Last week, When I was travelling from Chennai to Bombay I got the chance to see many eunuchs begging for money! My mom was like "Why should we give money to them? ". I could see the hatred in many eyes that were staring at them in my compartment. My dad went to the extent of saying"How and why does the Indian Railways allow people like this to get into trains? They don't beg for money. Instead, they claim money as if they have the right to ask money to us!" I could see the irritation in him.
When I returned from Bombay, myself and my sister were sitting,when an eunuch came and asked for money.She even blessed us before asking that. My sister immediately took a 10 rupees note and gave her. She was very happy and blessed us saying my family will be happy forever! My mom asked her why did she have to give 10 for her if just 5 rupees would have been enough! I loved my sister's answer. She said " We don't provide any job opportunities to them.People don't even treat them like human beings! What else would they do other than begging for money?"
It' s a point which should be considered, thought about and something has to be done about it.
Who are eunuchs actually? I had so many misconceptions about them and it took these much years for me to know about them exactly. Eunuchs are those who are born that way!Males who are born without the male sex organ.Such natural eunuchs are very rare .The truth is that there are eunuchs who become so, forcibly and wantedly.Wantedly?? This is a news for you! Is it?
But, it's true!
There are many homosexuals in the country who are not allowed to be homosexuals. They don't get the recognition and respect. Homosexuals are considered like criminals in India.Being a homosexual is considered to be against the Indian culture. It's considered to be against the morals. So, many homosexuals transform themselves into eunuchs by operations! This is how they became a huge part of the Indian Population.It's said that they are about a million in India.
Those naturally, wantedly or forcibly formed eunuchs are not even treated as human beings. They are even denied their basic rights of living. They are not allowed to do anything they wish to do. Be it watching a movie in theatre, travelling in a bus/train, getting a visa and many more. Even in public toilets they are not allowed to enter because they are neither men nor women!And they are denied even the right to vote!! The most shameful part is that all the eunuchs are considered as prostitutes. Many men go to them for prostitution since they don't have to spend much on them when compared to the money they have to spend on women!! It's true that many have chosen that as a profession because they don't have anything else to do for their living.
Eunuchs generally have become something to be feared about. Even I heard my dad saying it. The same person, who was scolding them for begging, gave some 5 rs when she asked for money.The answer he gave was he was feared that she ll do something to him! Eunuchs are not to be feared about. They too are human beings denied their right to live! There is no guarantee that our family will not have someone like that in future.
At the same time of understanding their feelings,I found some eunuchs in the same train who behaved in an indecent way to get money from people. I strongly condemn such acts even though the fact is that We made them behave so!! A comforting news is that recently eunuchs have contested in elections and have won the same! I hope this blog would create some awareness about eunuchs at least among my friends who read it and it's high time We started treating eunuchs as humans!!
My humble request is even if We are not in a position to help for their upliftment, please let them live a dignified life!! That would be the greatest help from our side to them!
Thank you!!
Related Link:
http://www.countercurrents.org/gen-narrain141003.htm
When I returned from Bombay, myself and my sister were sitting,when an eunuch came and asked for money.She even blessed us before asking that. My sister immediately took a 10 rupees note and gave her. She was very happy and blessed us saying my family will be happy forever! My mom asked her why did she have to give 10 for her if just 5 rupees would have been enough! I loved my sister's answer. She said " We don't provide any job opportunities to them.People don't even treat them like human beings! What else would they do other than begging for money?"
It' s a point which should be considered, thought about and something has to be done about it.
Who are eunuchs actually? I had so many misconceptions about them and it took these much years for me to know about them exactly. Eunuchs are those who are born that way!Males who are born without the male sex organ.Such natural eunuchs are very rare .The truth is that there are eunuchs who become so, forcibly and wantedly.Wantedly?? This is a news for you! Is it?
But, it's true!
There are many homosexuals in the country who are not allowed to be homosexuals. They don't get the recognition and respect. Homosexuals are considered like criminals in India.Being a homosexual is considered to be against the Indian culture. It's considered to be against the morals. So, many homosexuals transform themselves into eunuchs by operations! This is how they became a huge part of the Indian Population.It's said that they are about a million in India.
Those naturally, wantedly or forcibly formed eunuchs are not even treated as human beings. They are even denied their basic rights of living. They are not allowed to do anything they wish to do. Be it watching a movie in theatre, travelling in a bus/train, getting a visa and many more. Even in public toilets they are not allowed to enter because they are neither men nor women!And they are denied even the right to vote!! The most shameful part is that all the eunuchs are considered as prostitutes. Many men go to them for prostitution since they don't have to spend much on them when compared to the money they have to spend on women!! It's true that many have chosen that as a profession because they don't have anything else to do for their living.
Eunuchs generally have become something to be feared about. Even I heard my dad saying it. The same person, who was scolding them for begging, gave some 5 rs when she asked for money.The answer he gave was he was feared that she ll do something to him! Eunuchs are not to be feared about. They too are human beings denied their right to live! There is no guarantee that our family will not have someone like that in future.
At the same time of understanding their feelings,I found some eunuchs in the same train who behaved in an indecent way to get money from people. I strongly condemn such acts even though the fact is that We made them behave so!! A comforting news is that recently eunuchs have contested in elections and have won the same! I hope this blog would create some awareness about eunuchs at least among my friends who read it and it's high time We started treating eunuchs as humans!!
My humble request is even if We are not in a position to help for their upliftment, please let them live a dignified life!! That would be the greatest help from our side to them!
Thank you!!
Related Link:
http://www.countercurrents.org/gen-narrain141003.htm
18 comments:
hey janani...am really happy tat u ve come out wid this topic...cuz in a society lik ours where sex is a taboo its gud tat this wud surely create an awareness...my first encounter wid a eunuch was in the delhi railway station way bak in summer 1997...wherein one eunuch approached us askin for money...wen we refused to give the eunuch began stripping his/her clothes...this was terribly embarassin to us n my uncle took out sum coins n gave...n for all this we were badly harassed by his/her wrds...
as far as i am concerned begging for money is ridiculous and shud be completely prohibited from our society...but i know this is beyond impossibility...but givin money depends n differs wid ppl..
my verdict is tat forcin upon sumthin is not the onli solution to such things...n y is it tat we fear for these eunuchs...??tats cuz of their indecent n improper behaviour in public..wherin we r forced to curse them...i agree wid ur wrd tat they r not given a place among other ppl...but tat doesnt mean tat they can take advantage of our weekness...
let me tell u another incident...wud u ever stand it if u jus walk on the road n sum stranger comes up to u n rubs ur cheeks..u wudnt rite..but i experienced this a year ago wen i was walki outta a complex in t nagar n a eunuch came up to me..didnt even ask me for money...jus pinched my cheeks n ran away...i was stand still..n the fear in me got promoted to its nxt level...
we "are" unfair to them...but they r the sole reason for this...
i really cant summarise a solution to this...
Hey meena!
Whatever u have said is absolutely true. There s no point in denying it!! I feel all this happens because of the illtreatment they have undergone!I'm not trying to justify such acts! Even I have comdemned such acts in my blog too. They do so only beacuse they are badly in need of money for thier survival and to avoid such happenings the govt should take measures and employ them in various govt undertakings so that they ll not do such things!! They too would not want to do such indecent things. It's only because they are not given opportunities anywhere for them to survive in this country.
Let us hope that the Govt takes necessary steps and makes their lives dignified ones!!
Its heartening to see that you care about people who are the most marginalized in Indian society or for that matter, any society in the world.
You can read this article about them written in a cogent manner:
http://www.countercurrents.org/gen-narrain141003.htm
Sometimes, the most marginalized people are so much out of the radar of the media, the situation seems damning.
I am happy that you are concerned about even these people. Another set of people in India who are also extremely marginalized and exploited are the scavengers. Frontline devoted an entire issue about them. Check that out:
http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2318/index.htm
--Chander Anna.
But again the same confusion remains whether as to any other beggars we would encounter. If we give them money we are helping them, but we are encouraging them to beg more !
I comlpetely agree to your views. But what can be the solution ? !
Mr. vinod!!
I dont like your comparison of beggars and eunuchs! We dont provide any job opportunities to eunuchs. It's not the case with beggars!
And regarding the solution, I feel the government should take necessary steps to help them!! thats what i feel!
janani its really nice that u r very open 2 write somthin abt eunuchs , i tried 2 learn lot abt eunuchs but i didnt get the req websites books etc. as far as im concerned a third gender shud b created like M and F. they shud given chance 2 get educated , given job oppurtunities. eunuchs shud also allowed 2 b married . they shud b releived from the rackets of prostitution . but for this they themselves shud co operate well . visit the folllowing site it has som details abt eunuchs . www.photographerno1.com
Hi Janani..
Your views could be right only from some angles... u need to understand that people in India do not condemn being gay/homo sexual but only their act of converting them into eunuchs.. as well as their obscene behavior which is common with most of them.
My claim is supported by the fact that, India has a lot of top personalities who are homosexuals, having all rights and freedoms as people with straight sexual orientation.
You contradict yourself as you said that there are people from this tribe who have won elections. So this convey that people out their accept them!
The thing that annoys the most are their obscene acts in public (usually in trains) for money. Instead they could do something constructive, like the blind man selling railway guides on the trains. I agree that they are misfortunate, but do you know that they have their own clique, where they are advised to do all sorts of things like this? So they are not alone but are backed by their own organizations which care for them and fight for their rights….
Neways… good topic to throw light on…
Mr. Raghav!!
People in India do not condemn being a homosexual?? If that s the case, there s absolutely no need of men transforming themselves into eunuchs!! They do condemn and thats y they force themselves to become eunuchs!! thats a fact that has to be accepted!!
What i tried to convey is there are people who accept them. But they are few. Many dont accept them. They are given the right to vote!! Does not it show that they are denied their rights??
And u have suggested that they can sell things in stations! How many people in India are ready to go and but that from them? In my locality, near my college bus stop, I have seen a eununch selling flowers. People hesitate to get it from her and they crowd the nearby flower shop! I have seen that. People are feared to socialise with them! My blog was written with the motive of removing that fear and considering them as humans!!
Thanks for ur comments!!!
Hey janani.. it's a good piece of work ! I have seen many eunuchs in trains forcing people to give money and to make them get out of that place, people give them money..
It 's true that eunuchs don't enjoy facilities like common man. But there is an other side for these eunuchs ! Today's dinakaran, I read that a Eunuch gang clash happened in the middle of a busy road in Salem were they rolled over each other by stripping each other's clothes!
"Miss. Koovakam" ( this contest happens once in a yr ) title minner rasika and her gang had forced several other eunuchs to enter into prostitution and thus led to the shocking clash among the public!!
Now, you see that we can't call all eunuchs the same - there is now a segregation of good ones and bad ones there too. The eunuchs are forced into prostitution not only by the soceity of men - but dominantly by the other eunuchs!!!
The Miss koovagam has been arrested and her gang which forced the other eunuchs !
The plight of the eunuchs is terrible and delicate in these cases. There is a rift in their community too which is expected to be united always!
I agree with you ;) ( though several disagreed) that homosexuals turn out to become eunuchs ! A smallest example of it was the two homosexuals in North india( both girls ) married against many oppositions and one girl was dressed in shirt n trousers ( though it is not just exactly indicating men) and the other in salwar. I have read that there is a general characteristics of one of homosexuals to behave like a man ( courtesy : If tomorrow comes by Sidney! :)) . So there is a very thin line between dressing up like men and actually trying to become one!
@ quantum dot :
Janani and me only used to see the eunuch selling flowers in the bus stop. Many don't buy in that shop. The eunuch lives his/her life by working hard and the soceity doesn't accept it though!
@janani - eunuchs need not be male without the male organ. One girl from my school (a senior) converted herself into a male due to some differences in the organ.
hey.. this ia one damn good topic! delicate and needs a lot of understanding.
recently, i read a book titled, "MANWATCHING" by Dr. Desmond Morris. he says," Homosexual males display a no. of actions peculiar their social group, eg- A school boy will naturally join this group, shows none of these, and his public behaviour differs little frm tht of his school friends. but as soon as he joins an adult homosexual community, in a large city, he rapidly adapts their characteristics and action patterns. wrist actions, walking posture..neck movement becomes exagerated..protrusive lip postures etc.
it could be argued thatsuch a male, is deliberately behaving in a more feminine manner but his actions are not precisely feminine. they r nt absorbed from females but other homosexual males"...
my sole purpose of mentioning this was, the obscene gestures by an eunuch which intimidates or disgusts the other humans, are neither a result of social neglect nor a deliberate annoyance.. it's simply an adapted action that the eunuch has adapted from her/his community. the author also says that these actions have been "trademarked" as eunuch.. that a norman man or woman can perfectly imitate these actions without letting a trace about their original gender!
there s only a hairline difference in the behaviours of eunuch and a man/woman pretending to be one.. which u can get frm the book.
i think tht the ppl. pretending to be eunuch face a greater problem to the society than the eunuch themselves!
anyway, a good topic and gr8 post!
cheers!
hai janani.. this is great job. this king of articles should create awareness in people who read this blog regulerly.
in the bacise of human being, all have full rights to live in this earth including eunuchs. but most of our people, don't understand their feeling and getting little bit of happy by teese theme.
one eunuch, 'living smile' vidya has written in tamil blog. URL is,
http://www.livingsmile.blogspot.com/
she written her personel life experience with painfull words. it wil more helpfull to the people like u, to realise more abt eunuchs. thanks.
(I'am not an expert in english. so pls adjust my mistakes..)
Janani,
Nice blog and seeing the count of the comments that you have received I guess your blog do deserve a praise.
"gonna join Kaene soon" please correct the spelling.It should be Keane.I know it is a typo error,just letting you know.
Looking forward to your next posting.
K.Kiran.
onesnzeroes.blogspot.com
hi
I am happy that you are concerned about third sex people( dont call eunuchs). For their survival they are begging .
When people long for recognition, they are the ones who do not want to be or dwell in the fear of being identified. It is because of the wrong projection of these transgenders by the media. How do we come to know about them?
* Clapping their hands
* Asking for money
* Making odd movements
* Unusual dressing
Are they just this? How do they live? What kind of security does this society or Government offers them? This is a question left unanswered so long. Because they are totally ignored by the society, these third sex are pushed into a state of taking up sex work or begging as their means for livelihood that too under severe harassment of the Gundas and the police.
When they are out of their homes, if at all they have any,
* How do they travel?
* Do they get a seat?
* Which toilet will they use?
* Whom will they marry?
* Who will protect them in their final days?
These are some issues that pester the ultimate existence of the transgenders. Should they go through such a pain for the biological craziness? Why do we- educated, supposed to be rational human beings- absolutely ignore the existence of the third sex? When we know that there is a third sex, why don't the columns in application forms carry an extra word in the column of sex? Just because of this issue these people are devoid of
* Their citizenship rights
* Property rights
* Human rights
* Right to vote
* Eligibility for passport
* Obtaining driving license
* Ration card
* Opening a bank account
* Enjoying any Government scheme
Since this exploitation starts at the schools itself, they fear to face such an environment, thus discontinuing their studies. So no education- no job- no earning – no savings. How do we expect them to live? Because they are third sex, they need to pay more house rentals and face many such problems.
So a need for a more sensitive approach in exploring these issues is required. The Government, NGO's and academicians should start focusing their attention on addressing the needs of the third sex. Otherwise, this will lead to every ones unconscious participation in a great social injustice. Let it be domestic work or business, the eunuchs have great potentials that is waiting to be exploited. As academicians, we should strive to work for the advancement of this gender through:
i have one solution to suggest : we have to educate them, they should get educate in usual school where male sex & female sex r studying . not in spl school or different. then there will not be any such begging /harassment/ Stripping/. Automatically every one will accept if they study together . if they study together with their children. if they play with them , if they play together .. all the schools should accept them as a child /student. none of the school should be left out.
arun
Hej janani,
It is a great dismay that you choose this topic.true they re denied of the basic respect what a human deserves.It gives me pain when i think of this unprevilaged.what we re doing towards them is highly unfair if in future if you organise some awareness programs to help them i will join you
gud luck!
Deepak c
masters in biotech
KTH,sweden
Hi Janani,
Nice post.Bold and to the point.Nice narration also.
Its true that India is a country where these kind of topics are TABOO.
There are many issues to be understood before drawing to conclusions.
I once read(will surely post the source wen i retrace it), that every Woman has a Man in her and every Man has a Woman in him.So on that note it is not the eunuchs to be blamed as it is the play of nature on them.They have a hard time identifying themselves.They themselves are not clear of wat they want.Well some of them are converted on will of thrill or fancy.
The next thing is I agree to many comments by others to your post that they don behave decently in public or private.Its true.I am surprised u all the eunuchs u ve seen are well behaved in ur case.But i sincerely applaud ur conciousness on their upcoming in society,very wel thinking and good one.
But you ve a very bad concept of understanding them......they are not wat they seem to be.I tell u this because no man who has had the opportunity to go to them for prostitution would forget the bad experience for the rest of their life.Have u heard of stories where the eunuch has bitten the male sex organ,The male has been beaten up by the group of eunuchs.. i hope not. Well to understand some of them i would suggest u ve a trip to villupuram.U will change ur mind.
They can live a decent life if they want but they a misconception that people will avoid them sothey are resistent to do anything other than begging.And one serious behaviour i hate about them is they say such bad things in ur face if u don give them money and in some cases it should be the amount they demand(pesonal experience).Jus imagine all the beggars in india start saying bad things in ur face if u don give them alms....... it would be impossible to walk around..
But i welcome ur thoughts to change their living. Hope the best happens.
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