History identity and politics: Aravani movement in the state of Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The research study aims to highlight the why and how of aravani movement emergence in Tamil Nadu, India. However politics of use of terminologies, preference for various trans(gender) identity/ identities, multiple transgender sexualities, transgender passing as a woman, and procreation (to be considered a complete woman) within the location and class-cultural context also came out as important points of discussion during the research study. A qualitative research methodology was used to collect data from primary respondents such as MtF transgender (hijra/ aravani) activists, transgenders from various Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and individual transgender/ transsexual rights activists. Secondary respondents (multiple stakeholders/ actors) included cisgender men and women (also called as non-transgender advocates of transgender welfare and development) from various backgrounds such as NGOs, academicians, researchers, human rights activists, civil society members, and government officials. Purposive sampling method and snowball sampling technique were used to contact both primary and secondary respondents. In-depth unstructured and in-depth structured interviewing methods were used to collect data from both primary and secondary respondents. Group discussions were conducted with transgenders from various transgender CBOs and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Content analysis of Government Orders (G.O.s) and secondary sources such as internet, newspaper articles, NGO reports etc. were done. Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 was also filed with various state government departments. Field data revealed that there is no overarching transgender movement in Tamil Nadu. However transgender collectives exist in the form of CBOs, sangams, federations, autonomous groups (both registered and non-registered) etc. in Tamil Nadu. Transgender collectivization exhibit few features of (new) social movements.