Book review on the Novel

The Truth About Me : A Hijra Life Story by A. Revathi

Done by

B. Saffran Jameela

21BEN018

III.B.A.English Literature

Revathi's novel "The Truth About Me" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of gender
identity and societal norms in India. Through the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and
acceptance, Revathi delves into the complexities of being transgender in a culture that often
marginalizes and stigmatizes those who do not conform to traditional gender roles. The narrative
is raw and emotionally resonant, offering readers a glimpse into the struggles, triumphs, and inner
turmoil experienced by transgender individuals. Revathi's writing is powerful and evocative,
tackling difficult subject matter with sensitivity and grace.

Revathi, is a transgender writer and social activist, she is a part of an NGO Sangama, fights for the
civil rights of the transgenders. She is from Namakkal, a township in Tamilnadu, later she moved
to Delhi and to Mumbai to revolutionize her gender and now she is settled in Bengaluru. Her first
book, Unarvum Uruvamum (Feelings of the Entire Body) which was published in 2004 chronicled
the line of field studies with hijras in the majesty of Tamil Nadu.

This novel primarily talked about the authentic stories of the people belonging to the Hijra
community in South India. ‘The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story’, is her second paperback
and her autobiography. It was written in Tamil and was translated by V. Geetha in the year 2010.
Revathi initially released this book in English and not in Tamil, inorder to save herself from the
rage of her family. Finally, in 2011, the book was published in Tamil as ‘Vellai Mozhi’. She also
made her acting debut in a Tamil movie called 'Thenavattu’ , which was released in 2008 , in which
she acted with two more transgender lead actors . ‘The Truth About Me’ is an intrepidly brave
and moving autobiography of a hijra who fought ridicule, harrying, and violence equally in her
homewards and outside to recover her days of dignity. Revathi was a boy by birth but felt like a
girl. In telling her life story, Revathi expresses her deep uneasiness of being in the wrong body
that she had been suffering since childhood. She fled to Delhi to escape constant violence in her
family and community and joined a house of hijras. Her life became an amazing run of extremely
menacing physical and psychological journeys to grow to be a woman and to find love. The smirch
of being a hijra commences from the family itself. Right from the early days of childhood, the
family and friends fail to accept them as they are. The community in which Doraisamy (Revathi)
was born is a very traditional one and it gives much importance to its social status. For them, an
individual is a social being than a single entity. They placed individuality as secondary to social
approval.

Revathi spent most of her childhood days with uneasiness when she tried to negotiate her body in
harmony with her inner desires and innate talents. At times, she got punishment for her feminity.
She fled to join the hijra community in Dindigul as she had long failed to prevent herself from
expressing her innate feelings. After her brother learned of her friendship with other hijras, she
was subjected to more torture. Since hijra’s are signaled out as stigmatized persons and the society
recognizes them to be socially and biologically incapable of performing the expected roles of the
male or female gender. They, therefore are not accepted as part of the mainstream and thus left to
lead a life of their own. They are denied of their basic rights in the name of sex, sexuality, caste,
and religion. They have to either compromise themselves or engage in a struggle.

Overall, "The Truth About Me" is a compelling and important work that sheds light on the human
experience and the quest for identity and acceptance. She gives her best to empower hijras and
trans people to speak out against oppression and discrimination, and to celebrate their identity and
existence. The book reveals her hidden and suppressed identity as a hijra, third gender in India.
The various forms of oppression she faces and discrimination of the society that demise her
existence and dignity