Book Review: "Main Hijra .... Main Laxmi"
Publissher: Vani Publication
Price: Rs. 175
ISBN 978-93-5229-318-6
Reviewer: Rachna Priyadarshini
Pushtak Sameeksha
The
book " Main Hijra .... Main Laxmi... published by Vani Prakashan, is actually
the autobiography of a transgender Woman Laxminarayan Tripathi, who lives in
Mumbai. The wordings are of Vaishali
Rode, whereas the language has been translated by Dr. Shashikala Rai and
Surekha Banna.
Through
its autobiography, the author has tried to tell its readers that being a Hijra
or transgender does not mean to be uncommon. This is a separation of gender
sense, which has now been accepted by medical science. Lakshmi says, 'We are
not made to joke. We can also be taken seriously like you’. You should do the
same with us as you do with the rest of the people, 'his statement then makes the
readers really think that why does this society behave them like the
untouchables? Why do not we accept them as an important part of the society
like the common women/ men? What are they, physically, what is their fault? Nothing. They are equally
sensitive and emotional, as we and you.
Lakshmi also says that "the attitude of
society towards the Hijras is also contributed by some of us. According to her,
if the transgenders mingle in the mainstream society, share their stories, then
surely the attitude of the people in the society towards them will also change.
Perhaps for this reason, Lakshmi had decided in her initial years that she will
become a 'progressive' Hijra and will
make her entire community progressive.
It
is not that through this autobiography, the author has only given information
about the transgender community and her life. She explicitly says that 'The
questions which are in the minds of readers about the Hijras will not be
answered in few pages.' They have just tried to state that 'ours (i.e, the
Hijras) are nothing different. Our colloquial interpretation may be different,
but our emotions, the ways to think and understand everything, are the same as
you do. 'Lakshmi believes that despite being different sexually, if a person gets support from his/her
home, she can do anything, "As Lakshmi did sherself”.
For
the rest part of the world, she may be a Hijra, but for his family and home, she
will always be the elder son of Chandradev Chandini Tripathi and Vidyavati
Chandradev Tripathi, Mr. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.
Lakshmi says that in a TV show her father said,
"I have given some family values to my children, of which honesty is paramount."
Live fullest, live honestly. Being a fatsher, his responsibility is definitely
on me, but this does not mean that I have any right to interfere in his
personal life’. This statement of his fatsher shelps sher being honest with all
his relationships while leading his life as Hijra. Through such examples, Lakshmi has
highlighted the important role of the family in personal and social development
of the person.
On
the whole, every page of this book opens to the reader a layer of human aspect,
by which it is possible to break many misconceptions, and connect to the world
of transgender community. The readers come to know that there is nothing
different between them and the transgenders, what is different is their own
view that needs to be changed.
Rachna Priyadarshini