“Through the eyes of society – the reality of transgenders (Kinnar)”

             When I saw a person clapping on the street, my steps slowed down, and I wondered who it could be. Then I realized it was a transgender (Kinnar) person. But seeing how some people avert their gaze, some give money, and others laugh, I was astonished.

But very few people ask 

themselves this question....

“Who exactly are transgender (Kinnar)  people?”

What exactly does 'Kinnar' mean? The answer society has taught us is very simple “Neither male, nor female.” But the reality is not that simple. The Kinnar community includes:

• Individuals with different physical characteristics at birth (Intersex)
• Those who identify with a different gender than the one assigned at birth (Transgender)
• Those who do not fit into the traditional gender binary (Non-binary) 

Not all Kinnars are the same.
This is the first and most important thing we need to understand

  Respect in history, humiliation in the present...

he people we look at with suspicion today, had a different place in history. Kinnaras (eunuchs/transgender people) are mentioned in the Ramayana. During the Mughal period, they were advisors to the kings. The responsibility of the harem, political confidentiality — everything was in their hands. So what happened that the place of respect turned into fear? 

During the British period, the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 declared Kinnarasas "born criminals.

 "That's when the seeds of suspicion, fear, and hatred were sown —which we unknowingly continue to sow even today.

Applause and begging: Choice or compulsion?

I have seen many people saying, "Why don't you work, why do you beg?"

We ask this question so easily. But the reality behind the question is painful. Bullying at school. Being \ thrown out of the house. Rejection after applying for a job due to gender mismatch. Daily humiliation at the office. After all this, some transgenders choose to beg because:

• There, they don't have to hide their identity.
• The daily mental torment is less.
• There is no reason to be scared, and there is no need for money either

   This is not laziness. This is a fight for survival.

Guru-Disciple Tradition: A Society within Society

             The Kinnar community has its own unique social structure. In the guru-disciple tradition, the guru is like a mother, father, and teacher—all in one. There are rules. There is discipline. And also punishment for mistakes. This system, which appears chaotic from the outside, is very disciplined internally. But hardly anyone notices this.

Mental wounds are invisible. 

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are very common in the transgender community. But not much is said about it. Because society thinks "They are strong." In reality, constantly hearing rejection, enduring ridicule, and still standing tall is not strength, but a compulsion born out of having no other option.

We don't want sympathy, we want opportunity.

They don't want pity; they want equal opportunities, education to employment because if given the chance, they too can contribute to the progress of society with equal strength.

Transgenders don't want pity. They don't want free money. They want:

•  Education
• Identity documents
• The opportunity to work with dignity

Equality doesn't begin with grand speeches. It begins with how we behave. Next time you see a transgender person on the street,
don't look with fear, don't just smile but see them as a human being.

Because the identity may be different,

but the pain is the same for everyone.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for reading my blog! 😄

I apologize if there are any mistakes. Your feedback is always welcome.