These Indian transgenders fought against discrimination and became achievers
It is not long since transgenders have been granted the right to identify themselves as the third gender, as per a Supreme Court ruling in April 2014. With around two million transgender people in the country, who live in the fringes of the society, marginalised against, abused and, most often in poverty, India has not been kind to them. But, among these are some who have fought against the hurdles and prejudism to stand out in their chosen fields.
Here, we take a look at these achievers and their inspiring stories:
Madhu Bai Kinnar: She stood against BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji, defeated him to win the municipal elections, and went on to become the mayor of Raigarh, in Chhatisgarh. She stood as an independent, funding her campaign by singing and dancing on the Mumbai-Howrah train route. Born in 1980, Madhu Bai Kinnar was previously Naresh Chauhan, a Dalit boy, who was mocked severely for being different. She was married off by her family and even ‘fathered’ three children, despite her sexual orientation. She left everything and went on to live with the other transgenders.
Shabnam Mausi: A member of the Madhya Pradesh State Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2003, Shabnam Bano Mausi, is the first transgender Indian to be elected to public office. Through her activism, she inspired a number of transgenders to abandon their traditional roles such as dancing at marriages and births, prostitution and begging, to take on more organised and mainstream work.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi: Born as a boy into a Brahmin family, transgender rights activist, film actress and Bharatnatyam dancer, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, is the first celebrity transgender person and the first transgender to represent Asia Pacific in the UN in 2008. While she did find support from her family, she was laughed at and called a ‘homo’ and ‘gay’, while growing up. It was in standard five that she got in touch with Ashok Row Kavi, a gay journalist, who encouraged her to continue with her education and pursue her passion – dance. Laxmi actively fights for the rights of transgenders and has been running Astitva, an NGO that stands for the rights of the sexual minority in the country.
Kalki Subramaniam: The journalist, writer, actor and activist is also the first transgender entrepreneur in the country. Kalki fought against a childhood where she was ridiculed and discriminated against for her sexual orientation, by studying hard and earning two Masters degrees – in Journalism and Mass Communication, and International Relations. Kalki is the founder of Sahodari foundation for the transgender community and has also acted in a film – Narthaki, a Tamil language film on the life of a transgender person.
Akkai Padmashali: A Human Rights activist, Akkai Padmashali is the first transgender person to get a driver’s licence with ‘female’ as the gender. Born Jagadeesh – a boy, in a middle class family in Bangalore, Akkai faced a lot of harassment as a child. While her brother was the first family member to accept her as she was, her parents would take her to local healers and doctors in the hope of ‘curing’ her. At the age of 12, confused and depressed, she tried to kill herself twice. Akkai worked as a sex worker at Bangalore’s Cubbon Park before joining Sangama an NGO that works with sexual minority. Today, she actively fights for their rights, and is the founder-member of Ondede , which aims to create awareness about sexuality and the right to choose one’s sexual orientation.
Bharati: Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, India’s first transgender pastor has a congregation of 45 parishioners, including 14 families. Born a boy, and discriminated against since childhood, Bharati embraced Christianity at the age of 12, when a sister at a Church took her in. She joined the Evangelical Church of India and has conducted baby showers and christenings.
Manabi Bandyopadyay: She made waves as India’s first transgender principal. Born Somnath in the Naihati district of West Bengal, Manabi Bandyopadyay underwent a sex operation in 2003. She completed a PhD, became an associate professor in Bengali, and then went on to become the first transgender principal, at the Krishnanagar Women’s College. She is also the author of the novel, Endless Bondage of the Hijras.
