UK eunuch's cry falls on deaf ears at Becharaji

Palanpur, Mar 20 (UNI) Stephen, an undergraduate from Ruskin College of Oxford Univesity, is here in India to be part of the eunuchs at the temple town of Becharaji, but is upset as the eunuchs here are not willing to admit him into their fold until he undergoes the traditional ritual, including possible castration.

His stay at Becharaji, 45 km from Mehsana, for the past week has been a frustrating wait. ''We can not allow a person until we are sure that he is a perfect eunuch as per our tradition and requirement,'' said Sudha Mataji, one of the heads of the local group in Becharaji.

While Stephen, aged 28, is neither male or female and could easily claim to be an eunuch, the Becharji tradition is not ready to accept him in the bandwagon without undergoing a painful ritual that seems to be part of formal procedure. He said ''I have come to India with great expectation to enjoy being in their company but I do not want to undergo the ordeal of a symbolic castration.'' While the eunuchs are not very enthusiastic to admit Stephen into their fold, one of the eunuchs remarked ''Ours is a separate and rigid sect, followers of Goddess Becharaji are bound by traditions and rituals.'' Asked as to how he came to India, he replied ''Gujaratis living in London advised me to come here to seek pleasure in the company of co-transgender. ''Right since my childhood I dreamt of leading a life of a female. I wore dress of women and did all that a female does to enhance her beauty. I also like Indian women. Their dresses are quite befitting to my choice of wearing sarees, salvars and applying the 'bindi' on forehead.'' ''We don't have an organised group of the co-transgender in my country like here in India,'' he said.

Stephen is seriously considering their demands and said ''Even if they do not admit me into their fold I will still not leave this place.'' Instead of going back home I will urge them to reconsider their terms. ''I will stay here and continue to offer my prayers to the goddess,'' he said.

UNI