kAJAL, the dark eyeliner of the society

  difference. Kajal Mangal Mukhi lives in Manimajra, Chandigarh, for 30 years now. The reel of her life is a collection of scrolls full of high drama. She was the one who filed the petition in the year  2007 at Chandigarh in Haryana and Punjab High Court from North. This was done to get the employment rights for the transgenders.  For Kajal, it was a journey on a  roller coaster. After viewing the petition, the Chandigarh and Haryana High court in its prompt reply directed the transgenders to be included in the male category.  It lead to a protest against Kajal within her community. It was rejected at once. Later they were asked to join the female category which was also put down. Finally in 2014 transgenders got their own category. They were  the third gender. Above mentioned is the legal journey of the transgenders from unknown to the “Mx”. But along with it was the personal journey which was walked by Kajal alone.  As the word spread about the case being fought for the employment rights of the transgenders, Kajal was reprimanded by her community. She was threatened with a boycott. ”All the elders of our community from North came to our dera. My guru was called and I was made to stand in the middle of the huge gathering. They were annoyed with me. Do you want us to work now?  Should we study? Why are you making our life tough? These were a few of many tight-lipped questions which were thrown at me”. remembers Kajal. ”They decided to punish me for trying to bring our community closer to the society in a dignified way. My head was to be saved off, a hefty fine in cash was levied on me. That was when my guru flung into action and rescued me.  She slapped me and scolded me in front of everybody. This convinced them that she was also annoyed with me. She asked me to leave from the gathering immediately and convinced them that I have lost my mind”. Kajal’s life is a beautiful collection of events.        Remembering one she said, “I love to read about new things.My favourite show was ‘Kaun Banega Carorpati’.Study was not a part of our community. I was caught reading many times by my guru.  This lead to punishment and even a good spanking at times. Once I received a call. The voice said ’I am calling from the show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.You have been selected to play with us’.As I had attempted the questions many times.  I was thrilled as well as tensed. The permission to leave for the show was an absolute ‘NO’.But I was determined.   Hence, I ran off to Bombay. It is a self-destructive decision for any transgender to run away from the Dera.  I convinced myself to do it, thinking that I will apologize to everyone from the stage of the show and things will be fine.  When I reached the Concerned office in Bombay, I came to know that someone had played a prank on me. My heart was broken”. I stayed in Bombay, fearing the repercussions back at home. To survive I was taken to a red light area.The days became depressing looking at lives there.For us transgenders, this is one of the ways to live.Society has dictated its terms for us.They expect us to beg, dance or drown in prostitution for survival.This is about us the third gender. There I saw males bluffing  females into a relationship and selling them further in the brothels. I ran away from there after I had hit a man. He was forcing himself on a female in a room. His head was bleeding after I threw a flying brick at him. I told the girl to run and so did I.I don’t know what happened to the girl, but this was what I could do for her. Then I starting begging at a far off station in Mumbai. There I came in contact with another transgender who knew my guru in Manimajra. She offered to mediate and I came back home. Kajal is the pacesetter for her community. Kajal the dark eyeliner of the society is burning herself to paint the world of transgender in rainbow colors. She is educating her Chailas. This has again forced her in the mid of the burning furrow amongst her community.  She was boycotted by them . But, she chose to fight it again. It is a sub judice matter now. She is demanding demarcation of areas for the different transgender groups. Make our ID cards, so no one can play foul.  This will benefit the people of particular societies. As they will know their transgender and Behrupiyas will not be able to bluff them.” Her presence has been revolutionary in her community.kajal has turned out to be the highlighter for them.]]>