A recoiling society banishes transgenders to the wretched margins. As a bill in Parliament pledges protection, these Indians glimpse freedom.
“A transgender person is a divine soul. You cannot say if God is a man or woman; it’s the same with us. Though we are affined more to one gender than the other, we definitely have the characteristics of the other gender too. We are unique. We have the capacity to analyse both the physical and mental aspects of both men and women, which drives us to do things that both men and women are capable of.”
—Narthaki Nataraj, classical dancer
In May this year, the Asian edition of Time featured a survivor in war-torn South Sudan on the cover. “I was the only one God left alive,” read the dark headline. But readers in the US received a peppier (yet equally political) offering, with colourful strips of toilet paper dangling down a holder: Battle of the Bathroom, it said. The eight-page story detailed why the fight for transgender rights had moved, in the land of the free at least, into the most intimate of public spaces: the toilet.
Think about it, the washroom as a metaphor of change. And then, think about the number of times you have thought about how half-a-million people out of a billion-plus might be using it in schools, colleges, offices, hospitals, railway stations and cinema halls. In a nation where public toilets are a luxury even for men and especially for women, thinking about the needs of 0.04 per cent of the population might seem fuuristic, but as independent India turns platinum, now is a good time.
Reason #1: In 2014, the Supreme Court accorded the status of ‘third gender’ to transgender people, giving them the right to determine the gender they identify with.
Reason #2: Since 2015, at least three MPs of three regional parties—DMK, TMC and BJD—have moved private members’ bills in Parliament for their welfare.
This story is from the August 22, 2016 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 22, 2016 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Pillars of Viksit Bharat 2024
The Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047' represents a complete blueprint for the country’s prosperity during its Amrit Kaal towards attaining resolutions made for Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
Innovation in Healthcare Products
Vatsal Desai pioneering the path to healthier living in a growing India
A Master Weaver of Heart Health
In the intricate tapestry of interventional cardiology, Dr Vashisth Das stands out as a master weaver, deftly navigating the delicate threads of life and technology to mend hearts and restore hope
Viksit Bharat 2047: Empowering India through Education & Self-Reliance
As India approaches 2047, the centenary of its independence, the dream of a “Viksit Bharat” – a fully developed, selfsufficient, and inclusive nation – is steadily turning into reality.
Revolutionising New Age Learning
A visionary leader and an educationist par excellence, GS Patnaik shares with the Outlook Group his approach towards driving Value-based and holistic learning initiatives
Pioneering Social Transformation
Achyuta Samanta dedicated to bringing about social change through education and social services for people at the grassroots level
A Vision for Developed India
The concept of Viksit Bharat” Developed India) embodies the aspiration for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable India. The framework for achieving this ambitious but achievable goal, in my opinion, can be articulated through some key pillars that serve as the foundation for national progress
Chasing Dreams Relentlessly
For the young and aspiring youth, Manu Bhaker is a fine example of how hard work and perseverance can help achieve set targets
Standing Tall as a Pillar in Healthcare Sector
As technology is advancing and there is an upsurge in medical sciences, Yashoda Hospital is keeping up to its promise of providing top tier healthcare services using specialised and advanced medical technologies and equipment.
Upholding/Strengthening India's 'Viksit Bharat' Dreams
Landmark Crafts Pvt. Ltd., Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR, is a flourishing enterprise where necessity, keen identification of agap and the right timing of launching HP Self-Drilling Screws in 1995, backed by grit, is a perfect recipe of a success story that pioneered an industry. Mr Pankaj Lidoo and MrVipin Lidoo, Directors of the company, hailing from Kashmir, have set their target to achieve India's dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 with visionary zeal