5th Semester BA LLB — Kerala University
English for Legal Communication
MODULE 2 EXAM NOTES
The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story — A. Revathi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• A. Revathi is a prominent transgender woman, writer, actor, and activist based in Bangalore.
• She works with Sangama, a human rights organization for sexual minorities in South India.
• Her first book, Unarvum Uruvamum, documented field studies with hijras in Tamil Nadu.
• The Truth About Me (2010) is her second book — her autobiography.
• The book was originally written in Tamil and translated into English by V. Geetha.
• It is considered the first autobiography of its kind by a hijra in India.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The autobiography chronicles Revathi's journey from being born a boy named Doraisamy in a small
village in Tamil Nadu, to becoming a transgender woman and activist. Published in 2010 by Penguin
Books, it is a courageous and moving account of her fight against ridicule, persecution, and violence —
both at home and in the world outside — to find dignity and selfhood.
SUMMARY / PLOT
• Childhood: Doraisamy is born as the youngest of five children in Tamil Nadu. From childhood, he
feels and behaves like a girl — drawing kolams, doing domestic chores, dressing in female clothes,
singing and dancing.
• Family Violence: His family, unable to accept his femininity, subjects him to constant physical
violence and ridicule. He experiences deep psychological suffering due to gender dysphoria.
• Meeting Hijras: In his mid-teens, Doraisamy meets like-spirited individuals who introduce him to the
hijra community. He runs away from home to Delhi with some stolen money.
• Becoming Revathi: In Delhi, she finds a 'guru' (mentor/mother figure) in the hijra community and
begins her journey to womanhood. As Revathi, she can finally dress, walk, and speak as a woman.
• Struggles as a Hijra: Revathi faces extreme poverty, sexual violence, discrimination in healthcare
and employment, and constant danger. She describes harrowing experiences of assault and
exploitation.
• Empowerment & Activism: Despite all hardships, Revathi transforms from a victim into a powerful
activist, advocating for transgender rights and dignity through her work with Sangama.
CENTRAL THEMES
Gender Identity & Dysphoria:
The book deeply explores the inner conflict of being trapped in a body that does not match one's gender
identity. Revathi's lifelong sense of being a woman in a male body is the driving force of the narrative.
Social Stigma & Discrimination:
Hijras face pervasive rejection — from family, healthcare institutions, employers, and society at large. The
book documents discrimination across all spheres of life.
Violence & Marginalization:
Revathi vividly describes physical and sexual violence perpetrated against hijras — including forced sex
work, assault, and abuse. Violence is shown as a systemic reality, not isolated incidents.
Intersectionality:
Revathi's suffering is compounded by her lower socio-economic background, caste, and gender identity —
showing how multiple marginalities intensify oppression.
Resilience & Activism:
Despite victimhood, the book charts a journey toward empowerment. Revathi becomes a voice for change,
illustrating that survival can become resistance.
Quest for Dignity:
The overarching theme is the universal human desire for dignity, acceptance, and the right to live as one
truly is — regardless of gender.
Cultural Context of Hijras:
The book provides insight into hijra traditions, hierarchies (guru-chela system), rituals, and their complex
role in Indian society as simultaneously revered and marginalized.
HISTORICAL & CULTURAL CONTEXT
• Hijras have existed in India for centuries and were historically respected as a 'third gender' with
spiritual powers, often serving in royal courts.
• British colonialism criminalized hijra practices under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, marking a
turning point toward their systematic marginalization.
• Post-independence India largely ignored hijra rights until LGBTQ+ activism in the late 20th century
began challenging these norms.
• The Supreme Court of India recognized transgender persons as a 'third gender' only in 2014 (NALSA
v. Union of India), long after this book was written.
• The term 'Hijra' is broader than 'transgender' — it is a distinct socio-cultural identity with its own
community structures, rituals, and traditions.
NARRATIVE STYLE & TECHNIQUE
• First-Person Autobiography: Revathi uses a candid and intimate voice that draws readers directly
into her emotional world.
• Chronological Structure: The narrative moves from childhood to adulthood, providing a reflective
arc of growth and transformation.
• Vivid Imagery: Revathi uses descriptive language to make readers viscerally experience her
suffering and joy.
• Emotional Honesty: The writing is raw and unfiltered — there is no attempt to soften or sanitize the
hardships she faced.
• Social Commentary: Personal narrative is interwoven with broader critique of societal norms, gender
binaries, and institutional failures.
KEY FIGURES IN THE BOOK
• Revathi (Doraisamy): The author and protagonist. Born male, identifies as female from childhood.
Central figure of the entire narrative.
• Revathi's Guru: Her mentor and mother-figure in the hijra community in Delhi, who guides her into
hijra life and womanhood.
• Family Members: Represent societal rigidity. The brothers especially are instruments of violence
against Revathi's gender nonconformity.
• Hijra Community: Both a source of belonging and a space with its own hierarchies and hardships.
The guru-chela (teacher-disciple) structure is central.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK
• It is the first autobiography by a hijra in India — a pioneering work in transgender literature.
• Contributed significantly to public discourse on transgender rights in India and South Asia.
• Has been used in academic curricula to sensitize students to gender diversity and human rights.
• Challenges readers to confront their own biases and the inadequacies of binary gender thinking.
• Serves as both a personal memoir and a political document demanding systemic change.
LIKELY EXAM QUESTIONS
1. Write a note on the central themes of The Truth About Me by A. Revathi.
2. How does Revathi portray the struggles of the hijra community in India?
3. Discuss the significance of The Truth About Me as an autobiography.
4. What does the book reveal about gender identity and social discrimination?
5. Analyse the narrative style and technique used by A. Revathi in her autobiography.
6. Explain the historical and cultural context of the hijra community as depicted in the book.
7. How does Revathi transform from a victim to an activist? Discuss.
8. What is the relevance of The Truth About Me in the context of human rights and legal studies?
QUICK FACTS AT A GLANCE
Author A. Revathi
Genre Autobiography / Memoir
Original Language Tamil
Translator V. Geetha
Publisher Penguin Books
Year 2010
Subject Hijra / Transgender Identity, Gender Rights
Module Module 2 — 5th Sem BA LLB, Kerala University
Prepared for 5th Sem BA LLB — Kerala University | Module 2 Exam Notes