Blessing, not begging

Gender Nonconforming Livelihoods, State and Legality in Contemporary India

Bibliographic Data

ID7168588
AuthorsBanhishikha Ghosh (0000-0002-6354-9047, University of Sunderland, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume34
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSouth Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1960-6060 • E-ISSN: 1960-6060
PublisherOpenEdition (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4000/14cal
OpenAlexW4417056279
LanguageEN
References cited43

For eons, hijras and kotis of India have survived on socially endorsed livelihoods involving multilayered erotic, ritualistic, cultural, and religious performances. Though a range of structural inequalities preconditioned these livelihoods, the performances serve as a signal to engender, induce, and embolden community expression. Yet these performative acts have continually been disapproved of by the post-colonial Indian state on equating them with the illegal act of begging. Based on field experience and documentary evidence, this paper raises three major issues. First, the performative acts of hijras/kotis should be seen as “blessings,” “ritualistic soliciting,” and “erotic performances,” not as “begging.” Second, ritualistic soliciting is done by choice and represents the longevity of their agency. Third, in the post-COVID-19 period, hijras, kotis, and similar gender nonconforming communities (GNCs) are exposed to unlawful forms of police fining and to an elaborate racket of brokerage systems operated by the ordinary state officials. These acts heighten their embodied vulnerabilities

Embodied cognition · Equating · Livelihood · Performative utterance · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Indian and Buddhist Studies · South Asian Studies and Conflicts