You won't find the definition for this "hijra" in the dictionary. I'm not talking about Muhammad's departure from Mecca to Medina in AD 622 which is what you WILL find in the dictionary under "Hijra."
There are a certain group of people all over India they like to call Hijras. This is not the "politically correct" term for these people, and I'm not sure what the correct one would be at this moment in time.
These people are feared among all men in India. Why are they feared? I will tell you why. A Hijra is someone who was originally a man or male if you may. However, they now live their lives dressed in women's clothes and going around asking for money. No, not asking for money, but demanding it! I don't know how they have this kind of power over people here. They remind me of drag queens, except not as flamboyant. I mean they're basically eunuchs who dress in women's clothes. In India that means saris and salwaar kameez, with gold earrings and bangles.
Beggars come on trains and sing or sweep or simply beg for money. They stand on the streets and ask for food and money, but beggars NEVER go into stores because they are not allowed and they know they're not allowed. Hijras are different. They are not beggars because they don't beg for money, they almost demand it. They walk into stores, go straight to the register and get their money and leave, moving onto the next stores. They come on the trains and just clap their hands and go up to the men and the men give them money. Why do they do that? Because the men in India are terrified of the hijras. Hijras are aggressive and they only bother men. They don't even talk to the women really or try to get money from women, but only the men. It's fun to watch all the men shifting in their seats with looks of fear on their faces and distress in their eyes when a batch of hijras enter the train. They touch the men and flirt with them and hit them. Some men just give them money, others try to ignore them and sit still with clenched teeth looking at the floor praying to their god that they'll leave.
But I love the hijras. I absolutely love them. I get so excited when they come on the train or if I see them in the market. I think one reason I love them is because they scare the men. Some Indian men can be really annoying (no offense to anyone), especially to a white woman. They will try their best to act or speak macho and cool if they want to impress you OR they will try to take pictures of you unknowingly with their cell phones OR they will whistle and yell at you from their motorcycles or car windows. So to see them cower with fear as soon as a man dressed as a woman gets onto the train brings me a little joy. To see men who think they're so manly be afraid of a man who just wants to be a woman is funny to me. The other reason I love them is because they never hurt women or take money from women that I am aware of, and they remind me of gay men and I love gay men.
Just the other day I was on the local train going to Pune and about halfway through the ride at one station about four hijras got on the train and started taking money from the men. As they walked past me I leaned over to my student and told her that I loved hijras. About ten minutes later the hijras came back past me and my friend and they stopped and looked at me and started asking me what my name was. I told them "Sarah" and they said their names and then I thought they would try to get money from me, but they just continued asking me questions like where I am from, where I am going on the train, and also said that I was very beautiful and if I wore gold, dangling earrings it would fit me perfectly. They were so sweet to me and when I told one I was just going to Pune they were so excited! They shook my hand and said good-bye and got off the train as it had stopped at another station. One of them I met was so young, I'll bet "she" was about 16 years old. I almost want to learn Hindi JUST so that I can hang out with these eunuchs. I really would love to be their friend.
As soon as they left these two school boys, who were maybe 16-17 years old, sitting in front of me started mocking them and laughing, and all I could think is, "wow, you guys are so great! You act like little cowards when they are on the train but as soon as they get off you make fun of them. Real nice, little jerks." I just don't get it.
Many years ago if anyone had a child, they would have to pay a hijra to come and bless the child. They believed if the hijras did not bless their child then their child would be cursed. I don't think they do that so much anymore, but still somehow, hijras have this power within the country. They can go anywhere they want and everyone gives them money mostly because they are scared of them I think. I am not sure exactly why all this takes place, but I hope to learn more about them.
I really do love these people. If you remember, pray for the cross-dressing eunuchs of India, that they would know love and live love, and that the people of India would love them as well.
1 comment:
the thing is hijras have good hands and legs they can work like others and make their money, no body is stopping them, but their way of extorting money from others sets a bad precinct, how can someone give Rs, 20000 for these people only those who make their money illegally can do that, why can't that money be given to poor people that really deserve them.
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