A talk With Mai Manisha Mehent

Milan Bishnoi

Research Scholar, Department of Hindi

Central University of Tamilnadu.

Gmail- milanbishnoi@gmail.com

A talk With 'Transgender welfare Board Haryana's President Mai Manisha Mehent'  (10th May 2019)

1. Milan Bishnoi- I have heard a lot about you but I wish to know from you about your birth place, family and education? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- My life is purely indigenous. However, my birth and elementary education is from city Karnal of Haryana but in the later years of my life due to adverse circumstances I moved to village Bhunna in Guhla-chikka of Kethal district located in Haryana. Thus, I am positioned and live here as Guru Mangalmukhi of transgender society. Other than my 

parents in my family I have four siblings as well in Karnal. I belong to a middle class family. 

2. Milan Bishnoi- Sister (Didi) you frequently mention your mother but then why had you to stay away from her? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- on one hand, I believe that physical distance is painful on the other hand, the spiritual or inward union is satisfactory and pleasurable and with my family I share this kind of experience. And as far as my mother is concerned in terms of distance I would say it is quite a detesting custom which is now dying off. I believe that in near future no one should go through such experiences. 

3. Milan Bishnoi- Yourself as a mother is raising two daughters how was your experience? Did you face any challenge in the society or from the government while adopting them? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Yes! By the grace of Goddess I am a mother of two daughters and as a transgender it is a privilege and a heavenly experience for me. Apart from couple of people having poor mentality if I talk about others I got a positive response from everyone. They expressed their happiness towards this action and cooperated with me. Of course, legally I had to face many problems but everything is fine. In fact, now I am preparing to go to court regarding the matter of transgender’ adopting child so that the problems and hurdles which I faced in future no one should face. 

 4. Milan Bishnoi- How many siblings are you and how often do you meet them? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- We are five siblings and now we do not share the same connectivity. Now we don’t meet frequently if someone needs help or if we feel like sharing something we try to meet. We use to share strong bonding before my younger sister got married but after her marriage we could not meet or perhaps she is busy in her domestic life. What else one can do than think in this way.

 5. Milan Bishnoi- You became chairperson of transgender board in such a young age… I wish to know more about your success journey? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- I do not take the chairmanship of transgender board as my success rather I take it as a responsibility which is on my shoulder. It will be success only when I will be able to bring my community in the mainstream which will no more be identified only by clapping or playing anklets instead, when (transgender) people will be educated and will be appointed on reputed positions it will be a real success.

 6. Milan Bishnoi- What is your opinion on article 377? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- I do not wish to discuss article 377. I believe those who have struggled for it have done wonderful job but I don’t want to hurt anyone by passing any kind of harsh comments judgment. 

7. Milan Bishnoi- Nowadays, there are transgender amphitheater and superior monks how are they going to benefit the transgender community? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Of course, it is beneficial transgender arena and monks will help us to get back our lost identity and thus, the transgender community will be able to reconnect with religious beliefs and will be able to pursue and progress towards righteousness. Although, we are monks, saints since birth and we do not need a certificate. Our actual identity is eternal therefore, it is a good initiative.

 8. Milan Bishnoi- It is observed that transgender are not much educated so what are the provisions for their employment? 

Mai Manisha Mahent- Definitely 99.9 transgender are not educated. Government has to introduce several schemes so that the next generation’s future will be secured and also the government should facilitate several educational, political and social rights to them. This will definitely help them to have a secure life and common people will not be able to torture them. 

 9. Milan Bishnoi- How and what have you decided for the coming generation in terms of their secure future, what are you thinking and planned regarding the transgender education … Did you demand anything from the government? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Of course we wish to have the next transgender generation should be completely educated and employed. I have read Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and I understood that if minority to be brought in the mainstream than it should be offered some special rights. Otherwise already developed castes will continue to exploit and insult them. Unless, the transgender are not provided reservation in politics, education and employment they will remain minors only. Currently without much disturbing the transgender persuasion of job if the new generation is connected with education than it will be a success as much as bringing the Kohinoor diamond back from Britain. This is not possible without having special rights because people’s mentality is badly affected in regard with transgender.

 10. Milan Bishnoi- In Literature transgender considerately has become more prominent how do you look at it? 

 Mai Manisha Mehent- Literature is such a platform which can give life to even dead people. A serious consideration on transgender is an indication that we are on right path. But if transgender community gets connected with Literature than it will be icing on the cake. Through the literature people have started keeping positive approach and are now able to understand them. Above all, those who are working in the favour of transgender their efforts and practice is commendable. 

11. Milan Bishnoi- You also write stories and poems than why did not you think of writing an autobiography? If you write people will get to learn and understand about you? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- I am fond of writing stories and poems since my childhood. My feelings and emotions which I do not like to share with anyone I use to write that in form of story and poems and I use to feel light by doing such practice. I did not think about autobiography as you have mentioned I will definitely think about it. 

 12. Milan Bishnoi- I would like to understand the definition of term like transgender because it has always been controversial and term like eunuch I do not find appropriate to use. 

Mai Manisha Mehent- There are too many illusions attached with the term transgender and the etymology of term eunuch begins from Latin and Greek. Third gender is a word which is indicative word which specifies the person about whom you are discussing is different from the other two genders which is masculine gender and feminine gender. However, in Indian scriptures the term transgender is used and addressed as mentioned but with the passage of time unintentionally the term eunuch markets prominence. Eventually, if one looks into history will find if the person is mentioned as partially as man than obviously it is in regard with the transgender. 

 13. Milan Bishnoi- In this competitive world how far is the mental grow of transgender children gets affected? How do these children keep themselves strong enough after facing such hardships?

 Mai Manisha Mehent- The hardships of life do affect the mentality of transgender children because of which they become hardhearted and even sometimes fail to understand others’ feelings. In order to change the situation the common public need to behave normal irrespective of prejudices so that they equally become emotional and normal people. We need to work together to change transgender from hard to emotional and all this is possible not by treating them badly and taunting them instead we need to show humanity. 

 14. Milan Bishnoi- Due to incessant unemployment we can see that the youth is not able to maintain mental balance and quite a few are even committing suicide therefore, what is the status of transgender youth and how do they maintain mental balance? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Similar to unemployed youth the transgender are also committing suicide and its ratio is quite shocking but due to certain social scenario such issues are suppressed and society does not allow these issues to come into notice. One starts facing this since his/her childhood and results into mental tension, loneliness and usual treatment of taunting and torture given by family members. I would never say that transgender society is strong enough to handle such situation. 

15. Milan Bishnoi- In literature the transgender Gurus are usually mentioned as a part of your culture. I would like to know from you that how and on what basis a disciple is made or chosen? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- I feel proud to say that transgender society has a culture of Guru and disciple and in today’s world the culture is still followed honestly. In a transgender society the one who is eligible as a disciple must follow and abide certain custom and culture of that particular (leader house). Keeping all this in consideration that nominee is asked to follow certain customs and rituals to become the disciple. This practice is similar to the bridal ceremony before appointing one as disciple the nominee is given different treatments. The person is treated with turmeric paste than she is dressed as a bride and taken to different temples for worship and everybody gifts her with different presents and the Guru also gives gift and accepts her as his disciple. 

16. Milan Bishnoi- I would like to know more about the transgender society its culture and customs? Mai Manisha Mehent- There are too many religion, sect and perceptions in transgender society. These are wide and different in all the states. For instance, we belong to the transgender Kings of Haryana- Punjab and there we were the courtier transgender therefore, we have all the old documents with us which were prepared by the Kings. Thus, many of our cultural practices are royal in nature. Every state has its own belief and cultural system. Alone Haryana-Punjab follow a Sufi culture rest everyone follows and abide the dharma and culture that one belongs to and believe in. Although the transgender are converted into Islam as well which is affected due to the formation of transgender arena. 

17.Milan Bishnoi- I learned this from the literature regarding the ‘death rituals’ that after the death of a transgender the body is beaten badly and its funeral pyre is conducted in the night. Is it ture?

Mai Manisha Mehent- I don’t know who is spreading such rumours that transgender commences the death funeral in the night. This is so uncivilized to even listen that the dead body is beaten badly so how one can even do such thing. When a transgender dies all his family members are neighbours are called for the funeral ceremony and all those who have spent years with such a person can never allow such thing to happen with its body that too when you are part of a democratic country like India where constitution is the supreme lord. This is just a rumour which is spread by writer, storyteller and Filmmakers.

 18.Milan Bishnoi- Generally one notices caste-ism. Is there anything like in transgender community? 

 Mai Manish Mahent- Definitely, transgender do have caste-ism and discrimination is equally evident in the community. But this thing is different that due to Guru – disciple culture one cannot raise voice and if someone raises voice against this and knocks the law for justice than police does not cooperate for proper investigation. I cannot ignore the truth this has always happened even if the transgender community pretends to ignore this. 

19.Milan Bishnoi- How is the work such as demanding money on the birth of child, begging for money on railway stations, rituals are divided? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- There is no such thing like distribution of tasks of course, it is divided under the Guru-disciple culture. This distribution is based on the similar attitude where a son is given the property of his father. The religious practices are based on ones beliefs.

 20. Milan Bishnoi- How is the property of transgender gets distributed?

 Mai Manisha Mehent- The transgender’s property is distributed in a usual manner like that of a common man. Whatever property one possess is distributed equally to his children. Similarly, the distribution of property is based on the number of disciple a Guru has. Otherwise under the name of property the transgender has that particular area where he goes to demand money and this is equally divided among the disciples. 

 21. Milan Bishnoi- You often say I am going to demand (badhai) money from people. Do you offer your money to your Guru? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Definitely! I give my share of money to my Guru but it’s completely my wish. A few Gurus forcefully take money from their disciple and it has come in notice that some Gurus demand more than they are offered. But I believe that sharing some money with Guru is paying respect to the Guru. Because in the old age the Guru depends on the money given by the disciple so that he can fulfil his needs such as medicines and all. 

22.Milan Bishnoi- Usually I see there are separate doctors for woman and man are you also facilitated with such kind of special treatment for transgender community when you visit hospitals? Mai Manisha Mehent- No! there is no as such special treatment given in the hospital and many a times doctor do not take us seriously and even hesitate to give us treatment. 

23.Milan Bishnoi- What kind of provision is fixed in issuing discipline and punishment in transgender community can you please throw some light on this? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- Discipline quite varies in all the different houses of transgender community and the situation and rules may also vary but the nature of punishment is similar only. Only it depends on the kind of punishment the culprit has done. In some cases the culprits are charged fine in terms of money. Whereas, in some cases the culprits are discarded from their community itself. 24.Milan Bishnoi- The way we have separate schools for girls don’t you wish to have a separate school for transgender children. Means what do you expect from the government regarding the education of transgender children’s education? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- We are quite serious regarding the future of transgender children in terms of education and safety, but we are against separate school and college. We wish to connect the transgender with the mainstream. But if you keep them separate from others and provide them education and other facilities than instead of connecting them you will seclude them mentally and physically from the mainstream which is already disconnected from the mainstream. Therefore, instead of making separate school and colleges the transgender children should be given education with the normal children so that they can develop better understanding. There is only one demand from the government that the transgender children should more and more be connected with the education. 

 25.Milan Bishnoi- With this last question what message would you like to give to the writers and scholars? 

Mai Manisha Mehent- To the writers and scholars I wish to say that do not limit yourself mere to the degree and projects or writing books instead, helps transgender in establishing and fighting their rights whether it is social or legal. I request them to cooperate and help transgender in terms of mental, social, physical and financial condition and make the government aware of it because more than transgender you know more the transgender community whom you have understood better through words and learn more about them through words.
                                                                                                              (Translation Credit-Ritu Sharma)