Hijra Or Intersex Poem by Asit Kumar Sanyal

In human being
biological sex is determined
on five factors present at birth,
number and type of sex chromosomes,
type of gonads
that is ovaries and testicles,
sex hormones,
internal reproductive anatomy
such as uterus in females
and external genitalia.

If all the five factors are perfect
the new born baby is identified
as a XY male
or XX female.
if not,
the variation affects
the sex characteristics,
involves the genital ambiguity
in such cases,
the new born is
neither XY nor XX,
the baby is identified as
a intersex or hijra.

But the question is
how many intersex take birth
in hospitals
have you seen such birth
at your local maternity centre?
may be one or two
it's rare cas
but we see hijra in dozens
in trains, buses, markets, streets,
villages, towns, cities... everywhre
from where they come?
there is a rumour
in Uttar Pradesh
many illegal centres exist
where male boys are turned into hijras
vagabonds go there
and become hijra for easy earning.