No words are adequate enough to eulogise the heroics of the three hijras who nabbed two fleeing assailants of the blogger Wasiqur Rahman on March 30 at Tejgaon. While the onlookers present in and around the crime scene took to their heels in quest of safety, the trio threw away caution in the air and subdued the armed killers with nothing more than bare hands reinforced by indomitable courage and the spirit of Good Samaritans.
Their heroic deed sharply contrast with the ambivalence and indifference of thousands of onlookers including a posse of hundred or so policemen who chose to turn into spectators of the gruesome murder of Avijit Roy on February 26 outside the Book Fair. One only wishes that there were a few hijras around when Avijit's killers nonchalantly marched out of the crime scene after completing their mission. This little but highly inspiring tale of the heroics of the Hijras is set against the numerous poignant tales of the society's apathy, despise and downright hatred towards this unfortunate genre of human beings.
This transgender in the subcontinent are known as hijras; in the West as hermaphrodites or eunuchs, The origin of the hijras can be traced back to thousands of years, perhaps to the time when homosapiens first started to tread on this planet. They are usually born males but prefer to grow up as women and put on fancy dresses and other paraphernalia like the fair sex.
Despite the diversity of names and habitats one common thread that constantly haunts their mundane existence everywhere is the society's reluctance to accept them as normal human beings. There are not many who would be prepared to spare a thought on the agony suffered by these freaks of the nature due to prejudices harboured against them by their fortunate peers on the other side of the triangular gender divide.
What is forgotten is that Almighty Allah must have had a purpose in sending down the transgender in the potpourri of mankind; for, He says in the Holy Scripture that nothing has been created by Him without a purpose. Contrary to the divine injunction, the society considers the hijras as objects of ridicule and abuse. Even the mere mention of the word hijra evokes broad smiles or giggles. They are unfairly treated as pariahs or untouchables in the schools and colleges, bus and rail stations and other public places. They face discrimination in housing, employment, immigration and bureaucracy. They have limited access to legal and health care services. It is nearly impossible for the hijras to vote or to get a passport.
Denied of employment opportunities, the hijras are forced to eke out a living by doing things that are often not to our liking. Many take to extortion of money by disrupting work or creating nuisance in public places. Some, however, perform at ceremonies while others turn to begging or sex work. One recent study suggests that violence against hijras, especially hijra sex workers, is often brutal, and occurs in public spaces, police stations, prisons and their homes. In another study on Bangladeshi hijras, participants reported that hijrahs are not allowed to seek healthcare at the private chambers of doctors, and experience abuse if they go to government hospitals.
There is lately a growing realisation for integration of the hijras in the mainstream society. Our neighbours-India and Pakistan-have gone some ways to improve their socio-economic conditions. Last year, the Supreme Court of India ruled that transgender should be treated as a third category of gender and as a socially and economically "backward" class entitled to proportional access and representation in education and jobs.
 In 1998, Shobha Nehru, a member of the Indian hijrah community, was elected to the city council seat in Hissar, Haryana. In 2013, transgender people in Pakistan were given their first opportunity to contest elections. Sanam Fakir, a 32-year-old hijra, ran as an independent candidate for Sukkur in Pakistan's general election in May. Both the governments of India (1994) and Pakistan (2009) have recognised hijras as a "third sex", granting them the basic civil rights.
The heroics of the hijras in the Wasiqur Rahman episode should remind us that they are also human beings, at times, better human beings. It should also open up our eyes to the enormous potential of using their services in critical areas requiring courage, sense of responsibility and trust. After all, the wise Mughal emperors reposed their trust on the transgender for the protection of their precious possessions-the beauties in the harem culled from all over their realms.
The following are some suggestions for improvement of the social status of the hijras.
n The starting point should be honouring the trio with cash rewards and suitable titles earmarked for heroism. It would set an example for others to emulate.
n The government should enact laws to recognise the hijras as a third sex and open the window of opportunities for their education, health care, employment etc.
n They should be inducted into law enforcement jobs to assist the police to protect the Key Point Installations (KPIs) and other specialised jobs. Being transgender, they can join the police force in their mission to confront both male and female offenders.
n A special hijra brigade or wing could be raised and incorporated in the Ansar Bahini to make room for the hijras to engage in meaningful jobs.
n The financial sector may use them to guard their branches and ATMs. The commercial banks, which are sitting on tons of non-performing loans, may use their services to expedite collection of dues from the defaulting borrowers. Banks in India reportedly engage special hijra teams to create nuisance by dancing and chanting in and around the work places and residences of the defaulters. The distraught defaulters usually cave in to get rid of the nuisance and social embarrassment. Revenue official in Patna (India) also take along the hijrahs to collect revenue.
The writer is a retired banker.
saali40@yahoo.com
Good Samaritans—the heroics of three hijras
Syed Ashraf Ali | Published: April 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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