Why a group of hijras singing the national anthem is inspiring
On the eve of the 69th Independence Day, Humsafar Trust, a Mumbai LGBT rights organisation, has released a video showcasing hijras singing the national anthem.
Titled "Bharatiya… Hum Bhi Hain", the video begins with an acknowledgement of the 2014 judgement of the Supreme Court which recognised the transgender as the third sex and directed the government to provide quotas for them in education and jobs.
From here, the video shows a number of hijras (in accordance with the Indian community's ownership of the word, I am sticking to "hijra" in this piece, rather than the more common "transgender") dressed for regular jobs. There is Urmi, sharp in the crisp outfit of a flight attendant; Paras looking into the camera in her sari, playing the role of a teacher; Madhuri in her black robes and white neck band bringing authenticity to her portrayal of a lawyer, and many others.
On the screen, as they appear singing the national anthem, their names and assumed professions appear in a big white font. But in tiny letters, between the lines, you can read: "Could be a". Urmi "could be a" flight attendant, Samina "could be a" chef, and so on the video represents the desires of a shackled community. For, in spite of the SC judgement and the subsequent media spotlight, at the current moment in the battle for their rights, none of them are what they want to be or see themselves as.
The National Anthem, such is its rousing melody, gives one the chills even ordinarily. To see a marginalised group own it and show it the respect that the system - the state and the society at large - has denied them for long is deeply gratifying.
As the hijras sing Tagore's timeless song, they invoke the spirit of freedom that their country achieved many years ago but which continues to escape them in spirit. A freedom that would enable them to finally live lives of dignity thanks to the safeguards provided by the SC judgement. Today, they may not have decent work or an educational degree to support them, but the future looks bright and promising.
In a country where the image of hijras is stuck in a time warp, the video is both educational and touching. Hijras are welcomed into our homes during festivities, a role that has diminishing returns as India urbanises. Besides, to imagine them as little more than blessing deities is to fritter away their potential in careers of their choice.
Due to poor sources of income, a numbers of hijras have little choice but to resort to begging or sex work. The SC judgement is expected to nudge the government to frame policies for their uplift. It would be a time-consuming process, no doubt. Entrenched social habits take time to change, but at least it's a start.
Meanwhile, NGOs and other organisations working in the field of LGBT rights have made visibility a focal point of their campaign. Before the National Anthem video there was the video of a group of hijras at a Mumbai traffic junction advising drivers to put on seat belts.
The theme of that video: "Seat belt peheno, dua le lo" brilliantly segued a public safety announcement with the hijras' traditional role as dispenser of blessings. Dressed in bright purple saris, they simulated flight attendants who display safety drills as a voiceover (in this case a senior hijra) intones instructions. The video, like the hijras themselves, is both sassy and fun.
Earlier this year, Anouk made an advertisement, titled "Bold is Beautiful: The Visit" showcasing a lesbian couple that did something wonderfully similar: familiarise the larger population to how natural such relationships are. With greater positive representation in the media social strictures that bind the LGBT community to preconceived notions slip away.
In our day-to-day lives, even the best among us do not find the time or inclination to think about the rights of those less fortunate than us in the traditionally hierarchical structures we are born into. Even when we do acknowledge their presence we cannot escape looking upon them in inflexible ways borne of habit and custom. The National Anthem video is a great addition to a culture of visibility spawned by the rising stars among NGOs devoted to the cause.