Mumbai University, one of India’s topmost institutions with over 549,432 students (as of 2011) has embraced its first openly transgender student, Sridevi (adopted name). In its enrollment forms for the year 2015-16, Mumbai University introduced the third gender section for the purpose of admission and various scholarship programs. In the same year, Sridevi enrolled herself officially identifying as the first transgender student in Mumbai University.
32-year-old Sridevi is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, interior designer and make-up artist by profession. Sridevi is currently pursuing a BA (Psychology, Literature, and Sociology) at the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL). When asked about her thoughts on the university giving her transgender status she said, “At the end of the day, it is not about gender, it is about getting a decent education in life. So I don’t understand why the box is made now? They should have done it much earlier.”
Growing up under harsh circumstances with no support from her family, Sridevi believed she was a “woman trapped in a man’s body”. After having to give up her education twice due to incessant bullying and poor financial conditions, Sridevi worked for her right to education by taking up freelancing jobs and tutoring children. Sridevi finally enrolled herself for the university program upon suggestion and support from a transgender community social worker.
“It’s (education) a fundamental right and one’s gender identity should not determine whether or not one gets it.”
A vast majority of transgenders in India beg for a living, which has not only enforced a stereotype in the minds of the people but has also unconsciously restricted the transgender community’s horizons from achieving something greater. So when people like Sridevi are able to empower themselves, they are worthy of being applauded and brought under the spotlight. But Sridevi wants no flowery praises, biopics or tributes in her name, just her fundamental right to education. Sridevi enrolling herself in an educational institution openly as a 32-year-old transgender has single-handedly proved that there is no end to learning and growing. “Nobody and nothing can stop any student of any gender from getting an education,” she says. “It’s a fundamental right and one’s gender identity should not determine whether or not one gets it.”
Sridevi hopes that her example motivates the transgender community to aim for a better future. As her bit to the community, Sridevi urges more schools and colleges to support transgender students and advises students to not be afraid to identify themselves as transgenders to receive an education and also suggests counseling of parents.
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