In a First, Karnataka Govt to Honour a Transgender with the Rajyotsava Award

The Karnataka government recently chose 60 people who will be honoured with the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.

Many inspirational personalities were chosen for the award, but one thing that stood out this year was the fact that a transgender has been selected to receive the honour for the first time.

Similar Story

IIT Madras Offers Free Online Course For Engineers: Here's How You Can Earn a Certificate

IIT Madras is offering a free online course for engineers on data science via the SWAYAM portal. Read on to know more about duration, syllabus and how to get a certificate.

Read more >

Akkai Padmashali, a transgender who is fighting for the rights and acceptance of her community, has been recognised for her efforts.

Born as a boy named Jagdish, Akkai chose to become a transgender. She contacted other transgender women and told them about her dilemma and her desire to be one of them. They cautioned her that this path would only be full of problems. But Akkai was determined. She wasn’t happy as a boy, and wanted to change as soon as she could.

At a young age of 12, suffocated in her own body, she wanted to commit suicide. But she didn’t. Instead, she gathered enough courage to disclose her real identity. The journey wasn’t easy. From facing sexual violence, to taking up sex work for four years, Akkai faced all of it with immense strength.

She not only transformed her life, but is also changing the way our society treats sexual minorities.

She joined Sangama, a local NGO that works with sexual minorities and later founded Ondede (meaning ‘convergence’ in Kannada), an organisation that aims to create awareness about sexuality, sexual diversity and the right to choose one’s sexual orientation.

The award is not just her victory, but an achievement for the entire transgender community. You can read Akkai’s life story here.

Other recipients of the honour include the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, A.S. Kiran Kumar, cricketer Vinay Kumar, writer Aryambha Pattabhi, former judge A.J. Sadashiva, film actors ‘Sowcar’ Janaki, Sadashiva Brahmavar, Shani Mahadevappa and Sadhu Kokila, and theatre actor H.G. Somashekara Rao. A total of 60 personalities have been chosen for this year’s Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.

Rajyotsava Award is the second highest civilian honour of Karnataka state. It is conferred annually on November 1 – the formation day of Karnataka State that is celebrated as Kannada Rajyotsava. The award recognizes people who have shown extra ordinary commitment in their chosen fields. This year, it carries a prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a 20-gram gold medal and a citation.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).