The Wikipedia article on Hijras is an interesting read
The intro text from that page for those interested:
In the Indian subcontinent, hijra[n 1] are transgender, intersex, or eunuch people who live in communities that follow a kinship system known as guru-chela system.[5][6][7][8] They are also known as aravani, aruvani, and jogappa.[9] The term is used in Pakistanas khawaja sira, the equivalent of transgender in the Urdu language.[10]
In Western terms, most hijras are feminine-identified people assigned male at birth. Hijras are officially recognised as a third gender throughout countries in the Indian subcontinent,[11][12][13] being considered neither completely male nor female. Hijras' identity originates in ancient Hinduism and evolved during the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) and Mughal Empire (1526–1707).[14][15]
Many hijras today live in well-defined and organised all-hijra communities, led by a guru.[7] These communities have consisted over generations of those who are in abject poverty or who have been rejected by or fled their family of origin.[16] Many of them are sex workers.[17]
The word hijra is a Hindustani word.[18] It has traditionally been translated into English as "eunuch" or "hermaphrodite", where "the irregularity of the male genitalia is central to the definition".[19] However, in general hijras have been born male, with only a few having been born with intersex variations.[20] Some hijras undergo an initiation rite into the hijra community called nirvaan, which involves the removal of the penis, scrotum and testicles.[17]
Since the late 20th century, some hijra activists and non-government organizations have lobbied for official recognition of the hijra as a kind of "third sex" or "third gender", as neither man nor woman.[21]Hijras have successfully gained this recognition in Bangladesh and are eligible for priority in education and certain kinds of low paid jobs.[22][23] In India, the Supreme Court in April 2014 recognised hijras, transgender people, eunuchs, and intersex people as a "third gender" in law.[5][24][25]Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have all legally accepted the existence of a third gender, with India, Pakistan and Nepal including an option for them on passportsand certain official documents.[26]
