Identity
Author: Arundhati Sahoo
Genre: Fiction
"Identity" by Arundhati Sahoo is a story based on the LGBTQ community and their struggles. The book portrays the story of a transgender, Sane and a prostitute, Sunny. Sane is a transgender who is struggling because of his gender. Society calls him unholy, he is not allowed to enter shops to buy as he brings bad luck to the shop, even priests also refuse him when he tells him to perform the last rites of his parents, all of this happens just because of his Gender. He is an artist, he can stitch wonderful clothes, but his business is not expanding because of his Gender. One day he crossed the Path with Sunny, a prostitute, who was sold by his father for money. She is also called unfit to live in society because of her profession, but the irony here is that those who call themselves respected in society and call her to be unfit for society are the ones who go to her to fulfil their sexual desire. They both were suffering, they both were not treated as human beings because of their gender and profession. They became the support for each other, a helping hand, and a crying shoulder. They both decided to fight with society, but how are they going to do that? Whether they will get the respect and recognition which they deserve?
Reading this book in an era where on one hand we worship Ardhnarishwar in Hindu religion, which literally means half male and half female and on the other hand, we see Transgenders as unholy when they have done nothing wrong, they were born like this having both the attributes of a male and a female. Even sometimes back they were considered as other, which could mean anything. They got their recognition as transgender sometimes back from the court, but whether society has accepted them? Whether they are getting the respect and recognition which they deserve? Whether society thinks of them as their part? The answer to all the above questions is certainly No. Indeed the society changing, but still, it is a long way to go. This is shameful that being a human we can't even respect a human and behave to them like a human just because of their Gender or Profession.
This book is an eye-opener for society which tells us that identity is not something based on Gender and Profession. It's all about the ethics, morals, and humanity that make our Identity. Every Gender should be treated equally and should be given equal opportunity to flourish.
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