In India, transgenders are seen as a marginalized section of the society and often, their social and economic status is put under question.

As per the 2011 census, India has as many as 4,90,000 transgenders and yet their identity has always been a questionable matter until, Supreme Court of India in a recent landmark judgement declared this community as The Third Gender.

Within this third gender community, there are many who did not let societal pressure decide their fate. There are exceptional examples of transgender individuals who have achieved great success by amalgamating talent, hard work, dedication and urge to do something for their community.

We bring to you some of these inspiring success stories of few trangenders of India that will make India proud of them:

Kalki Subramaniam: First Transgender Entrepreneur

Kalki Subramaniam

Kalki has 2 masters degrees, one in Journalism and Mass Communication,  and another in Intellectual Relations. A journalist, a writer, and a social activist who founded the Sahodari Foundation for  transgender community. Not just this, Kalki also made her acting debut  with Narthaki – life of a transgender woman.

 Padmini Prakash: First Transgender News Anchor

padmini prakash

This vocal artist, a trained Kathak dancer and Miss Transgender of India read out her first headline bulletins at Coimbatore based Lotus News Channel. She started her journey by acting in TV serials and later became the popular prime time face of the news channel.

Madhu Bai Kinnar: First Transgender Mayor

madhu bai kinnar

This is what we call will power combined with destiny. Expelled from her  home, Madhu became the first citizen of Raigarh, district of Chhattisgarh.  She is a street-play artist and also a folk dance performer who earlier  earned her living by singing and dancing in the train.

Bharathi: First Transgender Pastor

Bharathi

Had to leave her home seven years back, baptized to Christianity, Bharathi went through a tough life. Once an untouchable, she is now responsible for conducting weddings. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and is now serving as a pastor at Evangelical church of India.

Manabi Bandyopadhyay: First Transgender Principal

Manabi is currently an associate professor in Bengali at the Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya in the late 90s. She will soon be serving as the principal of Krishnanagar Women’s College in West Bengal. She is the author of the bestseller novel, Endless Bondage about Hijras. She was quoted as saying, “It is not the post that I sought after. It’s the achievement and honour that’s most important.”

 

In conclusion, it is the individual effort that matters the most, and not what you are born with and how you are born!