While we never miss out praising our women for being the first in their respective domain of work, we often overlook the achievements that our trans women struggle for — from being the first-ever lawyer, RJ, principal, MLA, highest degree holder to even the supermodel, these iconic ladies have shattered the unwanted social tantrums and proved that your talent and merit have nothing to do with your gender or sexuality!
Here are few of the iconic trans ladies who went on to become the first transgender people of the country in their respective domain of work.
Sathyasri Sharmila
India’s first transgender lawyer, Sathyasri shunned the stereotypical mindset behind, fought the gender abusive community and established an example by pursuing law so that she can fight against injustice.
“Today, I enrolled my name in the Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu And Puducherry and became the first transgender lawyer in India. I have struggled a lot in my life,” she told ANI in July 2018.
Atri Kar
India’s first transgender schoolteacher who appeared for the West Bengal Public Service Commission, Atri fought two long years of a legal battle.
The policy which enables transgender people to apply for education and employment under the ‘other’ category wasn’t implemented everywhere due to which Atri couldn’t apply for the exam. She fought against WBPSC in the Calcutta High Court, appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal, which decided the case in her support.
K Prithika Yashini
India’s first transgender sub-inspector in Tamil Nadu state police, Prithika opted for a sex change surgery and fulfilled her dreams of becoming a police officer.
She had to approach the court, elicit an informal enquiry and cross several hurdles to fulfil her dream of becoming a police officer.
Joyita Mondal
India’s first transgender judge, Joyita was appointed at Lok Adalat in North Bengal at the age of 29.
Mondal decided to obtain a degree in law after working for transgender rights organisations.
Manabi Bandopadhyay
India’s first transgender college principal, Manabi is also the first Indian transgender to complete Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
She used to teach as an associate professor in Bengali at Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya earlier.
Shabnam Mausi
India’s first transgender MLA, Shabnam contested elections from Sohagpur constituency in district Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
As her family did not support her, she wasn’t able to attend school, yet she learnt almost 12 different languages.
Tarika Banu
India’s first transgender student to clear the 12th Board exams (HSC exams), Tarika had run away from her home in Thoothukudi district at the age of 6 after realising that she wasn’t accepted for who she was.
Transgender activist Grace Banu adopted her and helped her in getting a new name, official identification and undergoing a sex reassignment surgery.
Kajal
Coastal Karnataka’s first transgender radio jockey, Kajal suffered from the deep distress of gender dysphoria at a young age.
She left her home at the age of 10 and settled in Mumbai’s Malad; got support by MGM college lecturer Manjunath Kamath, who connected her to Spandana Channel’s Avinash Kamath who trained her for two months to host shows.
Ganga Kumari
Rajasthan State Police Force’s first and India’s third transgender police, Ganga couldn’t get the post in 2015 because of her gender clarity issue and rules of appointment.
She struggled for two years to claim her right to don the uniform and serve the nation on 13 November 2017.
Mona Varonica Campbell
India’s plus-size transgender model, Mona experienced gender dysphoria early in childhood. She underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and sex reassignment surgery with the help of her family.
She worked with numerous international brands before she opened the show for designer Wendell Rodricks at Lakmé Fashion Week.
Stay tuned for some more inspirational stories!
