Hijras... Waiting to Belong
A film by Fatima Saidi
A film by Fatima Saidi
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Hijras are culturally defined as “neither man nor woman”. The Hijra community of India consists of broadly two types of Hijras. First are the people who are born with ambiguous genitals or are intersexed, best known as hermaphrodites in the west. Second are people who are born as males and through a ritual surgical transformation become Hijras, close to the transgendered community in the west. Hijras form an alternative, third sex/gender category, whose traditional employment is to perform at marriages and after a child has been born. During the Moghal era, Hijras were employed to safeguard the “Janankhanas”, palaces of the queens where entry of males was prohibited and Hijras, like the other maids were the only source of communication.
It is estimated that Hijras in India vary between 50,000 and 1.2 million. Even with such a huge population they are marginalized. A glimpse into their lives shows that today their situation in the Indian society is no longer the same. Deprived of any social status, job or educational opportunities, the only options left to most Hijras is begging, acting as performers at weddings or childbirths and often becoming prostitutes.
Stemming from sheer mysticism and a life subject to cursedness, Hijras are the actors in this social drama of reverence and ridicule which sets a conflicted stage for the documentary “Hijras – waiting to belong”.
The film has been shot in two of India’s biggest cities New Delhi and Mumbai. It focuses on the status and integration of the Hijra community in the Indian society. Many Indians believe Hijras have occult powers. This myth still plays a prominent part in the attitudes of most Indians. During the making of the film I met some Hijras who are educated and determined to make something different of their lives. This brought forth an incredible perspective to their lives- the determination to explore new opportunities – a phenomenal task in a country like India. But the all important question once again remains – Why the Hijras of India are shunned from blending with the mainstream society? Why are they deprived of any social recognition and rights that a human being is entitled to?
They are craving to break free into a world where they have better opportunities and most importantly respect among the masses. This film visually documents their current state in the Indian society and brings forward the problems faced by the community. The main purpose of this film is to educate the broader community about the experiences, needs and situations of the ‘Hijra community’. The attempt is to put a human face to these people and to break down stereotypical notions and creating more understanding and acceptance in society.
This documentary is a glimpse into the lives of Hjiras, who really are waiting to belong.
Hijras are culturally defined as “neither man nor woman”. The Hijra community of India consists of broadly two types of Hijras. First are the people who are born with ambiguous genitals or are intersexed, best known as hermaphrodites in the west. Second are people who are born as males and through a ritual surgical transformation become Hijras, close to the transgendered community in the west. Hijras form an alternative, third sex/gender category, whose traditional employment is to perform at marriages and after a child has been born. During the Moghal era, Hijras were employed to safeguard the “Janankhanas”, palaces of the queens where entry of males was prohibited and Hijras, like the other maids were the only source of communication.
It is estimated that Hijras in India vary between 50,000 and 1.2 million. Even with such a huge population they are marginalized. A glimpse into their lives shows that today their situation in the Indian society is no longer the same. Deprived of any social status, job or educational opportunities, the only options left to most Hijras is begging, acting as performers at weddings or childbirths and often becoming prostitutes.
Stemming from sheer mysticism and a life subject to cursedness, Hijras are the actors in this social drama of reverence and ridicule which sets a conflicted stage for the documentary “Hijras – waiting to belong”.
The film has been shot in two of India’s biggest cities New Delhi and Mumbai. It focuses on the status and integration of the Hijra community in the Indian society. Many Indians believe Hijras have occult powers. This myth still plays a prominent part in the attitudes of most Indians. During the making of the film I met some Hijras who are educated and determined to make something different of their lives. This brought forth an incredible perspective to their lives- the determination to explore new opportunities – a phenomenal task in a country like India. But the all important question once again remains – Why the Hijras of India are shunned from blending with the mainstream society? Why are they deprived of any social recognition and rights that a human being is entitled to?
They are craving to break free into a world where they have better opportunities and most importantly respect among the masses. This film visually documents their current state in the Indian society and brings forward the problems faced by the community. The main purpose of this film is to educate the broader community about the experiences, needs and situations of the ‘Hijra community’. The attempt is to put a human face to these people and to break down stereotypical notions and creating more understanding and acceptance in society.
This documentary is a glimpse into the lives of Hjiras, who really are waiting to belong.
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