Excluded From Gender Majority: Tales Of The Third Gender Community
By Ravi Nitesh
18 December, 2012
Countercurrents.org
In the fight of man made divisions, we fight among ourselves in the name of caste, religion, sub-caste, region etc. But let's keep aside being a minority or majority on the basis of culture, religion, caste as here is something that needs attention of all gender majority, of males and females. Yes, I am talking about the eunuch/kinnar community. It is true that we all have thought of them and their way of life, at least once in our life whenever we saw them, met them or interacted with them during our daily life. In anyway, we cannot ignore their presence and problems, but on the other side, it is also true that we , perhaps are not sensitive towards their presence and problems. We are only concerned about majority, yes, gender majority.
These eunuchs are not a part of our society because these people have been forced to live in their own society. Both societies do not interact with each other frequently. We lived and grew up in our society and are thus unaware about them. Even from the most common sense, if we will share our experience, we can say that we did not study in schools/colleges with any of the member from that society as a classmate, we didn't witness any of their member as our colleague in any of our office. Is it true that all these studies and jobs are for majority ? Though, there may be several reasons and strong rationales and logic to answer and to encounter these ‘allegations’ but then also, the result will be the same. Situation of this community may differ from region to region and it shows that certainly policies and social environment affect the growth of this community.
This marginalized section of society needs a process of social inclusion. There are many things that can be done in this regard. We must not leave this section. Their interaction with the present/"mainstream" society will be viewed as a process in making of an equal and just society. Still there are too many obvious and simple to do things that must be there as a right for the members of this community. We also note that making provisions for their welfare and progress must not be seen as sympathetic arrangements, instead it must be there as a duty of the government.
In fact, this community has to fight with too many things. Changing mentality of general public, opportunities to grow and to develop without feeling of insecurity and many other such things can be focus areas. Respectful position in society as a whole should be the objective and for that the Government has to focus on identifying their problems, on their development and allot facilities and concessions to them to achieve this and encouraging them to join the mainstream and many other ways. On the other hand, we also have to change our view and we have to recognize them as equally important human being as we are.
Ravi Nitesh is a Petroleum Engineer, Founder- Mission Bhartiyam, Core Member- Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign follow on twitter: www.twitter.com/ravinitesh Blog: www.ravinitesh.blogspot.com
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