Hijras of India (see posted description of video)

AN EXPLANATION concerning the production of this non-singing video, anomalous to my other productions:

In 2006, I was given a link to a scholarly website that contained dozens of research papers primarily about Baroque singing. The papers were divided into three categories: 1) papers directly pertaining to Baroque singing, 2) research that might contain some useful information, and 3) papers that might or might not be related to the search. Within the last category I came across a research link from India that contained extensive documentary research plus photos of hijras, a subject that I knew little about. I read the many documents from the site and saved a few dozen images.

Indian culture, religion, mythology, lifestyle, are so foreign and exotic to the Western mind, as well as being very colorful, that eventually I decided to produce a very short video to share. The video hardly was comprehensive in content or in images. The music in the original soundtrack was a very short segment from an old recording by Ravi Shankar, my preferring authentic Indian music of some quality. Apparently after a year of viewing, Sony took offense at the use of those few moments from an old recording, even though, in my opinion, that use falls clearly within the intent of education and research within Fair Use Law. As a consequence, a rather banal, stock soundtrack was substituted from the limited YouTube audio library.

I suggest that those persons who have some interest in the history, culture, and the very human concerns of Indian hijras, should search the many sources of information in books and through various websites to gain a better understanding of them as human beings as opposed to simply exotic images.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hijra
• India

[sfkcbf]

28 Feb., 2010:

I just added more detailed information in the above INFO section about this video.

[Naresh28980]

We have a small boy in our colony and is quite obvious that he is Gay or Feminine.A guy who is very inteliigent and smart. This is not a disease. Please don`t diacriminate it. Just accept it.

[sfkcbf]

The Eastern World has for a very long time understood and (for the most part) accepted gender variations. The Western World (even the medical community, late 1970s) timidly began to admit and to accept gender variations. Unfortunately and especially in America and also in other highly religeous cultures, many "good people of faith" do not understand and even despise anyone whom they view to be different. The world could use far more love and acceptance.

[RAMJANKI]

I LIKE THIS. AND WANT TO BE A HIJRA

[sfkcbf]

With very few exceptions, it is not an easy life. Because of Western influences over many years (religeon, laws, culture), along with typical human nature to fear what is not understood, there is much discrimination against Hijra. There also is too much poverty and disease. People must understand that gender and gender identification are multifaceted, not a binary system of 100% male or 100% female.

[anjalaidevidevi]

its sad to look at people like this ...they are born male but feel themselves as women...many end up working as sex slaves ....because of society descrimination ...people like this should be acceplted as how they are .....love for all hijras ...

[sfkcbf]

My having worked many years as a therapist, I am sad to realize that the medical profession in the West has been very slow to rid itself of the mistaken belief that all people fit into a binary sexual-orientation reality. I now realize that gender is very fluid and covers a wide scale, physiologically as well as intellectually and emotionally. There is, however, still much hate and ignorance in the world.

[princessadiamond]

i am a hijra, alot of us just dont know the power we possesse given to us by god. mediators or both sex someone who falls between both male and female and are able to understand and think like both. hijras the most blessed ones of god.

[twentymale]

Hi there. I'm doing a research on Hijras for an essay due on the 15th. You mentioned in your write up that you found some extensive research and information on the hijra community. I would appreciate it if you could either post me a link or email it to me, whichever of the two you prefer. This is a matter of urgency as I have very few days left and need to write as much as possible.

Thank you!

[imrind]

@princessadiamond

i dont think so...

[queerforyou]

@sfkcbf

wie nennt man weibliche hijras ?

[mixrj]

Admiro cada vez mais a cultura hindu.

[musabani]

Hijras consists of hermaphrodite, eunuch, intersexed and effiminate males. We should respect their gender identity. They should be recognised as human beings and given all the social and political benefits.

[Jenfucius]

@princessadiamond

Do Hijras have a patron diety?

[redraz09]

true

[redraz09]

The last one was cute..lol