Woes of the Widows of Aravan: A Queer Reading of Kalki Subramaniam’s We Are Not the Others

Transgenders are sexual minorities whose sexual orientation differs from that of the binary. Both trans men and trans women come under the umbrella term “transgenders”. Although they are widely referred to as hijras, some prefer to call them as pottai, girl boy, Ali, Number 9, female thing and so on behind their backs. The book, We Are Not the Others: Reflections of a transgender Activist is written by a Tamil transgender activist and artist Kalki Subramaniam. It encompasses her poems, anecdotes, illustrations and articles, and through them, she lets the readers know what it is like to be born as transgender in India, especially in a small town like Pollachi. She blatantly says that she does not seek sympathy, nor does she expect anybody to compliment how beautiful she looks for a transgender. The only thing she wants is for her voice to be heard and understood. This paper, “Woes of the Widows of Aravan: A Queer Reading of Kalki Subramaniam’s We Are Not the Others”, explicates the plight of transgenders and their psychological turmoil as they struggle to find a steady footing in this heteronormative society. The paper further analyses the book through a queer perspective and pinpoints the lack of inclusivity in the society.

Keywords: Hijras, Transgenders, Violence, Subjugation