Earned more than one month’s salary: Became principal, no one sat together, neither listened, faced molesting, tried to kill herself after getting fed up

Like common people, eunuchs also dream of making a mark by reading and writing, living life with respect and self-respect. Even small dreams twinkle in their open eyes, which they struggle to fulfill, but the disdain of the family and society breaks their morale so much that even many educated eunuchs try to kill them. Whereas some prefer to live in families to avoid low salary, public humiliation and molestation and are living life by singing congratulations. Read in Prind Month, the journey of eunuchs to read and write and then to get a job…

On April 15, 2014, the country’s top court recognized transgenders as ‘third gender’. India had become the first country in the world to do so, but even after eight years, there was no significant change in the thinking of the society towards transgenders. Harshita Dwivedi, a student of JNU doing research on eunuchs, says that even those eunuchs who are capable of being educated, do not get jobs easily. Even if it is found, it is symbolic. The salary is so low, in which even a living is not able to do well. In addition, there are victims of molestation and sexual abuse. The eunuchs are forced to leave their jobs and return to their world. There one has to live there by doing work like singing congratulations and sex work.

Country’s first eunuch principal Manabi Bandyopadhyay.

To be able to read and write, like walking on coals
The country’s first eunuch principal Manabi Bandopadhyay says, ‘I was born in Kantalpara, the village of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the author of Vande Mataram. There was a boy at birth, but the gestures and habits were of girls. I am from a highly educated family. Still, my journey till I became the first eunuch principal of the country was not an easy one. It was like walking on coals.

‘He faced humiliation, hatred, discrimination at every step. Failed by family and relatives. I had suffered so much that I decided to become capable of studying and writing. In school, I was thrashed fiercely for the slightest mistake. He completed his studies in the year 1991.

Tired of resigning first and then trying to let go
According to Manabi, since then I became a teacher. She also started doing PhD. PhD was completed in the year 2006. In her career spanning 32 years, she was a teacher in high school for 5 years, professor in college for 20 years. I am the principal of the college for the last seven years. Leave aside the road and public places, school/college what have I not suffered. People don’t like to talk to me. Nobody eats food while sitting with me. Ugly taunts. There was an attempt to molest. When I became the principal, he understood that my job was only to sign cheques, not to place orders. Doing dirty politics and showing humiliation. I became a victim of depression. Fed up, I tried to resign first and then kill myself. However, the government did not accept the resignation and somehow lives were saved.

Kochi Metro took the initiative, the eunuchs had to leave the job after getting fed up
When Kochi Metro started in the year 2017, the management gave jobs to 21 transgenders. A few days later, the eunuchs shared a video on social media and appealed to the people to treat them like human beings. The eunuchs said that look at their work, not them. After a few weeks, about nine eunuchs left their jobs. They said that there is a lot of inflation in the city and they are not able to survive with the salary being provided by Kochi Metro.

‘The house will remain vacant, but will not give it to the eunuch..’
Kinnar, one of those who resigned, told that the salary is getting 10,500 rupees per month in the cutting section and 9000 rupees in housekeeping. Have to work 8 hours. Many houses are lying vacant, but none of the landlords is ready to give them on rent to the eunuchs. They say that the house must remain vacant, but will not give it to any eunuch. In such a situation, you have to stay in the lodge on the basis of 600 rupees per day. In such a situation it is becoming very difficult to pass.

In one congratulations, I earn equal to the salary
Kinnar Monika (name changed) living in Hauz Khas, Delhi says that I have the responsibility of my father too. I worked at the shop to run the household. Worked in a private company, but the salary was so low that the month could hardly be cut. Tired of leaving the job. Now I sing congratulations at home. As much as the monthly salary used to be earned, the same amount is earned by singing congratulations in a day.

Get rights from court, no respect from society
Manabi says that my entire family lives in the village. I live in Kolkata, I have built my house. My posting is 121 km away from my home, which is very difficult to commute every day. Due to synthetic hormones, I am suffering from many diseases. The 98-year-old father is in bed in the house, with no one to look after me. One has to go through mental torture every day. We have to break down and reconcile ourselves, because civilized society only wants to see us begging. Of course, the court gave the right to live with dignity in education, society and mainstream, but the people did not. Sometimes I wonder if I don’t fight for honor. Had she been begging on a signal, she might not have been a victim of depression.

Principal Manabi Bandopadhyay says, “Many people in the transgender community are well-educated. They want to do job. The government should also give reservation in jobs to the people of transgender community. Along with this, their safety should also be ensured. Working eunuchs should not be left to any institution. At the same time, common people should not show hatred and sympathy, if we accept as we are, then living of eunuchs in society can also be easy. If any eunuch child is born in the house, then educate him, make him capable.

Where till now, what has been the initiative?

‘Police Help Center’ for transgenders in Lucknow
Taking the initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a separate ‘Help Desk’ for the third gender on 23rd June. This is to provide a safe environment for eunuchs, where they can share their problems and seek help. In addition, two helpline numbers 9454403857 and 7839861094 were also started for transgenders, where they can register their complaints.