Other States - Bihar   

Eunuchs want restoration of their Mughal era role

Patna: On the pattern of Mughal era when eunuchs had an important role in palaces, the third gender population in Bihar want to be involved in the state’s social welfare development projects.

In the Mughal Empire, eunuchs were employed to take care of harems and some of them became aides of queens. Being castrated males, they could not exploit women of the harems sexually, but were able to carry out domestic works. In the recent Bollywood film, Jodhaa Akbar, a eunuch was shown as a trusted lieutenant of Jodhaabai.

“We have suffered a lot for centuries and most of us live in abject poverty. We want restoration of our recognition on the pattern of Mughal era,” Kali Hijra, a leader of the eunuchs in Bihar, said.

Hijra, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Patna, said, the eunuchs have formed welfare associations demanding right to employment, marriage and child adoption among other things.- PTI

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