HIJRA 2 - INDIA by PREMGIT
Limited Edition print 40cm x 50cm (1 of 30).
Silver gelatin print on Fomabrom baryta double-weight fibre-based paper.
35mm negative taken with Nikon F3 and 135mm F2 Nikkor lens.
Premgit has been a photographer for over 30 years and for the last 25 years has solely concentrated on making fine black and white prints using film and traditional darkroom techniques. He has a deep love for the creative processes involved in producing images of excellence in this medium which in turn has led to his work being published in books and magazines worldwide.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH
Hijra – 2, The Ardh Kumbh Mela, Nasik, 1991
Hijra are men who are intersex or transgender. They have their own Goddess and as a group are accepted within the Hindu tradition. Only very recently have the Supreme Court recognised them in law as a third gender (neither man nor woman). Hijra like to refer to themselves as Kinnar, after the mythical beings who excelled at song and dance and there are records of their communities going back into pre-Hindu times. For survival they tend to live together in households led by a guru, who arranges work for them as singers and dancers at weddings and private social events.