Transgender people commonly known as “Hijras” in India are often been outcaste or ill-treated by our society. Many of us are scared to talk to them or a few others think that what they say would always come true. I was not scared of them but I never even liked interacting with them until I met them during my journey from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad. It so happened that my friend was moving to Hyderabad for work and as my family lived there, I thought of accompanying to help her find a house as she was new to the city and I was familiar with it for 28 years by then.

We booked a second AC ticket and were given seat number 3 & 4. We settled on the train with our luggage down and soon to our surprise we saw about 40 of Hijras entering the same compartment. At first, I got scared and so was my friend thinking that how we would travel for good 24hours with these people and us alone. As and when time passed, we realized that they are human beings too just that their gender is different. I being an extrovert started talking to one of the oldest and respected ladies from the crew who had seated in front of me. With all respect, we spoke for hours together knowing about what they do, their daily routine, her family background, and many other things about the transgender community. Every time I heard something about her or the community I had nothing but a ‘WOW’ and increased respect by flushing away my fear about them. One from them even came along with me at one station to get tea at 4 AM in the morning.

After this experience of mine, I could not understand why people curse them, why families do not accept them, why are they considered to be a sin, and why do we move far as soon as we see them? All these questions had no answer but since then I started looking at them with respect. I was no more scared and learned one thing that they would curse you only if you treat them that way or hurt them. It is obvious, even when we are hurt we tend to do the same in reflex action so what is an issue if they do so? It is only because you think that what they say might come true and ruin your life and what you tell them can never come true. Have you ever thought why such a difference when we are treated well by society and they aren’t? During the 7^th avatar of Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama was born, and while he was asked to leave Ayodhya and forced to go Panchvati for vanvaas of 14 years, many people followed him along with Hijras. After a point, Lord Rama asked men and women to return. However, these people are neither men or women so they were confused and decided to wait Lord Rama to return. After 14 years when Lord Rama was returning back from vanvaas, he found that these people were still waiting for him. When he asked, they said  you commanded men and women to go so we did not understand what should do and so we stood here until you were back. Lord Rama was stunned and surprised seeing their loyalty and love towards him. He then blessed them and said that whenever they bless someone it will be true and whatever they say good or bad will also be true. Since then we see them wherever a child is born or marriage takes place to give blessings.

After knowing this do you still think of them as a curse to society? When God himself has blessed them in such a way then what is their fault and why parents do not accept them? It is very strange to see that if one person is hurt by the other we try to forgive and forget them even if they might have committed a sin intentionally but we are not ready to accept the creation of God which is announced as the third gender today. I truly respect the social activist Shree Gauri Sawant who became the first transgender election ambassador and got the right to vote in the year 2014. She not only fought for the rights of the transgender community to be known and accepted in the society but also adopted a 16- year old girl who was abandoned by her family and wanted to sell her to the sex-workers in Kolkata for money. You see they have a heart too like how we have, at times we become selfish and only think of what we like and what would make us happy but these people actually know what it feels like to be thrown out of the family at a very young age or not being accepted by the people around you.

Who gave us the right to mock them and disrespect them? Do you really call yourselves as educated, then mind you, some of these are more educated than you are and have been involved in many social activities internationally. They did not choose this life, they were given by God and we are no one to belittle them for who they are. They have the purest heart which we do not have at times.

PS: It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are!!