RITUAL REVERENCE, SOCIAL REJECTION: HUMAN RIGHTS AND EVERYDAY STRUGGLES OF HIJRAS IN ASSAM

Abstract

The struggle for human rights is universal, but for marginalized communities like the Hijras, these rights often remain aspirational rather than real. This paper explores the lived experiences of the Hijra community in Jorhat district of Assam, a region where social stigma and systemic exclusion intersect to deny them dignity and equal citizenship (Marshall, 1950). Drawing upon primary fieldwork and secondary sources, the study examines the extent of human rights violations and the limited social and political participation of Hijras in local contexts. Findings reveal a paradox: Hijras are revered during religious and cultural rituals yet simultaneously ostracized in everyday life, barred from education, employment, and healthcare. By situating these experiences within broader human rights discourses and the legal framework of India—including the NALSA (Supreme Court of India, 2014) judgment and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act—the paper highlights persistent gaps between constitutional promises and lived realities. The study argues for urgent policy reforms, grassroots sensitization, and localized interventions in Assam to ensure justice and dignity for one of India’s most marginalized groups.