Episode 4: He, She, Hijra
Millennia before the West started reassessing the concept of gender, India had the Hijra.
Deep, Down & Desi · BBC Asian Network
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Show Notes
Millennia before the West started reassessing the concept of gender, India had the Hijra.
When researching for this podcast, Raul was surprised to discover that, in Hinduism, gender non-conformity is nothing new. The origin of the Hijra can be found in ancient Indian folk stories, but they are also a real community of transwomen that live in India today. Many people still believe that they are mystical beings and that they can confer blessings and curses.
In this episode Raul investigates the complex subject of gender in Hinduism and in India. He speaks to his comedian friend Sindhu Vee, the trans activist Kalki Subramaniam and, of course, his ever-helpful guide Pandit Satish K Sharma.