An uncommon palette

Ranjani Pillai was labouring over a lotus. Her brushstrokes revealed that she was neither a natural, nor trained. She was painting on canvas for the first time, and was pouring herself on to it. A blooming lotus, unsoiled by the mud where its roots were, soon filled the canvas.

“My painting is a metaphor,” Ranjani said. “We were born in this muddy society which marginalises us. But we are not ready to hide any longer. We are no less than a male or a female. We are transgenders and we are proud and happy about it.”

She was one of the 40 participants of ‘Samanwaya—Embracing Otherness’, a ten-day art workshop for transgenders, conducted by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi at Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Kochi, from July 14 to 23. “It is the first time in the country that an art academy is conducting a visual art camp for transgenders and we are happy with the way it turned out to be,” said T.A. Sathyapal, chairman of the Akademi. Sathyapal, who took over last year, said visual art training would bring transgenders into the mainstream and provide them with a source of income.

At the camp, the transgenders worked with professionals in painting, wood carving and photography. “Many of them are talented,” said Sathyapal. At an upcoming Akademi camp in Kuttikanam in Idukki, 16 of 60 participants will be transgender. “The central Lalit Kala Akademi has asked us if we could conduct a similar camp at the national level,” said Sathyapal.

Kerala has launched many initiatives to protect and empower gender minorities. In 2015, it became the first state to have a transgender policy. Projects like gender park, gender taxi, pension and scholarships for transgender students soon followed. Kochi Metro Rail, which started on June 17, hired 23 transgenders as housekeeping and ticketing staff. The queer pride marches and non-governmental pressure groups were instrumental in increasing the visibility of the transgender community in the state.

“The visibility brings along with it courage to reveal our identity,” said Sree S., archiving assistant at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram. A postgraduate in demography, she revealed her transgender identity during a conference on queer theory at CDS. “It irked many who knew me,” she said. “Events like Samanwaya are helpful in spreading gender identity awareness which can prevent discrimination of sexual minorities, especially at the workplace.”

The social stigma, however still exists. Sreekutty Namitha, president of Sexual Gender Minority Federation of Kerala (SGMFK), pointed out how many transgenders hired by Kochi Metro had to leave their jobs because they were not able to find accommodation. And, there seem to be no quick fixes. Social worker and poet Vijayarajamallika said a value education system which taught to respect everybody and their otherness, irrespective of gender, was the only possible solution to fight such stigmas.

Monisha S. Nair at the art camp | Sanjoy Ghosh

SGMFK acts as the bridge between different organisations and NGOs in the state working for transgender welfare. It organised the first transgender athletics meet in India at Thiruvananthapuram in April. In association with Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority, it conducted a survey in which some 2,000 transgender school dropouts were identified. SGMFK also helped to form district boards for transgender welfare in association with Kerala State Legal Service Authority. Kavya Biju, secretary of SGMFK, said talks had been going on with the government for a state-wide arts festival for transgenders.

“Even though we are in the process of breaking barriers, many think that a transgender is good only for either begging or sex work, but, we are as good as anybody for any job, if we are given the right platform,” said Thripthi Shetty, 28, a transgender activist. Her dream was to become a film actor. “I have begged on the streets because I needed money for my gender reassignment surgery,” said Thripthi. “I wanted not only my mind, but also my body to be that of a female. My surgery was done five years ago, at Bengaluru. There weren’t many facilities at that private hospital and we were asked to leave soon after the surgery. I wanted to clear my debts at the earliest. So, there were days when I was on the streets begging, dragging my urine bags.”

Thripthi’s paintings at the camp were a hit. She was a finalist in Kerala’s first ever transgender beauty pageant, ‘Queen of Dhwayah’. And, now, she is acting in her first movie—Kallanmarude Rajavu. “Just like me, everybody here has their own dreams,” she said. “If we are sown in good soil, we will also bloom.”

On the last day of the camp, the artists were asked to design postcards paying tribute to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Cards honouring a man who believed in the power of dreams.