I was reading the blog on ‘online blind dating and cheating’ and was reminded of another experience in life. I was and is not into any of the online chatting business since I find it very difficult to trust anyone blindly or to trust posting my personal details online. However, one fine day, I was bored and thought of some time-pass online. Not knowing how to go about chatting, I googled into a chat room.

I moved from chat room to chat room since I was not in the mood for flirting or stupid talks or business networking and happen to enter a room full of decent people. I felt that way because people spoke about genuine issues in an acceptable language. There was this air that smelled compassion and could feel the ‘care and share’ attitude. Very polite and touching conversations.

I joined this chat room and soon began receiving IMs but none of the conversation went further than introduction stage for a while. Then I began initiating the IMs and the people I chatted with were very polite and charming. Since it is a chat room and my identity is concealed, I slowly began opening up and exchanging my honest view on topics that I would’ve otherwise given a second thought before even commenting on it.

As soon as we built rapport and felt comfortable asking a few personal questions, I took the liberty to ask few of their details. There was lot of hesitation from them and I began to feel a bit hurt since I did not think that much before responding or sharing my information with them. A little later, I began to get this strange feeling that they are not just uncomfortable but concerned that I might not accept them.

I believe that being physically or mentally challenged does not make anybody aliens. However, in this modern world where we talk of women’s rights, liberation and equality and in a world where there is place for all kinds of people, the conservative to the liberal and where Scriptures and Kama sutra advertisements are telecasted on the same channel and our media is open to discussing about gays, lesbians and homosexuality, we have an issue treating all people as humans! We simply refuse to accept the reality that eunuchs are a part of our society and they are as human as we are.

Wouldn’t you agree that they have the right to be respected? If we did that, many would have completed their education, pursued a career and lead a life quiet similar to that of ours. We refuse to give them an opportunity and then get upset when they bother us at signals or trains. I’m sure they must be facing difficulties at hotels and hospitals too. They take it all sportingly while we crack jokes on them and treat them like untouchables.

We even fight for stray dogs while we deprive our own race! Why is that even after so many writers have written books and the issue has been bought forward, the world has not been able to find an amicable solution to avoid this discrimination? Why is it that not many human rights organizations are willing to fight for their rights? May be, as a lay man, I’m asking for too much!

I’ve personally interacted with eunuchs and found them to be wonderful people with their own set of problems, dreams and hopes. I wish to reach out to them but not sure how…

I wish to mention here that in few organizations where I’ve conducted training, I did find few eunuch employees and not many treated them well there. I take this opportunity to thank those companies that employed them and a to share a word of encouragement to these eunuchs who made it in this tough bad world and set an example for the rest!