TRANSGENDER - I’M NOT AN IT

There are several blogs by people who tell you how they feel about the “Third Gender”. But, when it comes across from one of them, it makes a difference. So, I went and met a transgender, now converted to a female- Aastha, who was once called an “IT”. I put in all my effort to find out what struck her the most about the society she lives in, and the conversation brought tears in my eyes because even I felt guilty of not being able to help her. In my voice recording of the interview, one can’t hear her cry but can feel it for sure. So, here goes, my small attempt to bring out the prejudices set against the “ITS”.

I asked her, if she was always a transgender, she told me she was born with it, she obviously didn’t choose it for herself! On being asked about if she ever went to school, I got a shocking answer. She has completed her Masters of Science in Chemistry and yet, goes around the city begging people like us to give her a rupee or two. Wherever she went to apply for a job, they gave her ten rupees and avoided any further conversations about a job or any chance of working there. At the most, she got jobs like cleaning toilets, and she holds a Master’s Degree. What disgrace! She also mentioned how she was bullied in school, for what she wore, how she behaved and her likes and dislikes. In school, she used to wear girl’s clothes but used to behave like a boy. She loved wearing make-up and growing her hair and never shied away from it. She was a rebel, she still is!! Even when I’m taking her interview, she sits in front of me on the floor, with makeup, a bindi, bangles and “kumkum” on her forehead- in India, it means the lady is married by Hindu tradition, a total irony in Aastha’s case.

Her parents passed away when she was around 16 years, so she stayed with her brothers, after which she felt alone. Staying with four brothers, she felt uncomfortable and at times, kindled to extremes. I felt my eyes warming up when she mentioned how due to her sister-in-laws, her brothers abandoned her and how she suddenly became an orphan. She told me that she doesn’t know any means of attaining happiness, rather, is unaware of how it feels like to be loved and accepted. After she was thrown out of her house by her brothers, her whole village refused to allow her to step into the village, threatening to kill her if she did. She also works as a prostitute as she was only getting a maximum of 2000rs per month by begging, forcing her to SELL HER BODY.

Even after getting operated, after becoming a complete female, she was refused jobs, proper treatment, etc. But, she tells me how it feels awkward when options male and female are available, but the third gender option isn’t. She tells me how confused she feels thinking about the ideology or the beliefs of mankind about the third gender. Other than all this, they also invite them to Hindu functions, where they are regarded to bring in good fortune. REALLY??? And, then throw them out because they were made by God in a different way. I pity mankind.

When asked if she never had the wish to fight against this injustice, she told me, “How many people should I fight against? Who will support me? And if I start fighting, what’s the guarantee I won’t be harassed to death during the whole process?”. She isn’t just a transgender, she is also a beggar, a prostitute but she is a human, a Masters Degree holder, an independent lady, a fighter and most importantly- A SURVIVOR.

When asked if I could take a picture with her, she told she felt happy because people usually asked only nude and absurd pictures of her. Presently, she lives in a neighboured where she is treated well, spoken to well and also, to an extent accepted. I pray with all my might, that there comes a day when males and females accept their other companion- the trans genders.

left: Aastha; right: Vandana
Photo Credits: raghavi

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Human trafficking is the “trade of humans”, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labour, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or orthers.

According to recent studies, its seen that around 20 to 65 million Indians are affected every year due to human trafficking. India is also a destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. And Indian women are trafficked to the Middle East, mainly for sexual exploitation. Human trafficking results in physical as well as mental disorders. Physical ailments like- HIV, TB, other STD’s as condoms are rarely used. Mental disorders like- PTSD, depression and anxiety.

Indian authorities also use Sections 366(A) and 372 of the Indian Penal Code, prohibiting kidnapping and selling minors into prostitution respectively, to arrest traffickers. Penalties under these provisions are a maximum of ten years’ imprisonment and a fine. And although children trafficked for forced labour and sexual exploitation maybe housed in government shelters and are entitled to 20,000rs, the quality of many of these homes remains poor and the disbursement of rehabilitation funds is sporadic. The Government of India launched an anti human trafficking web portal in February 2014 that they hope will be an effective way for interested parties to share information about this topic.

An innocent girl was forced into human trafficking industry of Mexico, Karla Jacinto(23) who believe she was raped for almost 43,200 times. A number we can’t imagine even having sexual intercourse with our spouse. She was forced to have sex with at least 30 men everyday continuously for four years. After getting out of that, she started spreading awareness, conducted public talks etc. she was trafficked when she was just 12 years old to Tenancingo, Mexico which is the sex trafficking capital of the world and is the single largest source of sex slaves sent to the US. She explained how she would start at 10am and end only by midnight and often closed her eyes n cried to avoid looking at what the men were doing to her! Women just are treated like sex toys, used and thrown in an unforgettable manner. Karla was beaten with a chain all over her body, kicked, her hair was pulled, was punched with his fists and sometimes burnt with the iron. There is an outstanding estimation of 20,000 trafficking victims every year in Mexico!

There’s an instance of a boy, who was trafficked sexually since he was 5 years old by a paedophile ring. He was surrounded by domestic violence, alcoholism, childhood sexual abuse and divorce. His step father molested him brutally and faced threats of violence against his mother and thus, surrendered to being molested. For seven years, he was trapped in this hell and “served” during school life and wasn’t helped at all. When human trafficking occurs, it not only destroys the prey’s life physically, it destroys their mental balance and supresses any chance of improvement in future. Just for the sake of satisfying their sexual needs, humans target their fellow beings and zone them in such a way that the preys aren’t left with another option. This brutal an inhuman behaviour has to stop. We can do our best by taking care of our loved and dear ones, guarding them and also, by spreading awareness.

Raising our voice against such an issue is going to send a clear warning to the predators to avoid repeating their brutal doings and learn to live in harmony. As one, I believe we can fight this for the ones being trafficked and for those who might be if we don’t put an end to this.