This is from Bombay, now Mumbai. Travelling in a local train one night, something curious happened. Curious not because it was unique; curious because I was not familiar with what was happening. In retrospect, I'm sure it happens on a regular basis. It's worth a thought, the sheer number of things that are so common in occurrence, yet we are not privy to. Sometimes because we're not around to see it happen, or sometimes because we just don't care enough.
At Mumbai Central or Mahalaxmi station, a couple of ' chakkas' (eunuchs) entered the second class bogey I was sitting in. It wasn't crowded, but there were a fair number of people travelling that night. They began their rounds with their quintessential loud claps and unwelcome touches, soliciting money (Rs.10 at the very least, though Rs.50 is the norm) from all those in the compartment.
A couple of stations down (I think it was Lower Parel), a Mumbai Police constable entered the compartment. It is likely somebody who got down at that station complained to him in view of other passengers and perhaps a senior police officer. Anyhow, he got in and insisted that the eunuchs get off the train at once. From the lack of enthusiasm in his voice, it was clear that he was following orders or doing his 'duty'. The eunuchs brushed him off, continuing with what they'd been doing. So, the constable repeated himself, a little more firmly this time. At this, one of the eunuchs turned on him and said, " Kya re? Tu humko bolta hai ye sab mat karo, to phir kya karein? Tu humko naukri dega, kya? To phir de na!" (What, man? You tell us not to do this, but what are we to do then? You will give us a job or what? Then give no!) This invited a burst of laughter, some derisive, some amused, from the passengers who had been able to hear this.The constable, clearly intimidated by this tirade, not to mention embarrassed by the laugher, changed his line of approach. In a subdued tone, he began muttering non-sequitur comments about 'duty' and 'not in my hands', etc. All this happened in less than thirty five seconds, which is how long local trains usually halt at stations. Before the train began to move, both the eunuchs as well as the constable got down. I don't know what happened after that.
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Why was this incident curious? Rather, why did I find this incident curious?
Because everyone involved had their own points of view that, objectively considered, had merit.
Let's begin with the passengers on the train (including me).
Their (our) point of view was, we definitely didn't want to be bothered by eunuchs, many of them (us) returning home after a tiring day in town (locals refer to South Mumbai as 'town'). We were indeed glad about the constable's insistence upon the eunuchs getting off the train. However, we couldn't help but be amused when the Mumbai Police (with whom the city has a love-hate equation), represented by that middle-aged constable with a paunch, was given a metaphorical punch in the gut by a person who, regardless of their conduct, was symbolic of the city's oppressed lower-class.
The cop had a point. Underpaid and overworked, he was part of a system that was unappreciative of his efforts and disrespectful to him. Now, a man slaps a man and they might fight, and they might sort it out between themselves. But a cop slaps a man anywhere, and the man is even slightly better off than the cop, and what happens?
The cop gets in trouble. And then there is the red tape they have to deal with. It's like giving a fire-fighter a hose, and telling him, "Look. Here's a hose, and you should use it to put out fires. But before you connect the hose to a fire-hydrant, you need permission from your seniors. Before which these forms need to be filled out. In triplicate. Oh, and if a fire happens somewhere and it's not your jurisdiction...heh heh, you get the drill."
Hundreds and hundreds of fresh police recruits were placed on security detail for the recent I.P.L. final in the city. What did they get for their efforts? No food, no water, no rest for hours and hours on end.
And we expect them to give a shit about two eunuchs on a train?
I don't think so.
Finally, what about the eunuch who spat venom on the police constable whom I have portrayed in a sympathetic light? If the cops' hands are bound, what can one say about those of the third sex ? My mother and other family told me when I was young, that eunuchs are 'shameless'. They go around troubling people; glorified beggars. They don't do anything of consequence, just harass honest and hard-working people all the time. They are often a nuisance, I'll admit (some 'eunuchs' are actually men with fully functional penises and no lack of testosterone), but is it really a question of shame? In a society like this one, where in most places, patriarchy is King, and 'queens' are frowned on...
**********
The crux of what I'm saying is, there are problems. I'm not offering solutions right now.
Thing is, I don't think I'm in a position to offer any solutions.
What I can do, though, is tell you what's what, and hope that you will think about it.
That is all.
At Mumbai Central or Mahalaxmi station, a couple of ' chakkas' (eunuchs) entered the second class bogey I was sitting in. It wasn't crowded, but there were a fair number of people travelling that night. They began their rounds with their quintessential loud claps and unwelcome touches, soliciting money (Rs.10 at the very least, though Rs.50 is the norm) from all those in the compartment.
A couple of stations down (I think it was Lower Parel), a Mumbai Police constable entered the compartment. It is likely somebody who got down at that station complained to him in view of other passengers and perhaps a senior police officer. Anyhow, he got in and insisted that the eunuchs get off the train at once. From the lack of enthusiasm in his voice, it was clear that he was following orders or doing his 'duty'. The eunuchs brushed him off, continuing with what they'd been doing. So, the constable repeated himself, a little more firmly this time. At this, one of the eunuchs turned on him and said, " Kya re? Tu humko bolta hai ye sab mat karo, to phir kya karein? Tu humko naukri dega, kya? To phir de na!" (What, man? You tell us not to do this, but what are we to do then? You will give us a job or what? Then give no!) This invited a burst of laughter, some derisive, some amused, from the passengers who had been able to hear this.The constable, clearly intimidated by this tirade, not to mention embarrassed by the laugher, changed his line of approach. In a subdued tone, he began muttering non-sequitur comments about 'duty' and 'not in my hands', etc. All this happened in less than thirty five seconds, which is how long local trains usually halt at stations. Before the train began to move, both the eunuchs as well as the constable got down. I don't know what happened after that.
**********
Why was this incident curious? Rather, why did I find this incident curious?
Because everyone involved had their own points of view that, objectively considered, had merit.
Let's begin with the passengers on the train (including me).
Their (our) point of view was, we definitely didn't want to be bothered by eunuchs, many of them (us) returning home after a tiring day in town (locals refer to South Mumbai as 'town'). We were indeed glad about the constable's insistence upon the eunuchs getting off the train. However, we couldn't help but be amused when the Mumbai Police (with whom the city has a love-hate equation), represented by that middle-aged constable with a paunch, was given a metaphorical punch in the gut by a person who, regardless of their conduct, was symbolic of the city's oppressed lower-class.
The cop had a point. Underpaid and overworked, he was part of a system that was unappreciative of his efforts and disrespectful to him. Now, a man slaps a man and they might fight, and they might sort it out between themselves. But a cop slaps a man anywhere, and the man is even slightly better off than the cop, and what happens?
The cop gets in trouble. And then there is the red tape they have to deal with. It's like giving a fire-fighter a hose, and telling him, "Look. Here's a hose, and you should use it to put out fires. But before you connect the hose to a fire-hydrant, you need permission from your seniors. Before which these forms need to be filled out. In triplicate. Oh, and if a fire happens somewhere and it's not your jurisdiction...heh heh, you get the drill."
Hundreds and hundreds of fresh police recruits were placed on security detail for the recent I.P.L. final in the city. What did they get for their efforts? No food, no water, no rest for hours and hours on end.
And we expect them to give a shit about two eunuchs on a train?
I don't think so.
Finally, what about the eunuch who spat venom on the police constable whom I have portrayed in a sympathetic light? If the cops' hands are bound, what can one say about those of the third sex ? My mother and other family told me when I was young, that eunuchs are 'shameless'. They go around troubling people; glorified beggars. They don't do anything of consequence, just harass honest and hard-working people all the time. They are often a nuisance, I'll admit (some 'eunuchs' are actually men with fully functional penises and no lack of testosterone), but is it really a question of shame? In a society like this one, where in most places, patriarchy is King, and 'queens' are frowned on...
**********
The crux of what I'm saying is, there are problems. I'm not offering solutions right now.
Thing is, I don't think I'm in a position to offer any solutions.
What I can do, though, is tell you what's what, and hope that you will think about it.
That is all.
The system is a self perpetuating vicious cycle. They are caught in it, as are the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteGood thought I was infact waiting to write something on eunuchs. just got enlightened by your blog,anyways it doesnt matter whether their is a solution to a prob or not,lifes answers are self-seeking,confusing to such an extent that we often come back to square one. The only best thing one can imagine is to place them on the table- to be chewed and digested.
ReplyDelete