Eunuchs or Hijras
Eunuchs
Eunuchs are known as hijras in South Asia, the Urdu word for “impotent ones.” They are neither man nor woman, but form a third sex.
The eunuchs or hijras in Eunuch Alley are based on what I know of encountering hijras in India. They would appear on festive occasions like weddings and births. Where they would dance and give their blessings in return for alms.
There was an element of fearful fascination involved in this exchange. If they did not receive satisfactory alms, they would threaten to expose themselves, and it was this moment of witnessing castration that became the critical point of negotiation between the eunuchs and the host family.
The hijras of Eunuch Alley are quite a glamorous version of Indian hijras- they wear silk saris and are quite genteel. Hijras in India tend to be quite poor and their lives are often difficult both economically and socially. It wasn’t always like this for this community. They seem to have had a real place and privilege in Indian society, and their conditions seem to have deteriorated with the onset of colonialism.
Today there are said to be 1.3 million hijras. Despite the enormous obstacles they face, there is tremendous drive and creativity in this community, and some hijras have successfully run for office, and thrive in other ways.
While I was casting my film, I got many responses from men who wanted to become eunuchs, they wanted their genitals partially or completely removed, but did not necessarily want a sex change operation. So being a hijra is not necessarily specific to South Asia.
Here are a couple of books that I can recommend, these are available from Amazon.com:
Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India by Serena Nanda
A very sympathetic and well researched account of a Hijra community by anthropologist Serena Nanda. This is a very readable book, Serena Nanda can tell a good story, while being respectful to her subject.
The Invisibles: A Tale of the Eunuchs of India by Zia Jaffrey
This book is more like a travelogue. The author, an Indian American, goes in search of her roots and comes away with stories of meeting a family of hijras. Rendered in precisely poetic prose, this book gives the reader a great sense of the rhythm and nuances of life lived by a particular community.
Gender Diversity: Crosscultural Variations by Serena Nanda
I haven’t read this book, but having liked her other book very much, I would imagine that this book is very good too.
I have been keeping up with information and news about Hijras and you can read about them on the project related news section of my blog.