In India the Hijra community is known as Transgender as there is no word for literal translation of the ‘ Hijra’. The hijra community in India is a socially organised community which is based on ‘Hierachy System’. The Hijras follow the certain customs and traditions of their own. There are sub groups and different terms in Hijra population know across the continent of India as Hijras, Thirunangai/Aravani, ShivShakthi, Yellamma, Jogta, etc.

The term “hijra,” in India, is used to refer to transgender women. The country has an estimated 1 million hijras, with communities recorded back more than 4,000 years. They've had a sanctioned place in Indian society and culture throughout time. But their visibility in history with ancient myths bestowing them special powers to bring luck and fertility hasn't protected the hijra.

The British raj during the colonial rule first classified the hijra as a “tribe” at a time when the Raj also outlawed all tribes, hijras have faced severe harassment and discrimination. Hijras are usually rejected by their families and communities once they reveal their gender identity, and they are almost always forced to leave the family home. 

Ostracised by loved ones and harassed constantly by police, Hijras instead from small groups for their protection. These groups are led by a “guru” or mother figure. At their best, the groups can be supportive, nurturing and family-like. Out of a necessity to protect themselves, Hijras even developed their own language — a mixture of Hindi, Farsi, Urdu and a little Arabic. Most hijras are uneducated and, combined with the discrimination they face, gaining mainstream employment is made almost impossible. Hijras work mostly in the sex trade, or beg, or earn their living singing and dancing at celebrations of births and weddings