We all have heard that opposites attract each other, That the North Pole attracts South Pole and Vice Versa. Similarly, people get pulled towards opposite sexes, Males are interested in female and females are also interested in males. These proverbs relating to opposite attraction was true but the change in the society has made in incomplete. As people initiated shifting their sex and desire to spend their life with alike sexed one. The male wishing to spend their life with another male may be termed as "Gay" and in case of female its "Swached Women". In Nepal people have given common name for the both "Gay" and "Swached Women" as "Hizzadas". Throughout this article I will be indicating this word for my lenience.
It was the year 2004, during our educational tour to India, I witnessed "Hizzadas" foremost. The tour named "All India Tour" comprising of 24 days circular passage of various cities of India including Chennai, Banglore, Maisore, Ooty, Mumbai, Shimla, Chandigarh, Goa, Delhi, etc. As we stepped into the Indian Territory through Gorakhpur and the initial destination being Chandigarh, we encountered "Hizzadas" in the trains in the absence of TT (Train Tutuior). The uninterrupted train crossing up to Chandigarh was about 44 hrs and we encountered a number of Hizzada's groups. They were clad in sari with lipsticks, tika (Bindiya) on forehead, necklace, chura on hands, and so on.
Initially I considered them to be "Typical Indian lady" but I was shocked to hear masculine sound coming form these ladies, when they opened their mouth to start up a conversation with their typical gesture of clapping their hands, "Aai Hero chal chal dus dus rupaiya nikalo…." was what most of them said. They especially targeted strangers in the train and bugged them for money. Most of them asked for 10 Rupees. They did not bother the Indian passengers. I cannot fail to remember their earsplitting rhymed claps and dialogues like "Aap log bade bade ho gai hai… dus dus rupaiya de do…". If one disagrees to provide them 10 Rs. then they would pull their sari up to their Center of Gravity (CG) and even then one persists to donate then they accustomed to catch ones CG residing on train. We were set free from "Hizzadas" once we reached Chennai.. For two full days we were occupied with the task of donating 10 each to "Hizzadas" groups. In "Nepal" I’ve heard less about "Hizzadas", thought it’s unusual to stumble on "Hizzadas" and above proverbs was factual as well in case of Nepal.
What if I say "Pokhara" is inhabited with a lot of "Hizzadas"…. Once again an event in Pokhara made me recall those days spent with "Hizzadas" in India. Recently, "Hizzada Beauty Competition" was organized at "Pokhara", astonishing event being conducted by an organization named "Naulo Bihani". Contrary to Miss Nepal competition no objections were made during this contest It could also have been because the contest was conducted secretly. "Riya Gurung" was crowned as the winner of "Hizzada Beauty Competition" and "Bindiya Gautam" and "Shreeya Thapa" were awarded 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up respectively.
It has been clear that "Hizzadas" union termed as "Meritas" were found to behave like women there at Pokhara. Also, we can hit upon about 2,000 "Hizzadas" in "Pokhara" solely. After the achievement of "Jana Aandolan – II" "Hizzadas" have alertly been aggressive for their rights. It is stated clearly in "Aantarim Sambidhan" of Nepal, "No one will be discarded and will be treated badly in respect of sex". Also, interesting is the fact that their sex is marked as neither male nor female while providing them citizenship. After encountering them several times I am of the belief that they have the freedom to reside their life as per their wish and must be given the rights to do so too. If that is done I am sure those Hizzadas I met on train in India would be able to find a dignified occupation and not be stuck with begging to survive.

During hours when most women are blissfully asleep, Radha Devi Tuladhar, 35, is busy ferrying passengers along the dark deserted streets of the capital in her taxi. This continues till midnight every day.
Tuladhar is the only woman taxi driver in Nepal, according to Nepal Transportation Labor Union. Unlike driving tempos that ply along distinct routes, taxi driving requires the person at the steering to be prepared to head for any destination passenger's demand. This makes the profession unattractive to women. Apart from that, taxis have to be driven till late in the night if the driver wants to earn more, said Madhav Kafle, secretary of Nepal Taxi Drivers Association, Kalanki, explaining why there is only one woman taxi driver in the country.
But these factors do not seem to bother Tuladhar. "How long can a human being live fearing fellow humans?" she asked. "I've stopped being afraid. I've come to know that things scare you only if you allow yourself to be scared by them," she said rather philosophically.
There have been instances when Tuladhar got mugged. Once she was looted by a group of youngsters. "They snatched away my gold chain and a ring," she said of the incident that happened some four years ago near Maipi area.
"I have learnt how to take care of such risks. Now I have some tricks that protect me in difficult situations," she said, declining to reveal her tricks. Tuladhar has been driving her taxi for six years now. She believes the profession has made her a free woman.
Life taught her that freedom can only be earned and not be given.
Tuladhar was just thirteen when her parents, natives of Kirtipur, married her off to a man 25 years older. Despite the age gap, the two managed to spend ten years together. But a day came when things no longer worked for them.
"It was thirteen years ago. I started feeling that that my life had become a pain due to him. I decided to find a new life for myself and my children," she reminisced. "I never got happiness through married life, and I did not spend time looking for it after my marriage failed."
Tuladhar used to earn money through contract jobs even when she was with her husband. She used to sell wine and beer to earn for herself and her kids. But the money she earned was not enough. "I wanted to provide a good education to my children but did not have enough money. I then considered the taxi business."
Since she didn't know how to drive then, she bought a taxi in partnership and hired a driver. Unfortunately, she lost the 450,000 rupees she had invested in the taxi as her partner took away the taxi (Ba 1 Ja 2925) taking advantage of her illiteracy and ignorance. She also lost another taxi (Ba 1 Ja 3967) in which she had also invested, as she was unable to pay the balance of Rs 250,000 to the taxi owner.
But the lady with an iron will refused to give up. She got another taxi (Ba 1 Ja 3515) on loan and began driving it herself. While she still has to pay a part of the loan, she is a content woman. Her son passed SLC in first division from a boarding school this year and her daughter is doing well at AVM School.
Tuladhar understands that being a woman, it is tough for her to make people accept her in this profession. "Nobody wants to see their women folk driving a taxi. My own children suggest that I run a shop instead. But if I'm good at driving and enjoy this job why shouldn't I do it? Should I live for others or for myself?" she questions.
Today, Tuladhar earns more than Rs 17,000 per month driving her own taxi, a private vehicle in the morning, and occasionally training others to drive. Trips outside the Valley is something she never misses whenever the chance comes. "I enjoy long trips, and they pay well," she said. Driving a taxi has given her something more important: freedom.
"Fear is what all ladies should give up, as that is what makes them lag behind," she said, adding, "Freedom is the best thing life has to offer."

"Now, Nepali women can transfer their citizenship to their children and their spouse, so you need not worry." This was what Nabin Khanal, an advocate, told me three weeks ago while briefing about the new constitutional provisions in the Citizenship Act.
I had heard a lot about the amendment but I was not willing to believe in it until I heard it from a lawyer. Much elated, I rushed to a telephone booth to talk to my in-laws in India. On my way, I had a flashback of the time when my in-laws had questioned me, "Why are you talking of settling in Nepal? Our son cannot acquire the citizenship through you and he will be deprived of so many things there. Why do you want to drag him to a place where he will be treated as an 'outsider' ?" Then, their words had silenced me. My dignity was so badly wounded that I didn't want to argue with them.
But today I was going to tell them, "My dear in-laws, things have changed in Nepal. Like your son can transfer his Indian citizenship to me, now I can also transfer my Nepali citizenship to him.
"Over the phone, I managed to speak as effectively as I could. Of course, they felt awful because the new provision was not in their favor. "After marriage, the bride must adjust to the place where her husband lives. While wives come to husbands' place; you are talking of taking your husband with you," they reflected their traditional attitude in a faint voice. I could understand their sentiments but I was more attached to my emotional world which had compelled me to quit India for Nepal. A week later, I happened to attend a program organized by Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLC) with one of my journalist friends. I was shocked to hear them discussing of ways to give equal citizenship right to women.
Slowly, it dawned to me that the lawyer who had assured me not to worry about transferring my citizenship to my husband was ignorant of the amendments himself. Women were given the rights to transfer their citizenship to their kids but not to their spouse yet. And, it felt so pathetic that the amended version was still far from complete. Unlike for men, many discriminatory conditions are placed for women. For instance, mothers would lose the right to transfer their citizenship if they failed to prove themselves permanent residents of the locality.
I wonder what is it that the country finds so different between a son and a daughter? Why my brother doesn't have to worry about transferring his Nepali citizenship to his non-Nepali wife while I have to face problems with my family to do the same? Why do concerned authorities frame biased laws when they know that it determines the course of life of half of the population?
Why should they take so much time to eliminate the discriminatory provisions when the goal is clear, and the track is free? An updated version of 'Discriminatory laws in Nepal and their impact on women' is in my hand. It says, "Despite being a party to sixteen international human rights instruments, including the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW), Nepal still has at least 173 legal provisions, spread in 83 different laws, including the constitution, that have discriminatory provisions. And the adverse effects of such discriminatory provisions are economic dependency, domestic violence, lack of access to resources and exploitation in all its forms." Few of the laws got corrected after the April movement. To ensure gender equality, a lot needs to be done yet.
Many of my friends are of the opinion that it is because of the rigid, grey haired, old people that the bills which ensures 'equality' are not passed in the parliament. This might be true because their vision is totally different from that of the younger generations. It is very embarrassing to encounter such male chauvinists, who are always eager to undermine women and discourage them. At the same time, they choose to remain oblivious to female achievers around them so that their self-assumed superiority doesn't face a crisis.
At the present juncture, Nepal is eagerly awaiting for the new constitution. Involvement of such characters in the policy level should be checked in time and young, energetic, and progressive people should replace them.
So, it goes without saying that our New Nepal is ready for nothing less than an all inclusive society which is totally free from gender discrimination, among others.