Sudha understood about her different sexual orientation when she was a second year dental science student in a Chennai college and that put an end to her studies. The country lost a good dental surgeon as Sudha ran away from her home following humiliations she suffered from colleagues.
There will not be any more Sudhas in Tamil Nadu as the State is emerging as the most transgender friendly State in India. The day is not far off when all transgenders will live life with dignity like any other human beings. Chennai police played host to a job fair last week held exclusively for the members of the transgender community. The fair saw 300 transgenders from all over the State assembling at Chennai in search of a job or seeking help for launching their own business enterprises.
Sujatha (30) could be the first transgender entrepreneur in the State. One of the nationalised banks came forward to extend a loan of `three lakh to Sujatha who is setting up her own catering services. The next couple of weeks will see Sujatha serving the most delicious break fast, lunch and dinner for those who place advance orders. The country will soon see in Prathika Yashini, the first trans gender police inspector, who is undergoing training at Tamil Nadu Police Academy.
Shobhana Ramesh, eminent danseuse who also heads the Bharati Foundation was in the forefront to offer a helping hand for the members of the community, most of whom had ended up as victims of humiliation and disgrace by the society. “The trans genders are as good as any other man or woman. They too can excel in all whatever others do. What we have to understand is that they have a different orientation and we should accept them like any other human beings,” Ramesh told The Pioneer.
The job fair organised under the patronage of Ramesh saw nine members of the trans gender community walking away with appointment orders issued by some of the leading corporate houses in Chennai.
“While six of them have been recruited by corporate groups, three persons have been offered bank loans with which they will launch their own business enterprises.
According to Ramesh, trans genders are as good and capable in all fields of life. “It is time we accepted then in toto. There was a time when widow remarriages and inter caste marriages were unthinkable. That situation has changed and now the time has come for the trans genders,” said Ramesh.
She pointed out that it was only the lower strata of society which wash their hands off from their dear and near ones who have different sexuality. “The rich and elite class have understood the fact that having a different sexual orientation is similar to be like a physically challenged person,” said Ramesh.