Category — Rants

Last night I had a conversation on twitter about hijras and homosexuality. It all started with a program on NatGeo ‘Indian LadyBoys’, which was about hijras, crossdressers and transsexuals. It was very interesting and must watch if you manage to catch it on TV, if not, try and spend some time with a hijra; their lives are very interesting and not very different from ours or read here on Wikipedia about Hijras.

Over the years I have met a lot of hijras and even spent a night talking to one in an unreserved coach on the Indian Railway. I have come to respect them for standing up to who they are no matter the odds society throws at them. Their life is tough but they smile and accept it; that’s something most of us can’t do.

Most of us treat them badly and think they are all harassing beggars; not true. They are people who want respect most of all. Try speaking to one nicely, even if it is just to say you have no change. You’d be surprised by how you don’t get harassed. You might just get a really nice free smile.

I don’t like how people treat them or think they are un-natural. They aren’t and we in India shouldn’t be thinking that way. Our culture is filled with them; Arjuna who lived for a year the life of a eunuch disguise as a transgender Brihannala, is an excellent example. We from age-old wisdom should know they are a part of the pattern. We need them, they serve a grander purpose. You think I’m mad, don’t you?

Well from the way I look at it, in every species some choose a different path which leads to NO pro-creation. This is a necessity to control the species number while still keeping the working number constant. They are not very different from people who choose not to marry or not to have children. They all play a very important role in the grand scheme of things. I’m including all differents here – Hijras, Transgenders, Homosexuals, Transexuals, …

So why treat them so badly, why call them un-natural? Why can we not accept them and get to know them beyond their sexual choice. Why must we be biased; this is just like a religious and caste bias and we fight that. What do you think? Should we still be biased?

Photo Credits: mikegarten.com & Arunreginald
Thanks on Twitter to: @aravindkumar, @manjunaath, @s_kc

**** Disclaimer – These are my opinions and my opinions only. If you don’t like them, feel free to express your opinion, I’d be glad to hear you out. If you feel the same way as me, please tell me your thoughts in comments. If you feel insulted as a pro BJP person, please go elsewhere, I’m not gonna care; ever. All comments to this post WILL BE MODERATED.

I was just whining about the bandh not letting me get my dogs home today and how BJP is a lousy party and was just being a pain-in-the-arse that would not bring it into power again. After all look at it, to me its clear there is some corruption done by mister Yedi so all this is just drama and hassle for the public. The question is how much but him being big minister the amount also will be big, anyless would hurt his ego.

Anyway, to this Che (my hubby) got to telling me about the ground level work done by the BJP and he thinks they’ve done more locally for us than the Congress and JDS earlier. And yeah, I have to agree with him. That said I still am not sure I like BJP or will support them. Their policies and stand is just not pro women. To me that is an issue close to my heart; call me a feminist but I do care about my safety and security. I care about my freedom of speech and expression, even in clothing.

This got Che to challenge me, and I love challenges so it’s on. Now the challenge is to shift my polling station from RT Nagar to Kodichikanahalli for the next election. Check out the people standing from my area for election. Read their manifestos and ask questions. Only then decide who gets my vote.

It’s the first time I will research the person, until now I have always voted party. Che has a point; if I do not take interest in local politics around my home how can I whine about state and center politics. Where is my involvement? As a democracy the power lies with the people but we aren’t exercising this power in an educated manner, at least I haven’t until now.

So the challenge is to vote this time with full knowledge of what I am voting into power, just what the candidate will do, has done and question everything to be done in future. I DO HAVE A SAY in this country; its mine after all.

Wanna take it up too?

Photo Credits: Photo1, Photo2, Picture3

A few years ago I read a book and it set me thinking about how culture and society has dealt with menstruation. (Yes, you heard me right )


The book was ‘The Red Tent’ by Anita Diamant. It was a first-person story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and sister of Joseph of the Old Testament. Dinah was a talented midwife and proto-feminist. The story revolves round the red tent, which refers to the tent in which women of Jacob’s tribe must take refuge while menstruating or giving birth, according to the ancient law.

The Red Tent seems like punishment and expulsion from home, doesn’t it? But it isn’t, the women in the tent rested, talked, found mutual support and encouragement from their mothers, sisters and aunts. This was their “space”; their “me time”.

Now a culture closer home… The Indian Hindu culture. Growing up I saw and heard of women being ostracised when they were menstruating. There weren’t allowed in the prayer room or kitchen; they ate out of plates kept separately from them. They almost became untouchables. But, this wasn’t the initial intention; the intention was for women to rest and not do any hard labour.

A culture even closer – Islam. Muslim women are not allowed to pray or read the Koran during menstruation. They are considered impure and even unclean during this period.

If you look back at any culture, it’s clear that society then understood that women are at their weakest during menstruation; that they are losing blood; some are in pain and almost all are in discomfort. How can any of this be unclean or impure? To me a woman is at her purest when she’s menstruating, it is one of the surest signs of her having a productive womb.

Why am I saying all this, no idea. Actually it was just an idea I felt like sharing and ranting about. So what do you think of some of our cultures? What’s your experience?

Photo Credit: TwitterviewTuesday!

Its a definite sign of bad times when you start to be judged by friends and start to feel alone. They are the ones who are to accept you for who you are. Oh yes! they can correct but don’t you think they should hear your justification too.
Its sad to lose your friends to the other life. They all just seem to slip away and you are left wondering if your destined to be alone. Everyone seems to have so much to do and you are just standing there watching; a silent observer as life passes you by.
But then again, maybe its meant to be that way. Life moves on after all, it’ll all pass.

Happiness… it something I’ve been chasing since I don’t know when. But happiness is like that mirage of a water woman in the desert. I know she holds the secret; its there in her smile, hidden behind the veil. And I follow her as she runs the sand dunes ridges, trying hard to catch up but she’s there, right there, just beyond my reach. I don’t even know if she’s real but everything depends on getting to her. I call out; she stops and as I shade my eyes and look up, the breeze lifts her veil and I catch a glimpse of her smile. I stop in my tracks stunned, the blazing sun seems to have become warm, the sky seems rosy, and the world seems alright again. This is what am looking for but its just momentary for she takes off again and am back in pursuit. I must get to her, else I’ll have just these fleeting moments. All of everything depends on reaching her.