Hijras: The aliens of the Pakistani society

By Memona Yousaf, Maria Mukhtar

February 29,  2008

The most rejected creature in our society whose curse is believed to be approved by Allah and who are considered blessed with heaven -- yet they are not absorbed in the normal sociocultural atmosphere -- are the Hijras (eunuchs).

They are also termed as Khawajasara, Nirvan or Nirban and zanana in the subcontinent while hermaphrodites, transvestites, eunuchs and homosexuals in western communities. But if we ask the hijrra community about their identity they say: “It's all Allah’s will that we have a soul of a women and body of a man, we are simply Khusras."

Only castrated hijrras were allowed to serve in harems of mughals

In Mughal emperors times, they were more respected than today and were kept servants at the palaces of queens and princesses, but it was indispensable for them to be nirvan i.e. they must undergo a castration even if they are not hermaphrodites (born eunuchs) but today their only way of earning is to do seductive gestures, beggary, mockery, dances,

prostitution, drug dealing, kidnapping and other corruption, it seems as if they are taking revenge from society for not absorbing them as normal human beings.

'Guruji is a source of protection and inspiration for us'

Billo, a 25 years old eunuch, living in Lahore city's Shalimar Town , while answering a question about their community, said: “we have a Guruji (boss), who is the most respected, experienced and elderly person among us. Every chela (disciple) has to obey him. He is our whole world…our mother, father, friend, brother, teacher…every thing. He assigns us duties and we are accountable to him.”

She told about her routine by saying "people think that we just wander and roam about in the streets and are unaware about the dignity of the labour but the truth is that being humiliated everyday after a long walk till evening and then dancing on functions till late at night without any rest is the toughest of all other jobs".

'My father used to shed tears on the pray mat for my death'

Chanda , another hijra from Lahore, while narrating her story uncovered many critical aspects about the activities of hijra’s in Heera Mandi (Lahore's famous red-light area). "I realised by the age of 12 or 13 that I don’t have normal biological features and my parents are ashamed of my existence and feared that nobody would marry my sisters because of the birth of a khusra (eunuch) in their home," Chanda said. "I was tired of the jokes about my appearance by my friends and relatives. My parents, especially my father used to shed tears on the prayer mat for my death. What I felt they simply wanted to get rid of me, so I slipped from home one evening, which I can never forget, having rupees 100 in my pocket, stolen from my mother's hand bag and reached Data Darbar (Hazrat Ali Hijveri’s mausoleum in Lahore), where no one can sleep starved or shelter less," she said.

The conflict within the eunuch community                            

Chanda said that she spent two nights there and then entered in the darkest phase of her life when a hijra of 'Chakla' (red-light area) took her to his place where she was accepted by  the guru, who later used to punish her mercilessly for not wearing seductive and clothes of a women, dancing and bringing less money. She remained there for five years and observed the corrupt hijra world, innocent boys and girls were kidnapped and used for prostitution. "The eunuchs were given charas like a medicine daily till they become addict of it, so that they may not escape or resist to be sex workers," she said. 

Chanda’s hair and eyebrows were removed and she was kicked out one night with bruises on her face as she refused to entertain two men. This is the most humiliating punishment in the hijra community; once a hijra is expelled by his guru, he is mostly not welcome by the other gurus of that area unless they have strong enmity.

'we attract the voters to the polling stations'

Answering a question regarding the votes and ID cards, she began to laugh and said: we don’t bother about our national identity unless any fortunate hijra has to go for Hajj. In that case, we try to mention ourselves as males to avoid problems while travelling. As far as votes are concerned, we are called on the polling stations to entertain the people standing in the long queue for casting votes, so that they may not get bored. This is our share in the election that we attract the voters to the polling station.” 

When the issue was discussed with Malik Aslam, advocate at High Court Lahore, he said that they have been given legal rights to cast vote or even contest elections. "There is no constitutional restriction on them rather the sociocultural barriers don’t let them to enjoy their rights as citizens, no body takes them seriously," he said.

However, it is unfortunate that no legal assistance is provided to eunuchs to change their legal documents as transgender, once the gender is written on their birth certificate they will have to mention the same in documents, Aslam said.

'Police never let us go without taking bribe or watching an item'

When Billo was asked about the attitude of police towards them, she replied angrily that they are big trouble makers for them. They threat them of imprisonment and never let them go without taking bribe or watching an item (dance).

However the police said that they never arrested them unless they were caught red-handed in disturbing peace by loud abusive language, pick pocketing, making vulgar poses to attract public especially men.

Only 1 percent Pakistanis are born eunuchs, others join them by choice

Research shows that in Pakistan only 1 percent are the born eunuchs while others are homosexuals or those employed young men who find this business of prostitution more profitable and some castrate themselves by their own choice as “women like feelings” attract them. They are not the born hijras. Soft skin boys with women like gestures, attraction and dance expertise are welcomed by community, no matter they are hermaphrodites or not.

'If we are responsible for the spread of AIDS why anybody doesn’t come and guide us instead of blaming us'

After conversation with these hijras it is learnt that they have no sense of 'save-sex' and AIDS rather they are unaware of the fact that they are contributing to it a lot. “I know AIDS is incurable, I am not in this business and those who are involved mostly don’t know how to save themselves, if we are responsible for the spread of AIDS why don’t anybody comes and guide us instead of blaming us,” Chanda said.

“We should be treated like humans and given chances for jobs we are even not taken as labourers and dishwashers at hotels by saying that hijras will ruin the working environment. Even in theatres, hijras are not being casted to perform the character of a hijra that has closed another door of jobs for us. Government has done nothing for us even there is no orphanage for eunuchs where hijras could take refugee if they don’t want to be a part of prostitution? Is there any other option except to die quietly on a footpath with hunger, cold or some disease that may be AIDS?”

Public vs Hijrras