Without a single doubt, whether it is in India or anywhere else in the world, transgenders have to face a lot of social acceptance issues, and you can’t deny that fact. Look around you, you’ll definitely see people discriminating against transgender people, and that’s just a really bad reputation for a nation as a whole. They’re human too, so why not treat me like male and female? That’s the main question! Though, despite all these challenges, there have been some transgender people who have thrived on their own without needing anyone’s help. And today, we’re here to talk about the top 10 famous iconic transgenders of India. Alright, here we go then.
1. Joyita Mondal
Did you know that Joyita Mondal is the very first transgender judge in India? Just so you know though, she was appointed a judge at the Lok Adalat of West Bengal in 2017, thereby breaking the barriers of a profession that was mostly closed to her community, you know? Like, her early days were full of struggles, and she dropped out of school after being discriminated against but managed to turn her suffering into destiny by giving the rest of her life to transgender activism. For now, she judges as a true force of activism in the aspect of justice and equality and motivates many others from her community.
2. Manabi Bandopadhyay
When Manabi Bandopadhyay took over office as principal of Krishnagar Women’s College in 2015, she made waves in history by being the first transgender college principal in India, remember that? Like, a PhD in Bengali literature, she not only rose above the lens of society but also built an outstanding academic career from doing so, and that was a big thing back then. Her appointment is beyond a landmark and proved what could be wrought when the unskilled, the lazy, and the half-hearted employed pure talent and determination.
3. Akkai Padmashali
Few stories stand out as well as that of Akkai Padmashali. She traveled a very long journey from not being accepted in her house to taking up the cause proudly, in her native conservative Karnataka now being a well-known activist about transgender rights, you know? Sure enough, she founded Ondede, an organization that is working tirelessly for gender diversity and equality, and made the headlines as the first transgender woman in the State of Karnataka to register her marriage. Keep in mind though, it was her work that was a key factor in the decriminalization of Section 377.
4. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi
Heard of Laxmi Narayan Tripathi? Yes, she’s the very first transgendered representative from Asia Pacific at the United Nations is an even greater chapter in the lives of many advocates. Like, the founder of Astitva Trust, she has always been a voice for sexual minorities in India. She established Kinnar Akhada, the first religious association bringing transgender participation in Kumbh Mela, you know? Sure enough, her travel is between cultural identity and activism, thus she becomes an icon of global empowerment.
5. Padmini Prakash
Making headlines, Padmini Prakash not only captured news but changed the entire geography of the Indian media. Like, keep in mind that when she made her way to being India’s first transgender news anchor in 2014, it broke prime-time stereotypes across families in Tamil Nadu. Everything wasn’t easy for the young woman, who faced rejection by her family very early in her life but was determined enough and very proactive to change the perception of how transgenders are viewed in the media industry.
6. Gauri Sawant
Can you answer like how many activists can say that they have redefined motherhood? Gauri Sawant just did that when she adopted a little girl orphaned by disaster, defying stereotypes in India. Founder of the Sakhi Char Chowghi Trust, she dedicated her life to the cause of transgender rights and the cause of sex safety in the country, and for sure, her story became widely known with the help of a touching advertisement for Vicks, which captured her unique, inspiring definition of what family truly is.
7. Nitasha Biswas
Then, you see, born and raised in Kolkata, Nitasha Biswas has a degree in fashion technology from a renowned college in the city. Though life brought many challenges in her early years, the weather could not scorch her love for fashion and modeling. Just so you know though, she was the first Miss Transqueen India, crowned in 2017. This national pageant showcased not only greets but also talent into the beauty spotlights as much as such beauty when judged with elegance paved the way for launching a transgender into the beauty industry and inspiring a whole new generation to dare dream big.
8. Shabnam Mausi
The first-ever transgender woman to win a Legislative Assembly seat in India was Shabnam Mausi and that was a big thing back then. Elected as an MLA in 1998, she won the Sohagpur constituency seat. Like, her biography is that of transmutation as she transformed herself from being uneducated to imparting innumerable languages to herself for her people. She devoted her political career to issues like education, healthcare, and transgender rights. Leadership doesn’t have to be gendered, you know?
9. Madhu Bai Kinnar
The most inspirational story is that of Madhu Bai Kinnar-from the streets to be the first Dalit transgender mayor of India in 2015. First elected to lead the Raigarh Municipal Corporation, her victory was not just a political win but an overall BIG win over all marginalized communities. The journey, which went from performing on trains to becoming a mayor, stands as hope and progress in a transforming society.
10. K. Prithika Yashini
Last on the list, but no less inspirational than others, the appointment of K. Prithika Yashini as the first transgender police officer turned the tide of Indian history in favor of the transgender community in 2017, you must have witnessed that. Like, her road was not smooth because of legal battles due to discrepancies in her documents regarding her gender. Now a Sub Inspector in Tamil Nadu, she represents courage, determination, and the necessity of including professions in male-dominated roles.
Conclusion
There you have it and what an inspirational post it was, right? Looking at the life experiences of these transgenders in India, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, just makes us reflect on what really we can do when we literally have everything along with social acceptance.
