Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story

An unusual book, one written based on first hand experience. Reading it, I was very impressed at how brave people like Revathi are, even if at some level, they have little or no choice but to do what they do. India is one of the few countries that officially (census records) recognizes a "third gender" and this leads to the wrong impression that hijira's are treated fairly and respectfully in Indian society. After reading this book, I learned that nothing could be further than the truth--hijira's in India are severely maltreated and brutalized, and regularly exploited by both police and criminals as well as your petty common-garden variety, married man with "alternate proclivities." I have personally visited the Nazi death camps of Chelmno, Belzec, Sobhibhor, Treblinka, and Auschwitz-Birkenau, and have read extensively on these. After reading Revathi's life story I realized that IF I had to choose between being a hijira in India or as someone who was going to be killed in one of these death camps, I know I would choose the death camps!

An excellent book written by a hijra- detailing her life pre and post operation as well as other aspects of transgender life in India. My only complaint is I wish that the book contained a glossary at the back of the book containing/listing the foreign terms scattered throughout the text....it would've helped to further understand the writer and the context of certain passages.

It was a wonderful eye-opener for those who had no idea about the culture, problems and atrocities faced by the transgenders. It is written with a down to earth style and with utmost honesty. Hats off to Revathy and all the best for the future

Interesting & quick read

Simply amazing life journey of a girly boy from his transformation to living as a hijra throughout his life,doing prostitution for bread and butter.

This is a very compelling story that opens ones eyes to the plight of the hints, their emotional as well as physical trials and tribulations. A must read

I had often seen and heard about hijras in India, but what I heard mostly consisted of jokes, superstition, and maligning of their community. Since they are severely marginalized, most people are unconcerned about the struggles that comprise their day to day life. This book is a searing account of the difficulties faced by hijras, but also an interesting look into the way the hijra community is organized and how they look after their own.One of the things that struck me about Revathi is that although she is not always a sympathetic character, she is very honest, and incredibly brave. I was especially awed by her willingness to take great risks and her amazing resilience.I can say that this has been one of the more eye-opening books I have read in my life. I highly recommend it.

What do you understand by the word GAZE? This was one of questions a professor asked me in one of the interviews I gave for admission to a postgraduate college. I gave, what I now consider, a stupid answer related to camera and filmmaking. However, I have finally found a real and rather hard hitting answer to that question after reading this book. Transgenders face ostracization their entire life and people judge or rather hate on them every step of the way. From their clothes, to gestures, to voice, to their work, every step is scrutinized and undermined. They face that agonizing gaze everyday, and Revathi recounts all of that painstakingly in this book. Everytime she walked on the street, into the bazaar, a community temple, a public toilet or a police station, her mind was constantly trying to anticipate what everyone is thinking. Each gaze questioned her very right to exist.I had to stop every time to take a breath and absorb the pain, injustice and violence inflicted on Revathi and her community of transgenders. The sad part is that a lot of that continues unabashed even after the government passed a law - a rather flawed one - to protect them. Running away from home as a child to an unknown city all alone, returning to only face violence at home, and then fleeing again only to be trapped in a cycle of exploitation via sex work. The society entraps transgenders in this circle by taking away their right to employment, property, and protection from law. At the same time, it manages to erase them from our consciousness so that we don't see them as individuals but a nuisance to be dealt with on traffic signals. Revathi's autobiography will take you into those erased streets and bylanes where a majority of transgenders spend their lives. It will take into that whirlwind of emotions, where you do not feel at home in your body and long for freedom to express your emotions as another sex. It will impress upon you the conflict between desire and survival. And even though she felt lucky to be able to find a conventional job and a partner in later part of her life, the struggles never ended. It is difficult for us to imagine a future without a job, or continuous source of income free from violence, but for transgenders that is the norm. Still, they keep going back to their families and try to keep those bonds alive even after suffering violence, humiliation and trauma from the same people.This book might leave you dejected and disoriented. But perhaps we should feel lucky that this is all we will have to deal with.

Very interesting and well written.

Very unusual story. Not many people are aware with this kind of life.

BRILLANT