Identity crisis for India's
eunuchs By Shuriah Niazi
BHOPAL, India - Local authorities in the
central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh face a
perplexing problem. The authenticity of some of
the area's eunuchs is in question, and officials
claim they're powerless to resolve increasingly
violent disputes between the rival - real and fake
- factions. Authorities say problems started more
than a year ago, but in recent months the
situation has deteriorated into street clashes and
murder.
In India eunuchs are commonly
called hijras and estimates of their
numbers range from 50,000 to 5 million. Most earn
their
livelihood by
the age-old tradition of performing at weddings,
baby showers and housewarmings. They are believed
to possess supernatural powers and are called on
to make blessings in exchange for cash. Today,
however, unemployment and poverty have prompted
many Indians to dress and act like eunuchs to
earn a
living. This has resulted in heated controversy
between the authentic and the imposters.
The violence in Madhya Pradesh was sparked
when fake eunuchs were seen begging on city
streets. Shortly thereafter, the group was
attacked by real eunuchs. Now and for the past
months, fights between the real and fake eunuchs
frequently require police intervention. The events
culminated when a eunuch named "Rambai" was
murdered in broad daylight by three fake eunuchs
in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur town.
The
issue hasn't gone unnoticed. Khairatilal Bhola,
president of the All-India Hijra Kalyan Sabha,
said, "I know that most of the eunuchs are fake.
But neither the government nor the police are
doing anything. Due to this the number of fake
eunuchs is increasing."
Bhola wants police
to take action against outlaw eunuchs so that the
real eunuchs are not denied their rights. But even
he concedes the job won't be easy. Overwhelmed
officials in Madhya Pradesh are considering
issuing licenses to distinguish between the real
and the fake eunuchs, but progress is proving
difficult.
"I think there is no harm in
issuing license to the real eunuchs. For this the
[municipality] must formulate some rules," said
Makrand Deuskar, police superintendent of
Jabalpur.
Surgeon Hitesh Agrawal of
Jabalpur's Victoria Hospital says that his staff
cannot give out identity cards and any medical
tests would need to be done with consent. The
district administration and the doctors are of the
same view: How can anyone be pressured to have his
or her sex organs examined?
Still,
Jabalpur Municipal Commissioner O P Shrivastava
said that the issuance of eunuch licenses is being
considering for the "near future".
Former
city official and eunuch advocate Heera Bai says
the administrations should move now, as already
one life has been lost. She claims that many
genuine eunuchs are living in constant fear and
unwilling to leave their homes.
But city
administrators have another headache: How will the
police be able to stop the fake eunuchs even after
the issuance of licenses, and what action could
they take against them? Police superintendent
Deuskar said whether fake or genuine, no one will
be allowed to extort money and such cases will be
registered.
The role of some genuine
eunuchs is also being questioned. Eunuchs divide
themselves into colonies and wards. Some
dissatisfied eunuchs have joined with fake eunuchs
giving rise to quarrels. Eunuch Ashrafi Bai said
that the emergence of fake eunuchs has caused many
problems. Another eunuch, Khilona Bai, said if the
administration does not take action quickly it
will be difficult for the local eunuchs to
survive.
Traditionally, eunuchs believe it
is their right to accept money at weddings and
childbirths, among other auspicious occasions. But
many in Madhya Pradesh now claim the fake eunuchs
are depriving them of their rights.
Shuriah Niazi is
a freelance writer based in central India.
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earn a
living. This has resulted in heated controversy
between the authentic and the imposters.
