Eunuchs - A societal outcast or an acceptable human?

Hey Everyone!
I'm back with my next article.
I've lately been watching a lot of videos and seeing a lot of things on Eunuchs. That made me feel very different towards looking at them. I would like to share my views on that. Just as usual, all of this is my opinion. Readers are free to critisize and comment as they wish.
Happy Reading :)
Soups

Eunuch. In India, that's one word many loathe and sometimes even fear. The only opinion people seem to see and hold is that "Eunuchs are neither man nor woman. They're not complete. Why do they have to stay in the society?". What people don't see is what Eunuchs or Transgenders (as they are known commonly now) go through. They are as much humans as any other normal person. They just feel different. And it's not wrong to feel different about things. Just because they have a different way of approaching life, feeling it differently, they can't be outcasted from the society.
They are so badly treated in India, being thrown out of the house without any support or any education. This lands them in forceful begging or engaging in prostitution.

I initially had my own apprehensions when I would see many transgenders on the roads, asking for money. I had my first meet with a transgender on the train, who I was very scared of, I think when I was about 7 or 8 years old. She just blessed me for I had given her a coin. I had no idea how to react. I started feeling extremely weird about transgenders. I didn't really hate them or anything, I just preferred staying away. But my opinions have been changing. At least recently, I have started respecting the people for who they are.

This happened when I first saw this Vicks Advertisement on Gauri Sawant and her Daughter Gayatri Sawant. I was so moved by the add. And to be very frank, I think Gauri Sawant (born as Ganesh Sawant) looks very beautiful. She is a mother in the true sense. Bringing up an orphaned child as her own and fighting the society for her identity was something that was so emotionally portrayed in the ad and because of this, I started gaining immense respect for Transgenders.

I would suggest watching the ad, I'm linking the ad as well as her interview to see what sort of a person she is (for those who are unaware)

Gauri Sawant - Vicks Advertisement
Gauri Sawant - Interview

Another person who actually gave me a positive jolt towards thinking about Transgenders is Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. She is a transgender who "CHOSE" her sexuality and she is one orator who truly inspired me. I'm attaching another link so that those unaware can see how she stands up for herself and is so inspiring.

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi

I am writing this only with a view that, many people exist, especially many so called "HINDUS" who claim that society holds no place for transgenders and claim that the holy scriptures also have no mention. They are the ones who are illiterate and are ignorant about Hinduism. There are so many very well known examples in the Hindu Mythology that prove tha society accepted transgenders at that time.

Examples:

1. ARDHANAAREESHWARA (अर्धनारीश्वर)- When we can worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is one body with half a side male and the other half female, why can't we show some respect to transgenders. They are also humans.
2. SHIKHANDI (शिखण्डी)- The very well known daughter of King Drupad of Panchal, exchanged her feminity with a Yaksha's masculinity to fight Bhishma in the Kurukshetra battle.
3. ILA (इला) - She is the wife of Budha or Mercury. In one version of a story, she was born a female, but because her parents wanted a son, she was offered a boon of being able to change her sexuality. In another version, she is born a male, but cursed that she would have to keep changing from man to woman and back for the rest of her life. 

I don't know much about Islam, Christianity and other religions. But one example I have heard of from History is that of Malik Kafur, who some texts claimed to be a transgender and some homosexual. He is said to have been in a relationship with Allaudin Khilji. 

But the good thing is people are nowadays slowly tring to accept transgenders and are trying to do something for transgenders. I would like to share another link to show what this yound designer has been upto, bringing a change.

Sharmila Nair - Bringing a change

I immensely respect Ms. Nair for her move and I believe transgenders have a place in the society and I have started accepting them for the way they are. Hope everyone else in India does too.

In conclusion, reciting a verse from the Ardhanaareeshwara Stotram of Adi Shankaracharya:

चाम्पेयगौरार्धशरीरकायै कर्पूरगौरार्धशरीरकाय

धम्मिल्लकायै च जटाधराय नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय

(One half shines with golden yellow colour like the Chaampeya Flower and the other half shines like the bright white Karpura! One side of the head is adorned with beautifully braided hair, and the other side sports an unkempt Jataa! I salute to Shivaa and Shiva in the form of Ardhanaareeshwara!)