REASONS OF EXCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER/ KINNAR OR HIJRA IN EDUCATION: SELECT CASE STUDIES FROM DELHI

Abstract

A detailed case study of two individuals belonging to the Kinnar and Hijra community was undertaken through open ended interviews to  understand and document the reasons for their exclusion from Education.The findings clearly revealed that they fought against all odds to achieve what was their human right in the first place and battled all kinds and different manifestations  of discrimination ,marginalization and apathy from different quarters except for few individuals who did ‘recognize’ them as human beings and not as ‘others’ alien to those around them. The Case studies undertaken also reinforce the findings of the reviewed  literature that pursuing Education is extremely difficult as a person who is a sexual minority struggles each moment to reinforce his/her gender identity. Usually looking at the documented cases it is observed that individuals belonging to this community are considered to be outcasts most of the time and face the harsh realities of living a life of Struggle ,Hardship and Marginalization at every step. This research paper is an attempt to build a case for inclusion of this excluded community in Education ,often commonly referred or addressed as Hijras and Kinnars in Northern parts of India in particular.