Bravo, Madam: This Public Officer in Odisha Decided to Go Public with Her Transgender Identity

Here’s another important new step for LGBT rights in India: a 32-year-old gazetted officer in Odisha has revealed her transgender identity.

She says that the Supreme Court ruling of April 2014 gave her the impetus she needed to go public with her real identity.

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Source: Facebook

Born Ratikanta Pradhan, she did her graduation from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She also has a post graduate degree in public administration. After clearing the state civil service exam, she joined the Odisha Financial Service in October, 2010 as a male officer.

In 2014, when she was posted as CTO in Paradip Port Twonship, the Supreme Court passed a ruling that officially recognised transgenders under a third gender category and guaranteed their constitutional rights.

The very day of the judgement, she decided to change her gender to the third gender category.

She has completing the paperwork required to change her name and gender and now officially goes by Aishwarya Rituparna Pradhan — the name she chose for herself.

“On April 9, 2014, I was posted as CTO, Paradip. That time I used to attire myself in male outfits. Later came the Supreme Court judgement and I switched over to sari. The transformation left many awed. But everything has become normal. The very people who were addressing me as ‘sir’ are now addressing me as ‘madam’. I did not face unpleasant situation as my superior officer is very supportive,” Aishwarya said.

Aishwarya has also said that being transgender has no affect on how she performs her official duties and responsibilities.

Featured image source: Facebook

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