Definitions For Hijra

Etymology 1

From {{bor, en, hi, हीजड़ा}}.

Alternative forms

{{alter, en, hejra, hijada, hijara, hijrah}}

Noun

HIJRA (plural HIJRAs) A eunuch in South Asia, especially one who dresses as a woman. from 19th c. A (typically biologically male or intersex, but sometimes biologically female) member of a somewhat feminine third gender found in India and Pakistan.

Usage notes

This term is sometimes considered offensive in Pakistan. A polite alternative is the Urdu خواجه سرا, tr=khwaja sara, khwaja sira,', A Second Look at Pakistan's Third Gender: The April 25th (2009) decision by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to officially recognize transgender people as the third gender marked a groundbreaking development that has gone relatively unnoticed by the outside world. It was the most significant judgment in a series of decisions the Court has taken over the last year and a half aimed at protecting the rights of the Khawaja Sara – a term encompassing transvestites, transsexuals and transgender people. There are signs that these decisions are already starting to bear fruit in this conservative nation of 187 million people. “It really is unbelievable” says Sanam Faqueer, an activist from the southern city of Sukkur and focal person on Khawaja Sara''' issues for the provincial government of Sindh. “Finally there is a real chance our problems are starting to be addressed.” although this term is rare in English. Gender activists in Pakistan have promoted khwaja sira as a politically correct alternative to hijra."Khwaja Sara: 'Transgender' Activism and Transnationality in Pakistan" by Faris A. Khan. In South Asia in the World: An Introduction (2014).

Translations

Bengali: হিজড়া German: Hijra Hindi: हीजड़ा Japanese: ヒジュラー (hijurā) Russian: хи́джра, f Urdu: ہیجڑا (hījṛā, sc=ur-Arab), خواجه سرا (xawājā sarā)

See also

zenana

References

Etymology 2

From {{bor, en, ar, هِجْرَة, t=departure, exodus}}. {{doublet, en, hegira}}.

Noun

HIJRA (plural HIJRAs) {{alternative case form of, en, Hijra}} Any similar flight or emigration to a better place.

Usage notes

Usually capitalized in reference to the specific event or the Islamic calendar based upon it.

Translations

Arabic: هِجْرَة, f Armenian: հիջրա Portuguese: hégira, f