If you are an Indian, you probably have encountered a transgender (local word - hijra) asking you ten bucks while traveling in a train. These hijras often frequent passenger trains, and/or general coaches of express trains. They make a living asking money and not actually begging. You have probably wondered, what gives them the right to do so?
I remember traveling in an Howrah-Ahmedabad train in a general coach. I met this guy who had boarded the train all the way from Howrah and was going to get down at Bhusaval. He was going to do some job in Pune, having recently completed his diploma in Engineering. He was quite a nice guy with a broken Hindi and the Bengali accent. He was also poor.
I guess he was not aware of the transgenders who frequented trains, for he did not take out even a single rupee to give them. They are known for harassing, making obscene remarks and this sucks when you are with family. He was quite determined, clutching his shirt pocket with all his might to not let them take a single paisa away. He let go, though, when he broke down in tears. His shirt was torn off, and the hijras decided that it was time to let go from their end as well. Nobody won. This happens frequently. Sometimes, it makes it to the news.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/030616/398-transgenders-fined-for-harassing-passengers-in-visakhapatnam.html
One would ask, what was I doing? I had given my 10 Rupee note (In my life, I have paid atleast 100 INR to the hihras). As much as I felt I should help the guy, I didn't. Because i knew once the transgenders had passed, the deeper flaw in the society will be revealed. I was initially frustrated, yes, (I even told this all later to one of my friends online) because of the extent to which the guy was harassed, but soon things started to clear.
Source
So what happened next?
The fellow passengers started mocking the guy for being such a chicken. They started talking about the hijras with such a passion that was not evident in their silence a few minutes ago. It was evident in their grins but only when the hijras were not looking. They made fun about their sex and these were not only the men talking. Their families shared their mocking.
I should add that the nice guy I was talking about cursed them too, and while one would say 'ofcourse, he would. He was the one beaten up, right?' but he did not stop there. Apparently he had quite a opinion about transgenders in general. And it was not a good one.
The thing is, personally, the common crowd is to be blamed for all this fiasco. Sometime in the modern times, the taboo of transgenders started in India and has been prevalent ever since. It is a taboo worse than the age old Indian taboo of not touching the Shudra caste people. Yes, this is worse than the infamous caste system.
Thing is, the hijras know of this taboo and they know that people dislike even thinking about talking to a transgender, let alone be near one. So why not exploit this stupidity? Bring back these people to their senses?
When a baby is born, the mostly superstitious Indian families don't want a hijra to be near it, and what do the hijras do? They go there and make a show. The families give in, and the hijras make money. For what? To get away from there. Talk about getting paid to be rid of.
I am in no way justifying any side. I do not back the aggressive hijras that harassed the kid. The flaw is deep within the Indian society. I do not support the transgenders taking such a path to harass and make money, but I am empathetic of the situation that made them take the path. It is a probably too much severe and with grassroots deep in the mainstream Indian psyche, and everyone probably has different opinions, based on their experiences. I am here just telling the story, as to what led them to this. And gods below, it is a state to be sorry for.
Recently, the Indian Railways has included 'transgender' as the third gender. They have also made history by employing them in the same trains where they asked for money.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/may/12/india-train-network-makes-history-employing-transgender-workers-hijra-kochi-kerala
The ultimate solution to this is that the taboo has to melt away. It is not just Indians, many conservative countries around the world have worse conditions. Too many people because of this hate do not come out of the closet, and imagine the lives they live.
Individually, we have to accept and realise that the LGBTQ community is no different than us in all our purity and whatever things are there to make us feel better.
When the taboo will no longer exist, there will be no reason and no cause for the hijras to make money from. But is the common Indian populace ready for that? Time will tell.
If you want an Indian outlook on this, refer to
This really is an interesting post. Thank you so much for your input on all of this, you're quickly becoming one of my favorite Steemians!
thanks for sharing
Welcome!
While legislation would help things be better for transgenders, It's only whenpeople are willing to change their attitude towards them would make a real difference. I wrote an article about it and would love to see your opinion on it https://steemit.com/life/@mindboggle/a-transgender-royal-princess-too-hard-to-accept