Role of Family and Gharana System in the Third Gender Life

Abstract

In India, the third gender has long been the most demeaned community because they faced many forms of issues like rigid gender norms, social stigma, and widespread discrimination. In fact, their family, in which they were born, also becomes an area of elimination due to the ignorance of their gender non-conformity. To counter this marginalisation, they form their own kinship systems and families, known as the gharana system, as being the most prominent. This paper examines the role of gharanas as social institutions that enable the third gender to endure, find belonging, and develop uniqueness. Gharanas are substitute family arrangements based on identity rather than blood ties. In this family, there is a guru-chela relationship, one guru maa in every toli that offers many types of support, such as emotional support, cultural education support, maintaining social discipline, and providing economic aid. Along with this support, gharanas provide a sense of belonging, security, and stability that are often absent in traditional families. The paper also discusses the evolving nature of gharanas in modern India, especially regarding legalisation and increased social awareness. Some third-gender individuals are being reintegrated into family systems and mainstream institutions due to their Education, employment, and legal rights framed for them. The study uses primary sources and qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and informal interactions with third-gender community members, to capture their experiences and views on social survival and the changing recognition of third-gender communities in India, emphasising the role of families.