Anil Pandey lauds the poll panel for handing out a political baton of hope to India’s 25 lakh-strong eunuch community.
In 2000, while India was still caught up in the euphoria of entering a new millennium, Gorakhpur town of Uttar Pradesh remained a silent witness to a unique political development which was slated to alter the political contours of the country for ever. It was November and fervour for the mayoral elections had reached a crescendo. People of Gorakhpur had never seen such a colourful election in their lifetime. The politically detached urban middle class, for a change, was quite enthusiastic about this election. But none was aware of the history that was in the making.
When the results were announced, a relatively unknown Asha Devi alias Amarnath Yadav won the election by a huge margin. Except the Samajwadi Party candidate, all other candidates lost their respective deposits. Asha Devi won the election by a record margin of 65,000 votes, a feat unheard of in the annals of mayoral polls in Gorakhpur. Asha Devi, a eunuch, who eked out a living by dancing and singing, became the mayor of the city. It was a unique case of people exacting revenge from corrupt politicians. People preferred the eunuch for the top job of the city. It was a slap in the face of the politicians.
People changed the mayor but the political fabric did not alter. In a way, this experiment failed due to lack of political awareness among eunuchs. But now almost a decade has passed and things have changed. Today, eunuchs are setting up their own political party and selling dreams of a corruption-free country. Kinnars (Eunuchs) are now raising the slogan of ‘Sadak par hi nahi, Sansad me bhi chahiye samm an (We demand respect not only on roads but also in Parliament)’. Suddenly, a decision by the Central Election Commission of India (CEC) has given much-needed momentum to their struggle. It has allowed eunuchs to write down their sex as ‘Others’ in the ‘Sex’ category of Election ID Card application form. The cards will bear the same. Earlier, there were only two categories - male or female.
The number of eunuchs in India exceeds 25 lakh. Our society does not recognise them as male or female. They have no idea about their caste, origin and identity. Due to these problems, it was difficult for them to get voter ID cards. Shabnam Moussi, former legislator from Madhya Pradesh, too, had to face the problem when she first decided to participate in elections. The then Election Commissioner, M. S. Gill, sorted out the matter by saying that in whatever sex their names will appear on the voters’ list will be considered as their sex.
Eunuchs have got a fresh lease of life from this latest CEC decision. But, the problem has not been sorted out completely. It is still not clear as to what exactly falls in the ambit of ‘Others’. Whether eunuchs can contest only unreserved seats or if they can apply for candidature from those seats reserved for women is another grey area. Kamala Bai, who had fought for the demand of having a separate sex category in the Election ID Card application form and is heading the Kinnar chapter of Rashtriya Viklang Party, says, “Eunuchs have no caste and no sex. The establishment should allow us to fight from those seats reserved for women or other castes.” The lack of clear-cut directive from the Election Commission cost Kamala Jan, Mayor of Katni town of Madhya Pradesh, dearly when the court held her election illegal as her name ‘Kamalauddin’ was mentioned as male in the voters list.
In 2000, while India was still caught up in the euphoria of entering a new millennium, Gorakhpur town of Uttar Pradesh remained a silent witness to a unique political development which was slated to alter the political contours of the country for ever. It was November and fervour for the mayoral elections had reached a crescendo. People of Gorakhpur had never seen such a colourful election in their lifetime. The politically detached urban middle class, for a change, was quite enthusiastic about this election. But none was aware of the history that was in the making.
When the results were announced, a relatively unknown Asha Devi alias Amarnath Yadav won the election by a huge margin. Except the Samajwadi Party candidate, all other candidates lost their respective deposits. Asha Devi won the election by a record margin of 65,000 votes, a feat unheard of in the annals of mayoral polls in Gorakhpur. Asha Devi, a eunuch, who eked out a living by dancing and singing, became the mayor of the city. It was a unique case of people exacting revenge from corrupt politicians. People preferred the eunuch for the top job of the city. It was a slap in the face of the politicians.
People changed the mayor but the political fabric did not alter. In a way, this experiment failed due to lack of political awareness among eunuchs. But now almost a decade has passed and things have changed. Today, eunuchs are setting up their own political party and selling dreams of a corruption-free country. Kinnars (Eunuchs) are now raising the slogan of ‘Sadak par hi nahi, Sansad me bhi chahiye samm an (We demand respect not only on roads but also in Parliament)’. Suddenly, a decision by the Central Election Commission of India (CEC) has given much-needed momentum to their struggle. It has allowed eunuchs to write down their sex as ‘Others’ in the ‘Sex’ category of Election ID Card application form. The cards will bear the same. Earlier, there were only two categories - male or female.
The number of eunuchs in India exceeds 25 lakh. Our society does not recognise them as male or female. They have no idea about their caste, origin and identity. Due to these problems, it was difficult for them to get voter ID cards. Shabnam Moussi, former legislator from Madhya Pradesh, too, had to face the problem when she first decided to participate in elections. The then Election Commissioner, M. S. Gill, sorted out the matter by saying that in whatever sex their names will appear on the voters’ list will be considered as their sex.
Eunuchs have got a fresh lease of life from this latest CEC decision. But, the problem has not been sorted out completely. It is still not clear as to what exactly falls in the ambit of ‘Others’. Whether eunuchs can contest only unreserved seats or if they can apply for candidature from those seats reserved for women is another grey area. Kamala Bai, who had fought for the demand of having a separate sex category in the Election ID Card application form and is heading the Kinnar chapter of Rashtriya Viklang Party, says, “Eunuchs have no caste and no sex. The establishment should allow us to fight from those seats reserved for women or other castes.” The lack of clear-cut directive from the Election Commission cost Kamala Jan, Mayor of Katni town of Madhya Pradesh, dearly when the court held her election illegal as her name ‘Kamalauddin’ was mentioned as male in the voters list.
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