Transgenders scripting success in Tamil Nadu

aturday, June 28, 2008 (Chennai) NDTV news. Kalki is a highflying transgender IT professional. But her road to success wasn't easy. Her parents she says didn't accept her sexual orientation and forced her to take male hormone tablets. Away from home she was often a victim of sexual abuse. These factors only inspired her to dream big. Now the techie also runs a foundation for the betterment of transgenders. ''When you are successful people look up to you. When you are not its a totally different story,'' says Kalki. Rose is the country's first transgender television anchor and has won the hearts of millions. She was once thrown out of home. But that did not stop her from acquiring an international professional degree. Her new celebrity status she says is changing mindsets. ''That would never happen earlier in the past. People would not just talk to transgenders. But now they not only talk to me, they invite me home,'' says Rose. In another part of Chennai Priya Babu has emerged to be a successful author. She wants to develop a resource centre for the third gender. ''Education is my biggest strength and also the tamilnadu government has given us so many opportunities,'' says Priya Babu. Transgenders have begun to script success stories in Tamil Nadu. A majority of them are still pushed into prostitution but the more vocal ones in the community are spearheading a campaign to get a transgender nominated to the parliament, state assemblies and local bodies. **********About Kalki********** A post graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, Kalki came out to her parents as a Transgendered child when she was 14. Having gone through the usual nightmares all transgendred children go through, she had the toughest times in schools and colleges where she studied. Still, she managed to finish her B.A in English followed by an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication. Currently she is pursuing her second M.A. in International Relations. In schools, colleges and universities in India, Transgender students have a tough academic life. Many of them drop out being unable to cope with the insults, harassement and ignorance from fellow students and sometimes even the teachers. Kalki hopes to change this by presenting and conducting seminars, lectures, workshops, presentations and talks on Gender variant people in schools, colleges and Universities. She works and lives in 2 two places. Coimbatore in Tamilnadu, and Auroville, the international township near Puducherry. In the year 2001, she brought out the first tamil magazine for the trasngendred community called 'Sahodari' and encouraged fellow sisters to write and express their thoughts. Several issues later, the magazine had to be temporarily stopped due to lack of financial support. In the year 2006, she found Sahodari Foundation through which she hopes to bring the magazine once again. Only knowledge and education can cure the blindness called ignorance. Kalki works within her community through her writings and she works with the public especially the youth, by creating awareness on Transgender issues. She hopes to break the myths and wipe the misinformation that exist in the society about transgenders. On the professinal side, she is an IT person working as an Independent Media Specialist. She develops web based projects. She is interested in the Film and Television Media. In future, she hopes to travel around the world and work for gender rights for woman and transwoman. Her cherished goal is to work as a cultural ambassador on behalf of India. She wants to work with the UNESCO in the UNO. Write to her at: aurokalki@gmail.com Her FOUNDATION: *******WELCOME TO SAHODARI**** Sahodari Foundation is a one woman mission of Kalki. Through her foundation, she hopes to bring light to the world about the second type men and women of India. The Foundation is involved in creating awareness to the public, especially the youth, in accepting and living with gender variant people. It offers the right information, help and guidance for a better life to the Transgendered community of India through its magazine, website, seminars and workshops. 'Sahodari' means Sister. In early 2001, Kalki found the first magazine in Tamil for Transgendered Community and its name was 'Sahodari'. After 2 years, the magazine had to be stopped due to lack of financial support. The other big option to reach the youth was through the internet. Thus www.sahodari.org was born. The website offers spiritual and psychological support for the transcommunity. It is not a place for beautification of the body. It is a place to beautify your mind. I believe, we can create a world where we can live like angels, with dignity and peace, where we are respected and loved... http://www.sahodari.org/