Hijra is a social group, in which people are culturally defined either as transsexual or as men who become women by adopting women's dress and behavior. In Bangladesh, the Hijras are officially recognized as Third Gender by the government.
Every human being has a unique story of life. Third genders are no different from others, but the fact that differs them from a so-called first and second gender is a common story. I created this Conceptual Portrait Photo series on third genders to tell their common story in an uncommon manner using broken mirror as a prop.
I worked on third genders who are male but consider themselves as female. They express their true self through cross-dressing. They collect money to manage their day, or give pleasure at night just to survive! But they also have dreams that nobody cares and those dreams become nightmares when it clashes with the reality. Whatever destiny has given them they can’t change but they can expect the acceptance in our so-called normal life. They also admire of a life with a family, but this part of the world does not accept their unique identity. Our society does not care to realize the trauma and pain which they undergo. It does not try to understand the conflict between their mind and body. Our society is taking away Hijra people’s right to self-identify and giving the rest of the world permission to misgender them.
In my photo series the red background in the broken mirror image is the symbol of the colorful world around them that does not accept them and understands them. The broken mirror is the symbol of the disparity between body and mind. A third gender does not feel welcome in the colorful world and they are somewhat stuck between the colorful world and the reality of their shattered dreams just like the broken mirror.
On the other hand when they try to listen to their mind and dress up as women and behaves like one and try to forget all their worries, abuses and torture and makes happy world of their own at least for a brief period of time they do not get acceptance from the society and surroundings and gets all the more isolated. The world does not accept them and shuts its door for them. This is represented by the black background.
Before starting this project they were an unknown territory for me and to be frank I was afraid of them and their general approach with the people surrounding them. But when I came closer to them and got to know them deeply, I felt their pain and sorrow and also enjoyed the company of them during many celebrations and eventually, they became my friends. The unknown territory that I was once afraid of became the source of inspiration of life. Each of their stories, their struggle of life became a life changing experience for me and gave me strength to fight for my own.