Empowering the third gender is the dream that Kalki nurtures. And who better than the Shikhandi of Mahabaratha-fame to help her realise her quest?This 'God’s special child', as Kalki calls herself, is now busy giving life to a play to be staged by 2009. The script she is penning for Shikhandi will find all the three sexes together on stage. And she believes that "you are not defeated until and unless you stop trying".
This is not the first time that Kalki is attempting a role in theatre. Her passion for theatre helped her grab a double role in William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, brought out by Auroville Theatre Group. She loves to work with theatre groups both in Tamil and English, but adds that 'Shikhandi' will be in English.
Now a woman, Kalki was born into a dominant political family in Pollachi as the only 'brother' to two sisters. From her childhood, 'he' always felt the 'she' in him. On reaching puberty, her mind could not accept the changes that were taking place in her body. "It was not an abrupt change that happened with me. Right from the childhood I felt like a woman. I refused to be a man because I was always a woman," says Kalki.
However, she also went through the usual nightmares and inner conflicts as faced by any other transgender. When she expressed her desire to live as a woman at 14, it created a buzz within the family. "No parents would wish to hear that their child is a transgender. As I was the only boy in my family, it created a lot of unpleasantness. I was taken to the Vellore Mental Health Center and was treated for my 'mental illness' for a month," Kalki said deplorably.
"For transwomen, to be honest and truthful to our parents and reveal the real 'we' to them is the most difficult thing in the world. We surely know they will be hurt... and we fear to tell them the truth. But I was bold enough to reveal myself," said Kalki, confidence personified.
Realising that education is the only way to wipe out ignorance, Kalki dedicated herself to it. Though she wished to study in a girl's college, she was enrolled into CBM College, a coed college in Coimbatore to pursue BA English Literature. "It was a woman who was inside me. However, I was forced to adorn the masculine role in my college, hostel... I was put into men's hostel there," Kalki chuckles.
Kalki cites herself "a typical case of a transgender, as per the observations of Benjamin Harry on transsexuals. "According to him, a transgender can identify a voice if heard once. They are good at languages and bad at maths. I possess all these traits," she says proudly.
After graduation, she took up a job with 365 Media in Coimbatore. She underwent her surgery to change her gender during this period. After the operation she started using ladies toilet, something that made her female co-workers feel uneasy. But they gradually accepted her as she was.
She then completed her postgraduation in Journalism and Mass Communication at Madurai Kamaraj University.
Having understood that media had a lot to do with shaping the attitudes of young people, she decided to bring out a magazine for transgenders called 'Sahodari' in 2001. It was solely distributed among her fellow sisters. But with none to finance it, it met with an untimely death.
She then established a foundation called Sahodari Foundation - for transgender males and females of the country. Through a website www.sahodari.org, she is spreading awareness among the youth on second type men and women of India. Sahodari Foundation is a one-woman mission of Kalki. "The foundation was born out of the desperate needs for a positive change in our society regarding transgender issues. It aims to voice political, social and legal rights of transgendered men and women of India," says Kalki.
Now, pursuing her second MA in International Relations, Kalki is aiming higher. She wishes to represent her community in UNESCO and in the UN. Through her mission, she wants the world to realize that transgenders are not just sex-crazy people and not the ones to be exploited always. "We Thirunangaigal (transgendered women - in Tamil) are gifted people. We have better understanding of both sexes and can deal with human problems and relationships more effectively," she says.
Auroville, the international township for peace, proved to be a perfect place for her to realize the artist in her. She enrolled herself in an international music research project called 'Svaram', exploring the ancient culture and music from different parts of the world. She helped people from the Western world have a glimpse of the beauty of Tamil language. She used monetary benefits from the programme to teach poor village girls and women English.
With her skills in filming, editing and acting, it is her dream to work with her favourite director, Maniratnam. But she hates the way Tamil film industry is making use of transgenders in their films. "Right from the Tamil classics to the recently released Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu and Sillunu oru Kadhal, transgendered women have been portrayed either as psychos or as a misfit. We are not clowns," rues she.
Along with her best friend Rose Venketesan, Ippadikku Rose fame, she is in the process of developing interesting media concepts regarding transgenders. "We are planning for an IT venture for transgenders. I believe it will come as a great breakthrough," she said. Recently, they bought the domain for their website thirunangai.com, which is likely to be launched in August. "It is an exciting venture with a lot of groundbreaking ideas," says Kalki.
Kalki wants to meet Kanimozhi, "who has been very supportive of the transgender community", one day..."just to say a big thanks".
She is only scared of one thing - marriage. "I don’t believe in that social system," she said. "...It won't work for us". But then "love is the most beautiful emotion", she says happily "...and a man who is loved by a transgender would be a lucky one". However, she wishes to be a strong independent woman always.
Kalki never blames the Almighty for her life on Earth. Instead, she lives on a mission here. She is happy the way she is and simply nods her head with a confident smile. Don't queer! Just cheer!
Published on 02/06/2008 in Expresso, The New Indian Express
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