A Plea for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Laxminarayan Tripathi's Me Hijra, Me Laxmi

This paper examines gender equality and social inclusion through the lens of the autobiography of Laxminarayan Tripathi is ‘Me Hijra, Me Laxmi’, originally ‘Mi Hijda Mi Laxmi’ has written by Vaishali Rode. It is an account of Laxmi’s life, identity, abuse, and fight for hijra’s right. While thinking about gender equality and social inclusion, both are interwoven to each other. Social inclusion is the next to gender equality which actively addressing barriers that excludes individuals specifically women girls and divers gender i.e. transgender and non-binary individuals, from full participation. As a transgender Laxmi’s urges to society that ‘live and let live to them also’. Till to date society look at them as an animal which is in zoo, Laxmi agony is that though they are visible but society treat them as invisible Laxmi quoted in autobiography that “we are the only sexual minority which is very visible, though treated as invisible” (Rao & Joshi, 176). Laxmi’s autobiography discovers the lived experience of a hijra (transgender) activist in India, challenging binary gender norms, exposing systematic marginalization, and recommending for inclusion. This study reveals how the text purposes as a powerful literary intervention for gender equity and societal inclusion. Gender equality and social inclusion strengthen dignity, fairness, and equal involvement for everyone in society. They should be socially accepted and treated as normal human beings and got equal fundamental rights like education, employment and so on.