Coated in cheap rouge, kohl and garish red lipstick, Koyal walks about the busy streets of Delhi with an attitude that might shake your confidence. But beneath that masque is an individual who is pressed by the societal norms. This is the individual who copes everyday with taunts, humiliation and tries to compensate it by maintaining a “peaceful” family life.
She (as Koyal likes to be referred) is a Eunuch. She sits next to me in a park with a deep cut on her forehead and a fractured arm. When I ask her what happened, she looks into my eyes and replies sternly “my husband beat me”.
In a country like India that frustrates women with its overbearing patriarchy, some Eunuchs like to be beaten up by their partners. According to them women are physically weaker so the act of being physically hit by a man nurtures their feminine instincts. Maishy Charan, a student who worked with Project- Kaivalya shares excruciating details- “She would tell me how she would get slapped and abused at the smallest affair, but never did she hit back.”
The status of Eunuchs in our country has drastically changed from being close confidants of Emperor’s in royal Mughal Court to a life of poverty and destitution. It is perhaps the outcast and ill treatment by the society that forces their perverse and obscene behavior in public.
As we kept ourselves busy with the conversation, we were joined by Rajani. With long dark tousled hair, droopy eyes and long chin, the tall 50 year old looked at me rather suspiciously. Koyal introduced her as the Guru- the head of her Eunuch clan. Outcast by the society, a Guru probably has the most integral role to play. The Guru teaches the young eunuch everything about the clan customs. The family of fellow eunuchs provides a caring environment where they feel a sense of security.
But the freedom that exists in this community is not without some restrictions. “It is strictly hierarchical where each eunuch’s life is governed and regulated by the superior” explains Rajani.
Eunuchs have a complicated network system and also have an informer for every event in the neighborhood. Part of the money for subsistence comes through this. The As soon as a baby is born into the family and one hears the tinker of the ankle bells, one finds the Eunuchs. They sing and dance and create a commotion outside the house until they see they baby, after which they ask for exorbitant amount of money. But the occasion has an alternate motive as well, if they find the baby a eunuch, they take the child away to the ghettoes to be raised.
The evolving role of technology is bringing a new change in the dating pattern for them. Thirunangai.net, is country’s first dating site for Eunuchs may perhaps bring a refreshing change in the way relations are perceived by eunuchs. “Thid is indeed a very innovate step to bring Eunuchs into the mainstream society” says Anuradha Mukherjee, NAZ Foundation.
Every year, Koovagam Festival, yearly gathering of eunuchs at Villupuram in Tamil Nadu attracts attention all over the country. This is the only festival which is exclusively celebrated by the eunuchs.They organize beauty contest where the criteria of winning is on the personality and knowledge about HIV. The significance of this unique festival is to mainstream these people along and showcase their talent. They converge from all over the country for a unique matrimonial ceremony.
After hours of conversation, I stood up to leave. As I began to stand up, Rajani reached out and placed her hand on my head, mumbling some words. I left the place with what I really believe was a Eunuch’s blessing
First of all I would like to congratulate you about being couragious to write about Eunuch community. the article is very informative and well written.Once i went through to your blog I had no intention to read this but I just wanted to read the first paragraph. and I finished the article and then I realized that I read it in full.SO I must say this is the good one
ReplyDelete