ہیجڑا

Urdu edit

Alternative forms edit

ہجڑا (hijṛā)

Pronunciation edit

(Standard Urdu) IPA^(key): /ɦiːd͡ʒ.ɽɑː/

Noun edit

ہِیجڑا • (hījṛā) m (Hindi spelling हीजड़ा)

hijra

Usage notes edit

This term is sometimes considered offensive in Pakistan. A polite alternative is the Urdu خواجہ سرا (xāja sarā)^[1] although this term is rare in English. Gender activists in Pakistan have promoted khwaja sira as a politically correct alternative to hijra.^[2]

References edit

^ Positive Impact, A Second Look at Pakistan's Third Gender: The April 25th (2009) decision by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to officially recognize transgender people as the third gender marked a groundbreaking development that has gone relatively unnoticed by the outside world. It was the most significant judgment in a series of decisions the Court has taken over the last year and a half aimed at protecting the rights of the Khawaja Sara – a term encompassing transvestites, transsexuals and transgender people. There are signs that these decisions are already starting to bear fruit in this conservative nation of 187 million people. “It really is unbelievable” says Sanam Faqueer, an activist from the southern city of Sukkur and focal person on Khawaja Sara issues for the provincial government of Sindh. “Finally there is a real chance our problems are starting to be addressed.”
^ "Khwaja Sara: 'Transgender' Activism and Transnationality in Pakistan" by Faris A. Khan. In South Asia in the World: An Introduction (2014).

[1] Positive Impact, A Second Look at Pakistan's Third Gender: The April 25th (2009) decision by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to officially recognize transgender people as the third gender marked a groundbreaking development that has gone relatively unnoticed by the outside world. It was the most significant judgment in a series of decisions the Court has taken over the last year and a half aimed at protecting the rights of the Khawaja Sara – a term encompassing transvestites, transsexuals and transgender people. There are signs that these decisions are already starting to bear fruit in this conservative nation of 187 million people. “It really is unbelievable” says Sanam Faqueer, an activist from the southern city of Sukkur and focal person on Khawaja Sara issues for the provincial government of Sindh. “Finally there is a real chance our problems are starting to be addressed.”

[2] "Khwaja Sara: 'Transgender' Activism and Transnationality in Pakistan" by Faris A. Khan. In South Asia in the World: An Introduction (2014).

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