Shahria Sharmin, Call me Heena, 2025

Call Me Heena is a personal and visual exploration of the Hijra community in Bangladesh
and India — those who live beyond the male-female binary, often misunderstood and pushed
to the margins, yet deeply rooted in South Asian history.

Once revered in Hindu and Muslim traditions, Hijras held sacred roles in royal courts and religious ceremonies. Colonial laws erased that respect, branding them as outcasts. Today,
many still face violence, poverty, and social exclusion.

My journey began with Heena, who welcomed me into her life with honesty and trust.
Through her, I came to know the everyday realities and quiet resilience of this community — women who bless weddings, build chosen families, and long for love and dignity like
anyone else.

This work is my attempt to listen — to witness lives too often overlooked, and to reflect
the tenderness, strength, and survival I have encountered over more than a decade of
knowing them.