These eunuchs can they produce offspring? After watching the documentary on tv today, much as i would want to respect their rights to personal decision, i think the whole exercise is horrifying. Against nature and against GOD. Romans 1.

i absolutely love your work on the film. its relly heroic! in india and also pakistan, eunuch's are disgraced like nothing. these people, if given a chance could do so many things with there lives. its sad how the society has push them over the edge. i hope people are aspired by your documentry!

saw it last nite. 2 thumbs up!
-saad

Watched this film a few minutes ago. Nothing like the triumph of the human spirit over subjucation. it brought me to tears. We are a lot more than the package we come in...dont be deceieved. Tomi Aman

Hi..
I saw this program this afternoon and wonder of that. They sould be treated as we treat our beloved ones. Why GOD send them with such way...

Hoque
Bangladesh

gender identity is like an ocean in which we are only drops of water? Meaning there are an infinate number of genders or an infinate number of male and female personality traits? What are you going for here? Barring (or rather regardless of chromosomal mishaps that might alter our physical bodies) I believe we are all either male or female. Look at history, look at reproduction, look at the animal kingdom, each have defined roles, the fact that some species switch from male to female etc does not change the fact that each individual form has defined roles that they do not deviate from. So I'm not judging anyone's personality or affinity/attraction or difficult identity crisis but what exactly do you mean that gender identity is like an ocean...? I thought there were just two with a lot of unfortunate or just different circumstances affecting how we felt about ourselves and those two. Look forward to your reply.

You should have read the book:"Neither man nor woman: Hijras of India" by Serena Manda. In the book, those special people -Hijras not Eunuch - are interestingly described in detail. Their gender identity swings around the middle of the borderline beween men and women during the course of their life.

IT WAS A FAIR PORTRAYAL.BUT EMPHASIS ON SEX TRADE WAS NOT TRUE.IN INDIA THEY GIVE BLESSINGS.THEY MAY WORK LIKE MAFIAS SOMETIME .BUT TO SAY THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN SEX BUSSINESS WONT BE TRUE,IF YOU SEE THE LARGE PICTURE.I DONT THINK THERE MAY BE MANY PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH A EUNUCH ,ATLEAST IN INDIA.IF YOU HAD TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE IN INDIA ,ONLY GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE CAN FIND THEM.
KAPIL-INDIA

Harsh beauty was an interesting piece.What i did not understand is if the eunuchs have breasts or not is it physical or emotional?

"Nancy knows"--new CNN promo slogan

NANCY men Believes they is Saved by GRACE of GOD

I admire your courage and tenacity to have managed to study this community of Eunuchs which is like a parallel world - completely and eliberately isolated from the highly prejudiced "real" world that you and I belong to.
I must also share with you, that thanks to my wife, we made some amazing friends in this community. And I found that they are full of love, compassion and fully committed to their friendships....the more I got to know thwm the more I felt humbled.Just to share one gesture of theirs which lmost brought tears to my eyes...I and my wife had moved to China for a year and "she" - well, I am using feminine gender since that is how they think of themselves - ised her meagre earnings to make an international call to my wife in China and told us that she and her "Guru" have thought of us sevral times and miss us. She made sure that she visited us when we came back for a short vacation.
Praveen Tripathi
gurudev_praveen@yahoo.com
P.S. I guess you have read the Chapterr on eunuchs in "The City of Djinns" by William Dalrymple. If not, you must read it. And how can I get to watch your film, and perhaps even share it with the few eunuch friends?

Hello
being a transgender person is not easy, specially here in Asia.
this dokumentary was very touching for me, i saw sisters with the same lifes I have.
thank you

J.B.

I think the description of this program was far more interesting then the program itself. Only a half hour program that barely touched the surface of the story, in my opinion. I have spent time in India (a total of 4 months) and have learned about the eunuchs without even trying, so I found the program very disappointing, especially after 2 years of living with them and "research". It would have been much more interesting to have a real look at the festivals, what the eunuchs do and more into how they live their lives.

I have to admit that after watching the feature on eunuchs i was flabbergasted. I had never really known much about them. I was wondering whether they undergo procedure surgically because some eunuchs did say that they went to hospital, or are they born that way?
I must admitt that i have a renewed respect for human diversity.

I must admit that when i watched the feature on eunuchs i was quite moved. It is a sad tale, but it does open your eyes to the diversity and divisions that exist in our world today.
I was wondering whether the eunuchs were born or whether some had undergone medical procedures? If i am not wrong i do remember some of the eunuchs mentioning that they had been to hospital.

I think you have done a good service, but I also think it could have been better delivered. Like Anonymous 7 said, it would be nice to see them live an everyday life... something close to an ethnographic documentary. One would expect that that would be possible after doing two years of research with them. In any case, one should praise the efforts of the producer(s) for at least giving those who knew nothing about them a brief introduction.

I believe the film is a 30 minutes version of the film, If you "google" it,another longer version of the film comes up.

Really nice work!!!! I really enjoyed watching your piece. It is very much commendable.!!

hi!
i love your work! but somehow the picture wasn't complete. i saw another documentary about eunuchs years ago and it showed them being really poor and ostracized. i even saw some eunuchs begging for money and when people dont give donations, they curse and give them bad luck.
anyway, i admired your work. keep it up!

kudos to CNN ( I can't believe I am actually saying this..) for showing programs that are actually done in a more "film" manner, I enjoyed the beauty of the images and the thought behind music, interesting story,a far cry from the usually television produced documentaries.
Sure, this program could be improved,not enough info here, too much there... all of the films I saw are, but still foxs,this is upgraded television for me.
Elvis.

Eunuchs are nothing new to society. They are mentioned in early Bible times. As a christian I often come across Eunuchs mentioned by name and role and/or function in the Bible. Check out the book of Esther. The most interesting passage to me about Eunuchs in the Bible is the one in Acts 8: 26 - 39, where the Holy Spirit leads Phillip to a eunuch who is the finance minister of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. Phillip finds him on his way back from pilgrimage to Jerusalem in his chariot. He is reading scripture of Isaiah. The eunuch doesn't understand a certain scripture and this leads Phillip to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. The eunuch accepts the Gospel and asks to be baptized! What is evident is Gods love towards all humankind whether you're a 'good' eunuch or a 'bad' eunuch - God loves us all and wants us all to return to Him. It is our choice to turn to prostitution, lust, homosexuality etc (Romans 1) but by His Spirit God will have all men and women unto Himself for it is written that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God Bless! Andre

This documentary is a snapshot of the eunuch culture of India. It points out the positions that hijra's take for employment and life. It also points out that we are prisoners of our bodies.

Now changing the focus to the American community that I live in and observe, I see that we here have sexual identity problems. I know so many men that are past typical marriage age who are obsessed about finding female marriage partners yet their attempts for dong so only end in failure, and no hope. And yet these males still seem to be dominated by their hormones. Could it be that the eunuch lack of sexual interest frees eunuchs to become powerful and to be able to explore other creative areas rather than those sexually motivated? Could we be more open and realize that not all males are alpha males?
There seems to be a horrible demeaning attitude toware males in our American culture. It is amazing to me that any male could believe in marriage enough to marry a woman. Yet I know this, and I am married, and yes it is true that I wanted to believe that men are valued, have a role in parenting, and have roles more than just bringing home paychecks to our women to spend as Dr Laura seems to focus on so often in her radio broadcasts.
Perhaps to be a eunuch should be a choice here too. Some years ago while grouped in the back of the entrance to the sanctuary of the church with other males at the stage of life where prostate is a big worry and problem to men. At that place men share their worries about their prostate care, and itstill is a re-occuring topic. Later Bill stated to me that he had castration surgery and that it was better than he thought, and that had he only known He would have opted for it at an earlier stage.

Wow! It is definitely an eye opener for me. As an aspiring gay rights activist, I definitely believe that they should be treated and respected fairly and equally as we treat other people. Their stories definitely moved me. However, I am partly disagree with the eunuch politician. Yes, it's good to fight for the eunuch's rights, but it is ironic for her to say those kinds in the streets are "fake." We all live diferently, and I am sure there are those kinds who live as prostitutes because of their status and outlookin life.

Anyway, I love it!!!! A showcase of transexuals that i8s so rare despite the fact that homosexuals are gaining more freedom than in the past.

This version of Harsh Beauty was edited for Television, there is a longer version that covers many of the topics that were left out in this one, (mainly an issue of television time slot.)
If you are interested in the full version,please contact either the distributor or the filmmaker directly

To me was quite hard to imagine that homosexuality is everywhere even in distant and poor places and why not in the conservative eastern world.So I have to admit that we are all the same human being and choices or destiny have nothing to do with the way we live or the way we are.Religiously speaking might be wrong certain choices but we as human can not judge this at all.

I really don't know whether your programme was good or bad but the way she said "Why have we born like this and no one should born like us". This only indicates how our behavior is towards them. I feel we as citizen of the world has responsibility to treat them as living beings with respect.

This documentary flies in the face of everything that is good or right. It is crass nonsense that you can BECOME a woman! The standards that we 'straight' people forced to endure are painful to the soul and damaging to the spirit.

This is really an eye opener and I believe India is not the only country having such a community, although they may be in different forms.
Great job you have done especially when you're not a local in India.

uffff i hv just saw it on website,i never heard them before it was horrifying speacially that male organ surgery agh but its all true GOD.

I wish I could have watched the show but U know news channels don't work these days in Pakistan. Just wanted to add that Eunchs have very difficult life especially at old age. There should be some place provided Govt where they can live especially in old age, and have facilities available.

The story is interesting and the moral behind it is to learn how to accept each other regardless of our appearance. These people have parents that loved them all their lives. These parents raised their children and loved them for no interest. A true love is the love of the soul. People must not care about the physical appearance of people. Pity that eunuchs are generally frequented for sex and not for love. The part of no man staying with a eunuch forever is sad. I'm glad the community is there providing each other the affection they lack in the one-to-one love relation.

However, I would love to see another documentary about eunuchs elsewhere in the world. These who become eunuchs living with a master. The path they walk after which they become eunuchs. The paradigm, state of mind, devotion and finally either depression, or zen life.

hi,i love your work.it's inspiring!
how could eunuch be marginalize in social status and be invited when someone get married.so it's true that there's a social class in india?i wish i could get more ideas about india.

I like very much your film !!!
I like india too.

Donish

http://blog.libero.it/donishonair

Ofcourse I watched this program with much interest although this was aired in a very disturbing way with lots of interuptions breaking the attention of the viewer.

That is the style of airing TV programs in this part of the world (Sri Lanka)

Truly the subjest need lots of attention.

Since almighty GOD created all and everything on earth and elsewhere at the initial stages he wouldn't have felt the error in his program where the DNA mutation create things that he wouldn't have desired. Hence he needs to send a patch or an upgrade to the sytem as the error is felt badly and the undesired outputs are increasing in an enarmouse propotion. That is if it is GOD work.

In the other hand, I feel that this could be another step of the evolution. As we all know the increase in the gender disparrity , imbalance in the gender in population, increased homosexuality and unnatural sexula desires (other than for breeding) of men and wemon amply demonstrates that a definite change in the gender is in evolution. Therefore this could be the primitive stages of the evolution which prepares for the survival of human being ultimatly embodieying man & woman in one frame so that irrespcetive of the sexual desire still the humankind will continue to survive.

Any Comments Please

I think it was awesome that you took the time to highlight the plight of these misunderstood people! They are humans too and what they are is no doing of their's!

Eunuchs ARE human. Period. So are Women, who are marginalized and discriminated against even now, even in the most developed nations like the USA. Indeed, we are all biased, bigots, racists-discriminatory, since our childhood. But, it depends on all of us to educate and grow ourselves in thought & deed, to emerge out of our frailties of BEING THUS.
There is no excuse for anyone to say that we've been this way (racists) from way back when...
We gotta learn from this Eunuch tale to better test our inner will to treat all as equals, humans and as ONE! Becoz that's what we all are-One.
Including all religions, faiths, colors, or gender!
We better believe it and PRACTISE it!
And that's the Fundamental TRUTH!
Whether we like it or NOT!
Good luck-Soul-Searching...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj2nsXMPAx8

its time immortal that they live a disgracefull life and trully speaking our writing about their tragic life wont help?
good work zaka. but thay need some serious help

saw the work yesterday and i think that it did some kind of justice to the community. They are people like anyother and have the same emotions and same sense of the real world as any "normal" person. They do fight for their survival in this world and have a clear picture of what the future holds..good and bad. But the choices they make are courageous as i feel the majority of us are scared to make the choice of who we should really be or want to be and live our lives the way the world wants us to be.

An interesting introduction to transsexuality, indeed. And apparently an eye-opener for many. Transsexuality is considerably more common in Southeast Asia than in the Western world, but even here in Asia (as the documentary bore witness to) transgendered people are sadly met by a lot of misunderstanding, hostility and ridicule from the regular main-stream hetero brigade to whom the world appears to be only black and white. I believe that societies' reactions to transsexuality is much more "controversial" than transsexuality itself. The transsexuals I'm blessed with as friends are not controversial at all, not the least bit. They are as normal as any one else, except for the fact that they have the courage to be who they really are in spite of the hardships they must endure. I salute every single transgendered person on the planet! And for the record, I'm not transsexual myself, but my fiancee is.

hi..............
i saw this prog. 2,3 times
i like u r work
and it vary bad thig happend whith them by god
i say only one think to all
keep smilying and be happy

I must say I felt scared about what this world is turning into after I watched the documentary on Eunuchs over CNN.
But I equally feel this matter can be easily dealt with through the concerted action of the Indian government and human right organisations around the world.
If the government provides jobs and other opportunities to its citizens while the citizens themselves hold up to good morals and stop marginalizing and ostracizing these eunuchs,things will get better for India.It is ironical that a castrated person goes in for illicit and soliciting sex.It is because they are poor and will cling on anything to get money.
My appreciations go to the crew of CNN and others who did this good job atleast a problem has been identified and thus needs a solution.

I don't think this against nature. Is a child born with one leg or arm against nature? Are co joined twins against nature? No they were born that way just as eunuchs or transsexuals are. Yes the truth is sometimes horrifying especially when we're exposed outside the cocoons that we live in.

There is nothing astonishing in this part of world. india have so much to disclose to the world. even i saw this movie but it was ok

I’m watching the documentary for the 2nd time this week. I have to say...it opened me in many ways, to think of how bad society treats people in general. Humans treat animals with more respect then they treat these women who have changed there gender. I feel sorry for the lives that they have to live because people make it very hard for them to go far. But i'm extremely proud of the women in India who have chosen to show the world and tell of their story to us. I do believe there are many more out there who suffer more pain and who have no courage to stand out and speak and live in secret.
It definitely touched me, when they talk of dying alone without any family.

thmbs up to the production crew of this story. this is my first time of knowing and seeing something like this.i want to use this opportunity to remind those who are involved or are intending to become one to know that God loves them but does not want us to misuse our body.

I do not understand why reporters always choose to feature , if i may, the dark side of India.Indians have made their mark in almost every field, they are omniscient and omnipresent. Starting from Singapore to the US, they are there in every sector, competent and giving the local inhabitants a run for their jobs. I am amazed by the level of ignorance towards India that most westerners have. I was once asked by some americans if they need to carry water when they visit India.India is progressive, rich in culture and family values, is traditional with a modern outlook.We have come to accept Eunuchs as apart of the society and understand that some people are made differently and we cant blame them for that.

Well done Allessandra. You should consider coming to Cambodia. Many interesting stories for you here. When you left for India from Brussels who knew you'd become such a star. Cheers!

From Michelle in Phnom Penh

Regarding North American Union plans, and the Amero. I was at a meeting of a small political party here in Vancouver, Canada on the weekend, and someone brought in two display cases of various Amero coins. Claimed they were obtained secretly from a US mint in (I believe) Colorado.

Whats is going on? Canada's Govt. claims ignorance of the whole proposal, but word is leaking out. NAFTA has been bad enough.

Thought I'd share this detail with you. This secrecy is undemocratic!
Worried in Canada