Life in the valley has never been easy for anybody but it is extremely difficult for the marginalized transgender community living there. The place that is constantly caught in the binds of a civil infraction and society ‘boxed’ in the dichotomy of gender brings plethora of challenges for the Kashmir’s gender minority. Abandonment from a young age, the vilification and aspersion of identity and the usual name-calling- these are only a few stories of pain and grief from the tough lives of transgender people in India. However, the invisible minority of Kashmir has to face some additional challenges due to the geopolitical conflict and complex ethnographic diversity.
The Unique Ethnography: A 29-year-old Kashmiri LGBTQ+ activist Aijaz Bund conducted the first ethnographic study of the transgender community in his book Hijras of Kashmir- A Marginalized form of Personhood. He attempts to categorise the community into: Khunsi – They are born with uncertain genitalia or no genitalia at all. Sometimes, they have a tiny hole for urination. Their body shape may be masculine or feminine. Zanan Lanczh- They have non-erectile genitalia in most of the cases and they usually cross-dress. Their mannerisms are similar to women. Marel Lanczh or Pant Lanczh – They look like men but don’t cross-dress. But their gender expression resembles that of women. The community also has sub-divisions on the basis of different identities- caste, class, religion, region and presence in sex work. There is a segregation between those involved in sex work and those who aren’t. Unlike transgenders in other parts of the country, the Hijra culture is not very prevalent in the valley. The community is not well-organised and often functions individually or in small circles. However, with the course of time, efforts have been made to organize this underprivileged section of the society into a minority-solidarity to strengthen the fight towards equality.
‘Menzimyeors’ of Kashmir: Amidst militancy and curfews, issues like gender inclusivity often gets overshadowed and the marginalised transgender community often bears the brunt of discrimination in the society. There is hardly any policy that safeguard their rights of education, employment, healthcare etc. Therefore, oftentimes they are involved in sex work, matchmaking and singing and dancing at weddings. The profession of matchmaking provides them with some kind of employment and also helps them to get involved in Kashmir’s conservative social circle. They are popularly known as ‘menzimyeors’- a Kashmiri word for ‘matchmakers’. But the practice of untouchability and conditioned phobia against transgenders makes them isolated even in big crowds and gatherings.
Abrogation of Article 370: Repercussions The Pinkwashing campaign began as soon as the Govt. of India abrogated Article 370 citing the reason that this would be a boon for LGBTQ+ community of Kashmir as Supreme Court’s Judgement on Section 377 would be implemented here afterwards. But this farcical argument doesn’t make any sense at all as, after abrogation, the military lockdown coupled with communication blackout in the state has made the lives of transgender community really challenging and arduous. An absence of public movements or large-scale weddings have thrown the community out of their profession of matchmaking and dancing in wedding ceremonies. In addition to these problems, the global pandemic has added to a plethora of challenges and obstacles for the invisible minority of the region. Although the J&K administrative council decided to give transgenders a monthly pension of Rs. 1000 under the Integrated Social Security Scheme, the financial burdens and challenges can’t be overcome with this alone.
A Ray of Hope in the Darkness: Sonzal Welfare Trust is one of Kashmir’s very few, if not the only, non-profit organizations exclusively working for the well-being and upliftment of gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). From providing legal assistance to psycho-social care, basic necessities to awareness and sensitization, Sonzal Welfare Trust has been making all possible efforts to uplift the extremely marginalized section of the valley. Aijaz Ahmed Bund being the founder of the organization explains in one of his interviews with Kashmir INK, “Transgender community in Kashmir is physically, verbally, and sexually abused. Extreme social segregation tells upon their self-worth and sense of social responsibility. Accessibility to various social, cultural, educational and legal services is extremely classified for anyone with this identity in Kashmir. They are considered ‘abnormal’ and eventually become ‘outsiders’ in the mainstream”. In spite of all the efforts, an extreme politically heated environment has taken the shape over the course of a few years and this least-visible and least-discussed section of the valley seems to be at the receiving end. The intersectionality of the conflict has been outweighed by political ideologies and ‘reserved’ Kashmiriyat and gender diversity hardly gets any attention. Moreover, the hardening religious beliefs due to attacks on religious identity have made it even more difficult for the community to secure their place between the dichotomy of religious identity and gender diversity. The word ‘oppression’ is multi-layered and it’s time that the valley and its people raise their voice against the oppression that has been existing in their homes and neighbourhoods for years.
