The Third Gender

Hijira, Hijda, Hijada, Hijara, Hijrah or Khwaja Sara, The Third Gender. Kinnar they call themselves, and that's the point to see them and to accept them as they are not as we assume them to be.

Millions of humans who live often on the edge of society, expressing themselves and their gender identity without restrictions. When we peak of the Hijra human being, we speak of the time before the LGBT was present in the Indian subcontinent or even know for that matter.

The Kinnars of India, Pakistan Bangladesh and even Thailand perhaps have their own unique identity and understanding of their lifestyle. In India and Pakistan hijras are often accepted as part of society working for the better with a divine aura around them. often believe that a hijra's ''Dua'' or Blessings are from a pure place and well bestowed, with many accepting their existence, since time immemorial. Whereas in the west such a person would be sent to a Conversion camp, stigmatized or worse.

These identities have no exact match in the modern Western taxonomy of gender and sexual orientation and challenge Western ideas of sex and gender (Nanda, Serena (1996). "Hijras: An Alternative Sex and Gender Role in India".)

In India, some Hijras do not define themselves by specific sexual orientation, but rather by renouncing sexuality altogether. Sexual energy is transformed into sacred powers. However, these notions can come in conflict with the western understanding of gender. Some Kinnars are Binary while some are a gender, further widening the gap of LGBT from the Kinnars.

While LGBT as the movement was solidified by the white Christian rights opposition to it, in India Pakistan, and Bangladesh these people were a common sight and often religiously important. even till date Kinnars are central to the celebration of weddings childbirth etc.

As such its becomes essential that we see them and recognize them as an institution (in origin and in present) of their own, away from the left dominated polarized and often all swallowing movements of the west. Or the unbending ways of the right. A cultural and truly a political self-sustained selfless human existence that is the kinnars.

Next time you see a hijra, greet them with a smile and folded hands/Adab let them know they are one of us and an integral part of our South Asian society.