About the Book:
"Main Hijra Main Laxmi" is an autobiographical novel by Dr. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, written in Marathi by Vaishali Rode, translated into English by Raj Rao and P.G. Joshi. The Hindi translation was done by Dr. Shashikala Rai and Surekha Bankar. It was published by Vani Prakashan. This book is also special because Laxmi is a well-known name in the LGBTQ± community. This book is the first autobiography of a person from the transgender community, which is available in three languages.
This book is based on the struggles of Laxmi’’’’s personal life, her fight for her existence after being rejected by the family and ostracized by the society. The transgender community is often marginalized. Laxmi has described in detail the hardships of this community, such as exploitation, violence, and discrimination in the society. The most interesting story in this book is the stories related to the customs in the transgender community, which provide a lot of information to the readers. Also, it breaks the myths related to this community. Laxmi has written openly about her childhood, adolescence and the internal struggle she went through regarding her identity and her association with the transgender community.
Laxmi decided to empower herself in life despite her struggles. She also mentions how she became a famous social worker, TV personality, and representative of the transgender community in the United Nations. Her story is inspiring. The main message of the book is that every human being, regardless of gender or sexual identity, should get equal rights in society. This book creates empathy and understanding towards the transgender community. The contempt and discrimination of eunuchs by society, the fight for self-acceptance and self-respect have been written openly.
Events during writing of the book:
The author mentions an incident while writing this book, after Laxmi’’’’s father passed away, once we went to the post office near Raymond showroom for some work. The clerk there seeing Laxmi said, "Madam, we see you every day. Don’’’’t worry, your work will be done. You sign and go". People talk to her like people we know. They talk to her in the same way. She used to stay with boys of her age and talk to them exactly like two boys of her age talk to each other. Absolutely normal. We don’’’’t talk about someone who is different. But nothing like this would come to mind with her, on the other hand, Laxmi’’’’s talks were also never useless. She always says, "We respected ourselves, only then people respect us too". This is clearly reflected in her behaviour.
Similarly, we once went to the passport office with Laxmi for passport. When the women employees there saw Laxmi, they took her to their ward and started talking to her just like their friends. They told her about how men behave with them. They also said that we will form a women’’’’s organization and you should become its leader. They told Laxmi that when she tells her children at home that Laxmi comes to our office, no one believes her. So she started taking her photos with Laxmi. Laxmi’’’’s celebrity identity was not hidden from anyone. Where on one hand people were scared of people from the transgender community, on the other hand it was Laxmi’’’’s personality that everyone was loving. I was surprised to see this
Important quote from the book:
There is a beautiful quote from this book which tells the meaning of “Hijra”. Hijra is not a word to be abused, boycotted or despised. It has a spiritual meaning which is derived from Urdu language. The word Hijra is derived from the Urdu word Hijr which means separation or separation. The person who has separated from his clan and has followed the path of God is a Hijra. This word does not indicate any gender identity, it indicates the path of walking on the path of spirituality.
If a man even gets a hint of femininity in anything, he puts all his strength to bring it under his feet.
Why read this book:
Everyone should read this book. It is a story of a community based on humour, which has been despised for years. After facing many hardships in life, be it the death of her father, separation from her lover, or asthma, today Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is "Doctor Laxmi Narayan Tripathi". She is the Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Kinnar Akhara and is also a well-known name in the Kinnar community. Laxmi’’’’s life journey is also worth liking because she has left her mark in various fields of her life. Whether it is the field of cinema or art, health, social work, fashion, education and spirituality, she has worked in all and is still doing it. The story from despise to glory was not easy. In this journey, she has fought a long battle for the respect of her community.