Rachel Wedig ANT 206 TTH

Nanda Introduction

Nanda's introduction largely focuses on the differences between cultural definitions and understandings of hijras and the accounts and identities of the hijras themselves. Nanda also discusses her difficulty in learning about the hijras and the lack of knowledge the other people of India displayed about this minority group. Nanda also encountered difficulties in recording this ethnography do to the large variation of culture and language across all of India. Nanda faced many barriers before she was actually able to begin learning about the hijras. Her initial questions to family and friends in India were all but ignored. After realizing that she must talk to the hijras themselves to gain a clear picture of hijra identity and culture. Initially, Nanda seemed to have some difficulty in gaining access to the hijras as they are not accustomed to speaking with people outside the group about themselves. Nanda faced still more difficulty communicating with the hijras because of the wide variation in language spoken throughout India. Nanda had to use several different translators throughout her studies. Nanda explains at great length the differences between the cultural perceptions of the hijras and how those differ from personal accounts she gathered from the hijras. One difference in defining hijras is that while culturally hijras are defined by their performances at auspicious occasions, many hijras do not participate in these performances. Another difference Nanda noted was the gender identity of the hijras. Many hijras identify themselves as female while Indian culture identifies hijras as neither male nor female. Many hijras are not born hermaphrodites despite being identified by other Indians as intersex. Nanda also notes that while Indian culture assumes that all hijras undergo an emasculation procedure, not all hijras elect to have this operation performed. Indian culture views hijras as otherworldly (p xx) and asexual, despite the fact that many hijras engage in sexual acts with other men and some are prostitutes.

Rachel Wedig ANT 206 TTH

Nanda Introduction

Finally, Nanda asserts that there is not much uniformity in different hijra communities throughout Indian. This is not dissimilar from Indian culture at large as it varies in different regions of the country. In this, Nanda draws the conclusion At a cultural level, hijras share much with other Indians, and hijra culture mirros, perhaps in some oblique way, much in Indian society and culture. (p xxi).