International Transgender Day: 5 trans people prove why all is not lost

Even as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance is being observed today in memory of those who died due to violence against the community the success stories of several transgender people from the state comes as a beacon of hope Rights activists a makeup artist sarpanch and supervisor in a private college reveal how all is not lost for the community that has been fighting tooth and nail for the basic right to live with dignityLearn to embrace yourselfThe life of Mayuri Mahesh Bansod better known as Kadambari 35 a former FTII student is also one thats been dotted with struggles However Bansod did not allow that to come in the way of her dreams Kadambari who works as a celebrity makeup and jewellery designer said I belong to a good educated family My mother who is a teacher by profession realised that I was not comfortable being a boy but she refused to admit it Then one day I had an outburst and decided to leave my home and create a path for myself People have the misconception that transgenders are either beggars or into flesh trade But I wanted to prove my detractors wrongMayuri Bansodwith some of her clients she has used her skills onKadambari completed her post graduation from FTII and later tried her luck as a dancer in films However she soon realised her calling as a makeup artiste Today many admire my work I am glad I embraced myself19Age when Mayuri Bansod left her homeI believe in doing workDnyaneshwar Kamble alias Mauli 40 who was elected as sarpanch in the gram panchayat elections in Tarangfal village of Solapur last month has also scripted an unusual success story She became the first transgender in the electoral history of Maharashtra to make the cut Mauli was contesting on a BJP ticket and defeated NCP rival Jaysingh Salve A Std VII drop out Mauli was forced to leave school and also her village after she was caught wearing a sariDnyaneshwar Kamble alias MauliMauli only returned to her village eight years later and started working as a social worker When I got elected last month nobody took me seriously But I believe in doing work rather than asserting my gender In a months time people have accepted me and we are doing a lot of good work for the village I have personally been visiting schools and homes to check if there are functional toilets Mauli said adding I am proud to be a transWe are fighting for an equal world for allChandani Gore a transgender who started the NGO Nirbhaya four years ago said The government and judiciary is still struggling with the rights of women and men so when will anyone talk about us Due to the stigma associated with being a transgender people hesitate to come forward and reveal their true identities Its time that the government thinks about us tooChandni Gore rigth Mridul WadhwaMridul Wadhwa a trans woman and an international equality activist who was awarded the Outstanding Campaigner Award at the Scottish LGBT Awards of the Equality Network in 2017 said I lived in Pune for the first 30 years of my life before permanently moving to Scotland in 2009 I had good doctors and enough support from family but not everyone is lucky Today I remain committed to creating a safer and more equal world for women and trans people she said in a telephonic interviewIm exploring new avenuesAmbika Panna Gabrel 31 a resident of Bibewadi Pune has been working as a bakery supervisor with MIT College of Food Technology for the last 16 years As a child I realised that I was a misfit I always felt like a girl from within recalled Gabrel who grew up with the spurious identity of Amol KadamAmbika Panna GabrelDuring my board examinations I was made to sit with boys who manhandled me Due to this I could not focus on my studies and failed in maths said Gabrel He however managed to clear Std XII and started working as peon with a primary school before taking up the job of a supervisor with MIT College I want to be a teacher but I am trying to explore more avenues Today I am happy that both the students and staff respect me Mangesh Karad who is the executive president of MIT Art Design and Technology University said Gabrel is good at her work and in the last 15 years there has no been no complaint against her