Hijra The Missing Link

Hijra The Missing Link, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,298 items / 610,577 views

two parallel lines
on the brink
hijra the
missing link
no voter rights
neither man nor woman
a system
to hoodwink
a finger
without ink
into the depths
of depravity
they sink
begging alms
prostituting
their androgynous souls
a poison
day in day out
they drink
the filth
the stench
the stink
like the aravanis
of Tamil Nadu
blessed by God
and the State
Maharashtra
mai baap
at sachivalya
too must rethink
better opportunities
jobs in sync
the hijras are human
ghungroos on their feet
on the soul of androgyny
as they clink
basic rights that shrink
broken headlights
that blink
born a man
he chose the color
pink


a link sent by Stephe Androgyne online

Daily News & Analysis, India
www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_eunuch-seeks-right-to-vote...

Eunuch seeks right to vote in Maharashtra Assembly polls

PTI

Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:53 IST

Mumbai: An eunuch has moved the Maharashtra State Human Rights
Commission (SHRC) seeking the right to vote for his community and
transgenders in the forthcoming state Assembly polls.

In the four-page complaint, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi termed the denial
of Right to vote as gross violation of Human Rights in the state.

Supported by a group of four law students, Tripathi demanded that the
state government should extend the fundamental right of voting to
eunuchs and transgenders.

"There is a gross violation of the human rights of eunuchs in
Maharashtra. We are not provided with ration cards and not permitted
to vote," the complaint said.

The SHRC has issued notices to the chief secretary of the state
government with a direction to ensure that departments concerned with
ration cards and voter ID cards file their reply to the complaint by
November 4.

The commission has also directed the state government to suggest in
their reply affidavit steps being taken or to be taken with this
regard.

"Tamil Nadu government has already issued ration cards to the eunuchs
of that state. It is the only state to have recognised eunuchs as a
different sex," said the complaint.

Tripathi further said that eunuchs in Maharashtra are deprived of
life, liberty and dignity.

"If we (eunuchs) are not given a chance to lead a normal life then we
are left with the ultimate choice of begging or prostitution to earn
money," the complaint states.

The commission had directed the state government to file its reply to
the complaint by August 24 but the government failed to do so
following which they have been given time till November 4.

The students -- Niraj Marjadi, Dharampal Dave, Jay Vakil and Kushal
Mehta -- had earlier this year, filed an RTI application before the
Maharashtra State Election Commission seeking to know the rights
accorded to eunuchs in the state.

"However, the election commission returned the RTI application back
saying that they cannot reply to such applications," Dave said.


Dedicated to the spirit of gutsy Laxmi Narayan Tripathi my erstwhile Hijra Guru..