Hijras are more than simply crossdressers or homosexuals. They consider themselves as a third sex. Men in female clothes, female soul. Not men, not women. Just Hijras. In Tamil Nadu, a state of south India, they have won an important battle for civil rights being recognised as third sex with a T, instead of M or W, on their id cards.
Hijras leave their families quite early in their childhood and get to live in households exclusively of hijras led by a guru, an older hijra, who teaches them to be gain in feminity. Some of them have to undergo a ritual (and illegal) rough emasculation (cut of all the genital parts). They are on a social lower status than untouchables but their cursings are feared and that allows them to make a living. Infact, they live asking for money to bless weddings and births. If they don’t receive the offer they threat to curse or show their genital in public. Beside this, they also make a living dancing at parties and festival. In thepast years there’s has been and increase of number of hijras turning to sex workers because of minor incomes from their former dancers activities or personal choice.
I had quite a hard time trying to get into their houses but it was always a special, deep human experience. Some of them introduced themselves as dancers, some openly as sex workers (and offered me their services…), some let me portrait them with their mothers, some talked to me as an old friend, opened their houses and hearts.
My thanks goes to Miss Monica, Miss Sonia, Miss Lily and all of them, beautiful women.