- Sikha Choudhury.
"Everyone is equal in the eyes of God"... Hardly a soul can deny the veracity of this axiom. The world is a stage where we are bound to perform certain tasks for ourselves and preferably for others; finally merging with the divine spirit. In this precise duration of time, we need to impart our fullest effort to make the world a better place to live in. In this process, we, human beings are actually weaving up our own conventions and unnoticingly depriving others to possess the simple happiness of their life. Aren't we marching towards a perilous end where the deprived section of people will be forced to destroy themselves ?
Human beings are divided into two genders and accordingly, they enjoy distinct provisions. There exists a third group of people, who are unanimously not being accepted at all! This implies that their entity doesn’t matter for others. Is this really fair?
A rational man will obviously answer the negative. This third group of people, referred to as 'trans-genders' are agonized with the deepest pain which we cannot even contemplate of. They long for recognition in the society and to live atleast a tranquil life.
India has been developing since the last 67 years. Highrises in almost every corner, tourism, economy and all such factors are contributing to its development. On the deeper side, this group of people even strive for a mouthful of food, are bereaved from the light of education, socially exploited and neglected and to the worst, some of them even die unnoticed. From this outlook, can India really said to be a developed country? Perhaps no. Transgenders generally are found to be working as beggers or prostitutes. They claim to be recognised and as such, be a part of this society. Instead, they are treated as animals and have to face severe discrimination. From ancient times, the presence of transgenders has been conceived. In Hindu mythology, there has been references to transgenders in various scenes. The 'Ardhanari avatar', formed by the merging of Lord Shiva and Parvati is an exemplification of transgendered person. In the Mahabharata, Arjun was sent into an exile in an episode. There he usurped the identity of an eunuch-transvestite and performed rituals during weddings and childbirths, which are now represented by the transgenders. In the Ramayana too, when Rama leaves Ayodhya, for his 14 years exile, a crowd of his devotees followed him. Noticing that Rama told them not to lament and said " all 'men' and 'women' of his kingdom should return to their places in Ayodhya". Returning from his ostracism, he was astonished to see that the 'transgenders' being neither men nor women did not even move from the place he had left them 14 years ago. Moved with immense devotion, Rama ushered them the boon to confer blessings during auspicious occasions. Apart from Hinduism, reference to transgenders are found in many other religions of the world.
From time immemorial, 'transgenders' had occupied a place in almost each and every sphere of life including religion, literature, media and the like. However, most importantly, their existence in society simply scribbles. Combatting in every step, they starve to get a recognition in the society. Lack of education, leave them all behind the race. In spite of physical fitness, they remain unemployed. Is this justiciable? If so, than no law seems to be perfect. Added to that, Police and other authorities take advantage of section 377 of Indian Constitution and leaves no stone unturned to harass and exploit them. Many of such victims consequently commit suicide, finding no other way to calm their mind. Exiled from their families, many of these people are even without a roof to get secured. Their deaths do not matter much for their families. What can be more plightful than this?
Getting a profound relief, it is admirable that the Supreme Court of India has taken a historic step this year, recognising 'transgenders' as the third gender. There has been a massive celebration all over the country. Democracy finally found its root this very year; a chivalrous achievement for the people of India. The most well-known face of Transgenders Rights activism, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi remarked,"This judgement is agreat step towards ending the discrimination of tens of thousands of transgenders in India, who are exploited, marginalised ostracised, discriminated, abused and often forced into prostitution to survive."
Cherishing this grand step and moving towards our own responsibility, the question that lies before us is that "Will this law remain concentrated only in paper?" For this judgement to bloom wide, 'we', the people have to change our conserved mind. United people can bring a major change in this world. All we need to do is to change our mindset towards these people and help others to do so. This stride for a new beginning will reckon a better country where democracy and equality will prevail under one roof!
