“…In as much as you have done it for the least of My brothers, you have done it unto Me…”

Bangladesh, I was reading, had allowed her eunuchs numbering over a 100,000 to cast their votes in the elections that have just got over.

Bravo Bangladesh!

A few years ago, a friend of mine asked me whether I'd help him start a restaurant. I agreed and all I asked was a corner table that would be mine from where I could keep my laptop and do my writing. However every once in a while my friend had to leave the hotel and for want of anybody else I sat in for him as cashier and handled the money people paid as they ate and left.

I quite enjoyed doing this.

One day as I sat on the high chair, counting out the change to those who'd just eaten while keeping an eye on the waiters and the service they were giving the customers I felt a presence near my left side. I was a little irritated, because whoever it was was neither coming in nor leaving but partially blocking the outside light. I couldn't take my eyes off the counter as I was dolling out change but from the corner of my eye soon made out it was someone with a sari.

“Five rupees!” said a harsh voice from the sari wearer, and I turned in surprise all along assuming it was a woman and realizing now it was a hijra.

“No five rupees!” I said, “But you can go in and have a cup of tea!”

The eunuch turned to me, “Free?”

“Yes,” I said, “Free!”

He walked in and stood at a table, “Sit!” I said, and he sat down surprised. The waiter looked at me shocked, “One chai!” I said and went back to my job. I looked up in time to see the waiter bringing the tea with no saucer. I quickly asked him to come to me. “First give a glass of water like you do for the others then a cup of tea served with a saucer!”

It was a little later when the eunuch finished his tea and walked to my counter. I felt his hand on mine, “Thank you!” he said.

“You enjoyed the tea?” I asked.

“Yes, but I am thanking you for treating me like a human being!”

I had tears in my eyes as the hijra pressed my hand warmly again and started walking away, then suddenly turned around, came back and put a five-rupee coin on my counter.

“No,” I said, “It's on the house!”

“But I want to pay!” he said, smiled and walked away.

I have never forgotten that incident and so often when I hear about eunuchs being mocked at, gays being ridiculed and others less fortunate than us being treated badly I think of that visitor with a sari who dropped into my hotel that day many years ago. All he wanted was to be treated equally and with that he was willing to pay his contribution to society like every one else.

Bravo Bangladesh for the bold yet kind step you've taken!

We too should learn to be kind and understanding in our relationships with these our less privileged brothers and sisters, ones who aren't as blessed as we are. And when we do, we will help them take their rightful places in society.