IJSSER

Title: THE QUEST TO RECOGNISE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL PREVALENCE OF THE TRANSGENDER IN INDIA
Authors: Abhishek Raj
\|\| \|\|
Abhishek Raj Ranchi University, Jharkhand, India
MLA 8 Raj, Abhishek. "THE QUEST TO RECOGNISE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL PREVALENCE OF THE TRANSGENDER IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 5, no. 6, June 2020, pp. 1425-1432, ijsser.org/more2020.php?id=99. Accessed June 2020. APA Raj, A. (2020, June). THE QUEST TO RECOGNISE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL PREVALENCE OF THE TRANSGENDER IN INDIA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 5(6), 1425-1432. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2020.php?id=99 Chicago Raj, Abhishek. "THE QUEST TO RECOGNISE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL PREVALENCE OF THE TRANSGENDER IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 5, no. 6 (June 2020), 1425-1432. Accessed June, 2020. ijsser.org/more2020.php?id=99.
References [1]. Cornelia, Sorabji. Shikhandi: The Maiden Night and Other Stories. Blackie and Son, 1916. Doniger, Wendy. Redeeming the Kamasutra. Oxford University Press. 2016. [2]. Fernandez, Bina. Humjinsi: A Resource Book on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Rights in India. India Centre for Human Rights and Law. 1999. [3]. Pande, Alka. Ardhanarishvara: The Androgyne. Rupa Press. 2005. [4]. Pattnaik, Devdutt. Shikhandi: And Other 'Queer' Tales They Don't Tell You. Zubaan and Penguin India. 2014. [5]. Wilhelm, Amara Das. Tritya Prakriti: People of the Third-Sex. Xlibris. 2008.
Abstract: Gender as a concept is not limited to men and women only. It is a much wider concept, a spectrum. When we talk about gender, the inclusion of transgender cannot be denied. The paper starts with an introduction to get acquainted with the word ‘transgender’ in its terminological sense, to avoid any confusion. It has become a major concern for the world to realize that people belonging to transgender community are also human beings. They are not any threat to humanity and have been in existence since time immemorial. For this purpose the paper primarily focuses on evidences from cultural and religious history where they were given due consideration and recognition. Evidences from ancient cultural and religious scriptures like that of Mahabharata, Naradasmriti, Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita and most importantly the Kamasutra have been discussed in the paper. From these references it is understood that transgender community possesses some cultural and religious legacy. The paper also sheds light on Bahuchara Mata (Goddess of fertility) worshipped by members of transgender community (mainly hijras) as their patroness. An attempt has also been made to analyze the struggle faced by the transgender community to gain legal recognition in India. With the intention of exploring the legal status, landmark judgements and laws favouring the transgender community have been used as reference. The paper also attempts to give a vivid description of “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016” which is yet to become a law.

IJSSER is Member of