriminatory, meaning that all human beings are are enforceable by the courts, subject to entitled to them and cannot be excluded from them. certain restrictions Of course, while all human beings are entitled to human rights, not all human beings experience But till to date we don‘t recognize the them equally throughout the world. Many rights and identity in . governments and individuals ignore human rights With a unique spanning thousands of years and grossly exploit other human beings. in South Asia, Hijra‘s consider themselves neither male nor . In ancient , this ―third sex‖ included barren women, impotent men, eunuchs, There are a variety of human rights, including: and /. Today ―Hijra‖ (also known in different communities as Kinnar,  Civil rights (such as the rights to life, Jogtas/Jogappas, Khusras) refers to those born male liberty and security), or intersexed who live and dress like women. Many  Political rights (like rights to the biological male Hijra‘s undergo a sacred ritual of protection of the law and equality before (―nirvan‖) or . the law), There are upwards of 5 million Indians who  Economic rights (including rights to work, identify as Hijra, but statistics vary as the to own property and to receive equal pay), population census only includes ―male‖ or  Social rights (like rights to and ―female‖ categories. consenting ),  Cultural rights (including the right to Hijra (for translations,) is a term used in South Asia freely participate in their cultural – in particular, in India – to refer to transwomen community), and (male-to-female or transgender  Collective rights (like the right to self- individuals). In other [which?] areas of India, determination). transgender people are also known as Aravani, Aruvani or Jagappa.

Fundamental Rights is a charter of rights The word "hijra" is an Urdu-Hindustani word contained in the Constitution of India. It guarantees derived from the Semitic Arabic root hjr in its civil liberties such that all Indians can lead their sense of "leaving one's tribe,"and has been lives in peace and harmony as citizens of India. borrowed into Hindi. The Indian usage has These include individual rights common to most traditionally been translated into English as liberal democracies, such as equality before law, "eunuch" or "hermaphrodite," where "the freedom of speech and expression, and peaceful irregularity of the male genitalia is central to the assembly, freedom to practice religion, and the

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 515

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in definition. ―However, in general hijras are born 33293 are enrolled. In India the with typically male physiology, only a few having literacy rate in transgenders is 56.07 %. with been born with intersex variations. Some Hijras communities recorded back more than 4,000 years. undergo an initiation rite into the hijra community Maximum number of eunuchs found in Uttar called nirwaan, which refers to the removal of the Pradesh state of India with around 5% of the total penis, scrotum and . percentage of state population.Number of them found in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, , Method of Study: Bihar, Rajasthan and are5%, 11.0%, 6.0%, Participation Observation in community and 6.5%, 4.5% and 2.0% of the total percentage of personal interviews with informants and secondary state population respectively.Among several data sources from , election hideous measures that they resort to in order to earn commission, and international organizations money, many of them start working as sex workers websites. which in turn has its own implications. For example, HIV rates are very high among the Hijra Terminology: community. Statistics vary between 50 and 80 %. The Urdu and Hindi word hijra may alternately be In the current scenario steps have been taken to romanized as hijira, hijda, hijada, hijara, hijrah and improve their status.Hijra social movements have is pronounced . This term is generally considered campaigned for recognition as a third sex, and in derogatory in Urdu and the word KhwajaSaraa is 2005, Indian application forms were used instead. Another such term is khasuaa or updated with three gender options: M, F, and E (for khusaraa . In Bengali hijra is called hijra, hijla, male, female, and eunuch, respectively) Some hijre, hizra, or hizre. Indian languages such as Sanskrit have three gender options. In November 2009, India agreed to A number of terms across the culturally and list eunuchs and transgender people as ―others‖, linguistically diverse Indian subcontinent represent distinct from males and , in voting rolls and similar sex or gender categories. While these are voter identity cards.Majority of them belonging to rough synonyms, they may be better understood as the age of 23, 24, 25, 26 years are dying of diseases separate identities due to regional cultural or suicide.Till date no census has been conducted differences. In Odia, a hijra is referred to as hinjida, on the transgender and Hijra community. The hinjda or napunsaka, in Telugu, as napunsakudu, mapping exercise is reportedly the first in the kojja or maada , in , Thirunangai world, and indicates that the department‘s (mister ), Ali, aravanni, aravani, or aruvani, interventions need to be scaled up four to five in Punjabi, khusra and jankha, in Sindhi khadra, in times.The estimated size of MSM and male sex Gujarati, pavaiyaa. worker populations in India (latter presumably includes Hijra‘s/TG communities) is 2,352,133 and In North India, the goddess is 235,213, respectively. worshipped by Pavaiyaa . In South India, the A study conducted in a Mumbai STI clinic reported goddess is believed to have the power to very high HIV seroprevalence of 68% and high change one's sex. Male devotees in female syphilis prevalence of 57% among Hijra‘s. In are known as Jogappa. They perform similar Southern India, a study documented a high HIV to hijra, such as dancing and singing at birth seroprevalence (18.1%) and Syphilis prevalence ceremonies and weddings. (13.6%) among Hijra‘s.In 2008, HIV prevalence was 27.6% amongst hijra sex workers in . The word (or koti) is common across India, The general prevalence of HIV among the adult similar to the of , although kothis Pakistani population is estimated at 0.1%. are often distinguished from hijras. Kothis are regarded as feminine men or boys who take a DESCRIPTION: feminine in sex with men, but do not live in the kind of intentional communities that hijras usually live in. Additionally, not all kothis have HIJRA‘S RELIGION AND undergone initiation rites or the body modification PRACTICE'S, BELIEFS: steps to become a hijra. Local equivalents include Many practice a form of syncretism that draws on durani (), menaka (Cochin), meti (), multiple ; seeing themselves to be neither and zenana (). men nor women, hijras practice rituals for both men and women. STATISTICS: Hijras belong to a special caste. They are usually According to the census of India. Total 4.9 million devotees of the mother goddess Bahuchara Mata, transgenders are enrolled, in that under 0-6 years Lord , or both. child is 54854, in SC's 78811 transgender, and ST's

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 516

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Ahiravan as their progenitor and call themselves "aravanis." Hijras and BahucharaMata : Bahuchara Mata is a Hindu goddess with two According to shri.Gopi Shankar "Sangam literature unrelated stories both associated with transgender use ' word 'Pedi' to refer to people born with behavior. One story is that she appeared in the Intersex condition, it also refers to antharlinga avatar of a princess who castrated her husband hijras and various Hijra, The Aravan cult in because would run in the woods and act like a village of Tamil Nadu is a folk tradition woman rather than have sex with her. Another of the transwomen, where the members enact the story is that a tried to her, so she cursed legend during an annual three-day festival. "This is him with impotence. When the man begged her completely different from the sakibeki cult of West forgiveness to have the curse removed, she relented Bengal, where transwomen don't have to undergo only after he agreed to run in the woods and act surgery or shave off their facial . like a woman. The primary temple to this goddess They dress as women still retaining their masculine is located in Gujarat and it is a place of pilgrimage features and sing in praise of Lord ,". for hijras, who see Bahucahara Mata as a patroness. "Whereas, since the Tamil society is more conservative and hetero-normative, transwomen Hijras and Lord Shiva : completely change themselves as women. In the One of the forms of Lord Shiva is a merging with ancient times, even religion has its own way of where together they are Ardhanari, a accepting these fringe communities." The Bachura that is half Shiva and Half Parvati. Ardhanari has worship in Gujarat and Jogappa cult of special significance as a patron of hijras, who Karanataka are the other examples.the kinds of identify with the gender ambiguity. dialects and languages spoken by these community in different parts of the country and the socio- cultural impact on the lingo. 'Hijra Farsi' is the Hijras in the : transgender dialect, a mix of Urdu, Hindi and In some versions of the Ramayana, when Persian spoken in the northern belt of India, leaves for his 14-year exile, a crowd of Pakistan and Afghanistan and 'KothiBaashai' is his subjects follow him into the forest because of spoken by the transgender community in their devotion to him. Soon Rama notices this, and Karnataka, Andhra, Orissa and parts of Tamil gathers them to tell them not to mourn, and that all Nadu. "They even have sign languages and typical the "men and women" of his kingdom should return mannerisms to communicate. The peculiar clap is to their places in Ayodhya. Rama then leaves and one such". has adventures for 14 years. When he returns to Ayodhya, he finds that the hijras, being neither Each year in Tamil Nadu, during April and May, men nor women, have not moved from the place hijras celebrate an eighteen-day religious festival. where he gave his speech. Impressed with their The aravani temple is located in the village devotion, Rama grants hijras the boon to confer Koovagam in the Ulundurpettaluk in Villupuram blessings on people during auspicious inaugural district, and is devoted to the deity Koothandavar, occasions like childbirth and weddings. This boon who is identified with Aravan. During the festival, is the origin of badhai in which hijras sing, dance, the aravanis reenact a story of the wedding of Lord and give blessings. Krishna and Lord Aravan, followed by Aravan's subsequent sacrifice. They then mourn Aravan's Hijras in the : death through ritualistic dances and by breaking Mahabharata includes an episode in which Arjun, a their . An annual beauty pageant is also hero of the epic, is sent into an exile. There he held, as well as various and HIV or AIDS assumes an identity of a eunuch-transvestite and seminars. Hijras from all over the country travel to performs rituals during weddings and childbirths this festival. A personal experience of the hijras in that are now performed by hijras.In the this festival is shown in the BBC Three Mahabharata, before the , documentary India's Ladyboys and also in the Ahiravan offers his lifeblood to goddess to National Geographic Channel television series ensure the victory of the , and Kali agrees Taboo. to grant him power. On the night before the battle, Ahiravan expresses a desire to get married before Hijra's and economic he dies. No woman was willing to marry a man circumstances: doomed to die in a few hours, so Arjuna as Brihinala marries him. In South India, hijras claim Used to be translated in English as "eunuch" or "hermaphrodite," although LGBT historians or

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 517

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in human rights activists have sought to include them the existence of a , including on as being transgender. In a series of meetings and other official documents. convened between October 2013 and Jan 2014 by Ostracized by loved ones and harassed constantly the transgender experts committee of India's by police, Hijra‘s instead form small groups for Ministry of Social Justice and , hijra their protection. These groups are led by a ―‖ and other trans activists asked that the term or mother figure. At their best, the groups can be "eunuch" be discontinued from usage in supportive, nurturing and -like. Out of a government documents, as it is not a term with necessity to protect themselves, Hijra‘s even which the communities identify. developed their own language — a mixture of In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the hijras are officially Hindi, Farsi, Urdu and a little Arabic. Most Hijra‘s recognized as third gender by the government, are uneducated and, combined with the being neither completely male nor female. In India they face; gaining mainstream also, transgenders have been given the status of employment is made almost impossible. Third gender and are protected as per the law In India, some Hijras do not define themselves by despite the social ostracism. The term more specific , but rather by commonly advocated by social workers and renouncing sexuality altogether. Sexual energy is transgender community members themselves is transformed into sacred powers. However, these ,and can identify the notions can come in conflict with the practical ( خواجهسرا :khwaajasira (Urdu individual as a transsexual person, transgender which is that hijras are often employed as person (khusras), cross-dresser (zenanas) or eunuch prostitutes. Furthermore, in India a feminine male (narnbans). who takes a "receptive" role in sex with a man will Hijras have a recorded in the Indian often identify as a kothi (or the local equivalent subcontinent from antiquity onwards as suggested term). While kothis are usually distinguished from by the period. This history features a hijras as a separate , they often dress number of well-known roles within subcontinental as women and act in a feminine manner in public , part gender-liminal, part spiritual and part spaces, even using feminine language to refer to survival. themselves and each other. The usual partners of Hijra‘s were once a revered and accepted group in hijras and kothis are men who consider themselves Indian culture. The Vedas, ancient Hindu texts, heterosexual as they are the ones who penetrate. include eunuchs and characters with both male and These male partners are often married, and any female characteristics. They were believed to bring relationships or sex with "kothis" or hijras are luck and provide special fertility powers. During usually kept secret from the community at large. the Mughal period, eunuchs played an important Some hijras may form relationships with men and role in the court administration as royal guards. For even marry, although their is not usually centuries, they have performed badhai, or blessings recognized by law or religion. Hijras and kothis at weddings and births. often have a name for these masculine sexual or Their sanctioned place in Indian culture changed romantic partners; for example, panthi in during the British colonial period. Introduced in Bangladesh, giriya in Delhi or sridhar in Cochin. 1860 and not abolished until 2009, of Most hijras live at the margins of society with very the Indian Penal Code outlawed ―carnal intercourse low status; the very word "hijra" is sometimes used against the order of nature.‖ Also that year, the in a derogatory manner. The Indian lawyer and Election Commission allowed ―other‖ gender author Rajesh Talwar has written a book identification. highlighting the human rights suffered by till to date the IPC Section 377 is not abolished. It the community titled 'The Third Sex and Human is under in supreme Court. Hijra'sare Respected by Rights.'Few employment opportunities are the Mughals, but considered criminals by British available to hijras. Many get their income from colonisers, today many [Hijra‘s] live as sex extortion (forced payment by disrupting work/life workers and beggars. using demonstrations and interference), performing Since the late 20th century, some hijra activists and at ceremonies (toli), begging (dheengna), or sex Western non-government organizations (NGOs) work ('raarha')—an occupation of eunuchs also have lobbied for official recognition of the hijra as recorded in premodern times. Violence against a kind of "third sex" or "third gender," as neither hijras, especially hijra sex workers, is often brutal, man nor woman. Hijras have successfully gained and occurs in public spaces, police stations, this recognition in Bangladesh and are eligible for prisons, and their homes. As with transgender priority in education. In India, the Supreme Court people in most of the world, they face extreme in April 2014 recognized hijra and transgender discrimination in health, housing, education, people as a 'third gender' in law. Nepal, Pakistan, employment, immigration, law, and any India, and Bangladesh have all legally recognized that is unable to place them into male or female gender categories.

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 518

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

In a study of Bangladeshi hijras, participants Sanam Fakir, a 32-year-old hijra, ran as an reported not being allowed to seek healthcare at the independent candidate for Sukkur, Pakistan's private chambers of doctors, and experiencing general election in May.The governments of both if they go to government hospitals. India (1994) and Pakistan (2009)[40] have Beginning in 2006, hijras were engaged to recognized hijras as a "third sex", thus granting accompany city revenue officials to collect them the basic civil rights of every citizen. In India, unpaid taxes, receiving a 4-percent commission. hijras now have the option to identify as a eunuch Since India's Supreme Court re-criminalized ("E") on passports and on certain government and on 13 December documents. They are not, however, fully 2013, there has been a sharp increase in the accommodated; in order to vote, for example, physical, psychological and sexual violence against citizens must identify as either male or female. the transgender community by the Indian Police There is also further discrimination from the Service, nor are they investigating even when government. In the 2009 general election, India's sexual assault against them is reported.In April election committee denied three hijras candidature /15/2014, Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice unless they identified themselves as either male or sikri bench, of supreme Court is declared female. transgender to be the third gender in Indian law, in a case brought by the National Legal Services A bill supported by all political parties was tabled Authority (Nalsa) against Union of India and in Indian parliament to ensure transgender people others. and in their judgment. get benefits akin reserved communities like SC/STs The ruling said: and is taking steps to see that they get enrollment in "Seldom, our society realises or cares to realise the schools and jobs in government besides protection trauma, agony and pain which the members of from .This section talks about Transgender community undergo, nor appreciates those people who have had their share of struggle the innate feelings of the members of the and then rose to inspire their people and achieve Transgender community, especially of those whose recognition in the society. mind and body disown their biological sex. Our society often ridicules and abuses the Transgender SHABNAM MAUSI: community and in public places like railway stations, bus stands, schools, workplaces, malls, Shabnam ―Mausi‖ Bano is the first transgender theatres, hospitals, they are sidelined and treated as Indian or Hijra to be elected to public office. She untouchables, forgetting the fact that the moral was an elected member of the MadhyaPradesh failure lies in the society's unwillingness to contain State Legislative Assembly from 1998 to or embrace different gender identities and 2003.(Hijra‘s were granted voting rights in 1994 in expressions, a mindset which we have to change". India.) ShabnamMausi is born in a Brahmin family. Justice Radhakrishnan also said that transgender Her father was a superintendent of people should be treated consistently with other Police.ShabnamMausi was elected from the minorities under the law, enabling them to access Sohagpur constituency in Madhya Pradesh state of jobs, healthcare and education. India. Shabnam attended two years of primary He framed the issue as one of human rights, saying schooling, but speaks 12 languages that she has that, "These TGs, even though insignificant in learnt during her travels. As a member of the numbers, are still human beings and therefore they Legislative Assembly, her agenda includes fighting have every right to enjoy their human rights". corruption, unemployment, , and hunger in concluding by declaring that: her constituency. ShabnamMausi also intends to "(1) Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be use her position in the Legislative Assembly to treated as "third gender" for the purpose of speak out against discrimination of Hijra‘s as well safeguarding their rights under Part III of our as to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS. Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament ShabnamMausi inspired a lot of Hijra‘s in India to and the State Legislature. take up politics and participate in ‗mainstream (2) Transgender persons' right to decide their self- activities‘ in India, giving up their traditional roles identified gender is also upheld and the Centre and as dancers, prostitutes, and beggars, living on the State Governments are directed to grant legal fringes of Indian society; for example they recognition of their gender identity such as male, sometimes attend weddings or the house of a female or as third gender." newborn child offering services to ward off bad luck. South Asian politics : In 2003, Hijra‘s in Madhya Pradesh have In 2013, transgender people in Pakistan were given announced establishing their own political party their first opportunity to stand for election. called ―JeetiJitayi Politics‖ (JJP), which literally

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 519

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in means ‗politics that has already been won‘. In In a pioneering effort to solve the problems faced 2005, a fiction feature titled ‗ShabnamMausi‘ by transgender people, the government of Tamil was made about her life.. Although she is no longer Nadu (a state in South India) established a in public office, ShabnamMausi continues to transgender welfare board in April 2008. Social participate actively in AIDS/HIV with NGOs and welfare minister will serve as the president of the gender activists in India. board. This effort is touted to be the first in India and even in the world. The government has also LAXMI NARAYAN TRIPATHI : started issuing separate food ration cards for transgender people.[6] Even though the transgender She is a Hijra Guru. She is also spokesperson for welfare board solely started focusing only on the the Kinnar community. She is originally from UP, development of Trans women in recent days the India. Laxmi is a famous dancer, dance instructor, rights of Trans men and gender variants are and Hijra guru. She is well-known campaigner and discussed. quintessence of elegance and courage faces the In additional effort to improve the education of reality. She also adopted two grown up child as her transgender people, Tamil Nadu government also kids. In 1979, Laxmi was born in Thane as the issued an order on May 2008 to create a third eldest child of an orthodox Brahmin duo from Uttar gender for admissions to government colleges.The Pradesh. She was very sick in her childhood as she Government has also decided to conduct a census had double pneumonia, typhoid and asthma. In the on the transgender population in order to issue second standard, Laxmi was enthralled by identity cards. , its costumes, make-up and jewellery. Laxmi was first sexually abused by an Some of the Notable Trans and acquaintance at the age of 6 years. After some years, Laxmi met Shabina Frances, another Hijra. People : They became friends and Shabina promised her A. - First Transgender to write about that she will be her guru if she joined them. Transgender and Hijra's in Asia. Afterwards her journey started and she became one KalkiSubramaniam - First Openly Transgender of the Hijra‘s. entrepreneur and Founder of Sahodari Foundation. She is the first transgender person to represent Asia NarthakiNataraj - First Transwoman to receive Pacific in the UN. Laxmi has served on the boards SangeetNatakAkademi Award. of several NGOs which conduct LGBT activist K PrithikaYashini - First Transwoman Sub- work. In 2002 she became president of the NGO Inspector of Tamil Nadu Police. DAI Welfare Society, the first registered and Rose Venkatesan - First Transwoman TV host. working organization for eunuchs in South Asia. Karpaga - First Transwoman actor. Living Smile Vidya - First Transgender In the year of 2013, one of the hijra was elected as autobiographer. a ziillaParishad chairperson.

In the year of 2013/ 03 , some of the hijra's group Transgender's in movies and : conducted a safe delivery to un relativespregnent The 1997 Hindi film Darmiyaan: In Between women , in " A.P express. Train ". And directed & co-written by KalpanaLajmi is based on the subject of Hijra, wherein a fictitious story of an actress bearing a son that turns out to be neuter.

Welfare schemes : In the 2000 Tamil film Appu directed by Vasanth, The Tamil Nadu state in India was the first state to a remake of the Hindi film Sadak, the antagonist is introduce a transgender (hijra/ aravani) welfare a brothel-owning hijra played by . (In policy. According to the transgender welfare policy Sadak, the brothel-owning character was played by transgender people can access free Sex SadashivAmrapurkar under the name "Maharani".) Reassignment Surgery (SRS) in the Government Hospital (only for transfeminine people); free In 2005, a fiction feature film titled ShabnamMausi housing program; various citizenship documents; was made on the life of a eunuch politician admission in government colleges with full ShabnamMausi. It was directed by scholarship for higher studies; alternative sources YogeshBharadwaj and the title role played by of livelihood through formation of self-help groups AshutoshRana. (for savings) and initiating income-generation programmes (IGP). Tamil Nadu was also the first Jogwa, a 2009 Marathi film, depicts the story of a state to form a Transgender Welfare Board with man forced to be hijra under certain circumstances. representatives from the transgender community. The movie has received several accolades.

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 520

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-4, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

those people who have had their share of struggle In SoormaBhopali, Jagdeep encounters a troupe of and then rose to inspire their people and achieve hijra on his arrival in Bombay. The leader of this recognition in the society. pack is also played by Jagdeep himself. In before that as a human beings, every one gives a moral support and encouragement to their survival. In Kapoor'sNayak, , who plays If it is not possible at least don't hesitate and don't the role of the hero's assistant, gets beaten up by criticize them. hijras, when he is caught calling them "hijra" (he is in habit of calling almost everyone who bothers him by this pejorative and no one cares much, REFERENCES : except this once ironically, as the addressees are literally what he is calling them.) 1) participation observations. 2) in-depth interviews One of the main characters in 's 3) Census of India. novel Delhi, Bhagmati is a hijra. She makes a 4) election commission of India information. living as a semi-prostitute and is wanted in the 5) Undp diplomatic circles of the city.

Vijay TV's Ippadikku Rose, a Tamil show conducted by postgraduate educated transgender woman Rose is a very successfully running program that discusses various issues faced by youth in Tamil Nadu, where she also gives her own experiences.

In addition to numerous other themes, the 2008 movie Welcome to Sajjanpur by ShyamBenegal explores the role of hijras in Indian society.

In January/ 2011 the kanchana movie is released in multi lingual. It is fully transgenders family story. It is directed by famous Tamil director " Raghava Lawrence " .

In the movie Ardhanaari, released on 23 November 2012, director SanthoshSowparnika tries to depict the life of a transgender person. Manoj K Jayan, , and ManiyanpillaRaju perform leading roles.

In August, 2015, a music video featuring 7 hijras dressed in outfits or uniforms of various professions and singing the National Anthem of India created by a YouTube channel Yathartha Pictures went viral for being the first National Anthem video sung by hijras in India. The hijras featured in the video were brought together by the , a Mumbai-based NGO which promotes LGBT rights.

CONCLUSION :

A bill supported by all political parties was tabled in Indian parliament to ensure transgender people get benefits a kin reserved community like SC/STs and is taking steps to see that they get enrollment in schools and jobs in government besides protection from sexual harassment. This section talks about

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 521