Kama Sutra's Transgender Warrior

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RIGHTS OF INVISIBLE: HEALTHCARE OF THE THIRD GENDER

Since the beginning of human life, transgender people have existed in every culture, race and class. Incidents of the same have been found in plenty in the Indian mythology. In Kama Sutra, the sexual life of people of third gender (called Tritya Prakriti) has been described. They’ve also been found in carvings of ancient temples and religious texts. For example, in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, Shikhandi who was originally born as a girl to King Drupada, later changed her sex . Also, Arjuna who is considered as India’s Transgender Warrior dressed as a woman during the last year of his exile.
India has a wide range of transgender related identities, which include, the Hijras, Aravanis, Kothis, Jogtas/Jogappas and Shiv Shakthi. In the past they have been treated with great respect and even in present some are accorded particular respect. ‘Hijra’ is a Persian word translated as eunuch which is used in common parlance for transgender community in India. ‘Aravani’ is a term used for male-to-female transgender who undergo genital modification through SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery) or perform Nirwaan, which is a traditional mode of castration. The nomenclature Kothi is used for those who adopt a feminine role in same sex relationships, but do not live in communes as Aravanis or undergo …show more content…

Thus, they resort to unqualified medical practioners. Due to bad surgical procedures adopted by unqualified medical practioners, many Hijras develop post-operative complications- especially urological problems. These complications would have been avoided if free or affordable sex reassignment surgery had been offered in the government hospitals. Even those Hijras who approach urologists for treatment of post-operative complications often have bad

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